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Soma metaphors in Vedic texts, Soma not edible for mortals says Chandogya Upanishad, identification of Soma as metal
I suggest that references in Rigveda related to Soma are metaphorical expressions of 'drink' in Chandas (Vedic Samskrtam), while the product processed results in a molten state.
I submit that such references do NOT constitute a direct reference to a herbal fluid or juice or any edible material.
Louis Renous noted: Rigveda is Soma in nuce (Soma in a nut). Identification of Soma as a product so vividly enunciated in Vedic texts is of fundamental importance so as not to mis-interpret the sacred texts.
The Chandogya in 8 chapters is Vedantic philosophy.
esha somo raja devanam annam tam deva bhakshayanti: "That soma is king; this is the devas' food. The devas eat it." [Chandogya.Upanishad (Ch.Up.]
This is the clearest statement that references to or attributes of Soma in the Vedic tradition, right from the Rigveda, should be viewed as metaphors. Even when Agni or ghee or Soma are viewed as products, the emphatic statement is that Soma is NOT for human digestion or consumption but associated with divinities, digested by the divinities (deva bhakshyanti) -- not by mortals or worshippers in the sacred yajna.
It will thus be an error to interpret Soma as an edible product. Such interpretations that Soma is a hallucinogen or an inebriant are not sanctioned by tradition. If at all there is a refrain metaphor, it relates to processing of Soma to generate or obtain wealth.
There may be some questions raised based on received wisdom that translations refer to expressions of 'drinking' soma.
Here for example are two references from Rigveda: RV 8.48.3 nd RV 8.91.1-7
Griffith Translation RV 8.91.1-7
1. DOWN to the stream a maiden came, and found the Soma by the way. Bearing it to her home she said, For Indra will I press thee out, for Sakra will I press thee out. 2 Thou roaming yonder, little man, beholding every house in turn, Drink thou this Soma pressed with teeth, accompanied with grain and curds, with cake of meal and song of praise. 3 Fain would we learn to know thee well, nor yet can we attain to thee. Still slowly and in gradual drops, O Indu, unto Indra flow. 4 Will he not help and work for us? Will he not make us wealthier? Shall we not, hostile to our lord, unite ourselves to Indra now? 5 O Indra, cause to sprout again three places, these which I declare,- My father's head, his cultured field, and this the part below my waist. 6 Make all of these grow crops of hair, you cultivated field of ours, My body, and my father's head. 7 Cleansing Apala, Indra! thrice, thou gavest sunlike skin to her, Drawn, Satakratu! through the hole of car, of wagon, and of yoke.
apAma may also mean 'obtained'. Here:
आप 1 [p= 142,2] m. obtaining m
Apala episode is beautiful. What she found was a stone with traces of soma (electrum, gold/silver compound as assem (Egyptian), noted by Joseph Needham).
In RV 8.48.3 'We have drunk...'? Amrutam is a metaphor. It means, we have obtained the Soma, amrutam (wealth).
This is what Winslow's Tamil lexicon says: soma maNal 'sand containing silver ore'.
*சோமன் cōmaṉ (p. 212) s. The moon, சந்திரன். W. p. 945. SOMA. 2. The name of an ancient liberal king, ஓர்வள்ளல். 3. (c.) A cloth worn by men, sometimes by women, wrapped round the waist, வேஷ்டி. 4. Cloth in general, சீலை. 5. One of the eight demigods, அஷ்டவசுக்களிலொரு வன். 6. Camphor, கர்ப்பூரம். 7. Soap, சவக் காரம். 8. A kind of rank in Ceylon wear three cloths one over another; the வேட்டி; சோமன். and துப்பட்டி. சோமகதி, s. Moon's daily motion. சோமசுந்தரன், s. Siva, சிவன். 2. A name of one of the Pandyan kings, ஓர் பாண்டியன். சோமசூரியாக்கினி, s. The sun, moon and fire. See முச்சுடர். சோமசேகரன்--சோமநாதன், s. Siva, as worshipped at Somnauth, சிவன். சோமமணல், s. Sand containing silver, வெள்ளிமணல்.
