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Soma, as an intoxicating plant of N.W.India which was pressed and allowed to ferment (Skr. Su, 'Press', Soma 'the pressing'), is supposed to be the Asclepias acida or sarcostemma viminale, the expressed juice of which produces a peculiary astringent, narcotic, and intoxicating effect. As such it was regarded as a divine power, and as in Mexico 267 A.200; Harivansa 9263 II. 268 Bhagavate III.12.26; VIII.7.323 X.55; XI.4.7; Visnu V.27-28, Matsya 154. 209-239; 7.13; 100,329; 261:53-6; 191.110; 3.30; 4.12-21; 23.23. 269 ERE. Vol. II, P.808.b 270 Ibid. 271 E.Thurston, Castes and tribes of S.India, iv, 399 ff.

606 and Peru the octri and similar intoxicating plants were deified, so in India and