Soe refer to metaphors of leafs or stalks in the context of Soma. These metaphors can be explainedby some examples of some crystals of electrum ore naturally found which justify such metahpors.
Round Mountain Mine, Toquima Range, Nye Co., Nevada, USA. A rich mass of finely defined octahedrally grown electrum over milky white crystalline quartz. Analysis shows the make up of electrum to be 66.7% gold, 33.3% silver.
eSwauk Dist., Kittitas Co. Washington, USA. Very fragile. Found in sand.
ElectrumRound Mountain Mine, Round Mountain, Round Mountain, Round Mountain District, Toquima Range, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
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See:
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot
The links provide arguments of George Pinault equating Vedic ams'u 'soma' with ancu 'iron' (Tocharian).
अष्टाश्रि 'having eight corners' (Vedic) yupa in Indus Script tradition signifies medha,अहीन सत्त्र soma yajña validated by19 yupa inscriptions
Electrum Mineral Facts:
Chemical Formula: Au(Ag) Gold and Silver alloy, more than 20% silver by weight.
Colors: Pale metallic gold, streak is the same.
Hardness: 2.5 to 3
Density: 12.5 to 15.5
The density is variable depending on the silver content.
Density: 12.5 to 15.5
The density is variable depending on the silver content.
Cleavage: Electrum is ductile and mallable. Also sectile, and can be cut with a knife like lead.
Crystallography: Isometric, commonly octahedral.
Usually in irregular plates, scales or masses, and seldom definitely crystallized.
Usually in irregular plates, scales or masses, and seldom definitely crystallized.
Luster:. Metallic luster.
I agree with Georges Pinault about ams'u (Soma) as iron.
Avestan haoma (cognate soma) was based on herbal preparation, while Vedic soma of Soma samsthA was based on metallic stones.
See:
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot
The links provide arguments of George Pinault equating Vedic ams'u 'soma' with ancu 'iron' (Tocharian).
To summarize, the submission is that Soma was a contribution by Vedic people to the Bronze Age Revolution. The importance of the contribution is recognized by the expression सोम--संस्था [p= 1250,3] f. the basis or initial form of a सोम sacrifice MBh. Gaut. Ma1rkP. सं-स्था a complete liturgical course , the basis or essential form of a sacrifice (the ज्योतिः-ष्टोम , हविर्-यज्ञ , andपाक-यज्ञ consist of seven such forms) S3rS. occupation , business , profession W.
The importance is reinforced by the spectacular discovery of a yajnakunda in Binjor archaeological site together with an Indus Script Seal and a signature skambha http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2016/07/having-eight-corners-vedic-yupa-in_35.html
अष्टाश्रि 'having eight corners' (Vedic) yupa in Indus Script tradition signifies medha,अहीन सत्त्र soma yajña validated by19 yupa inscriptions
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Binjor agnikunda with octagonal, अष्टाश्रि yūpaRead in the context of the Vedic tradition of Vajapeya as a सोमः [सू-मन् Uṇ.1.139]-संस्था a form of the Soma-sacrifice, the Binjor agnikunda evidences the performance of a Vajapeya yajna.
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Shapes of Yupa: A. Commemorative stone yupa, Isapur – from Vogel, 1910-11, plate 23; drawing based on Vedic texts – from Madeleine Biardeau, 1988, 108, fig. 1; cf. 1989, fig. 2); C. Miniature wooden yupa and caSAla from Vaidika Samsodana Mandala Museum of Vedic sacrificial utensils – from Dharmadhikari 1989, 70) (After Fig. 5 in Alf Hiltebeitel, 1988, The Cult of Draupadi, Vol. 2, Univ. of Chicago Press, p.22).
Identification of Soma as metal is consistent with the context of Indus Script Corpora as metalwork catalogues of the Bronze Age Revolution.
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
August 26, 2016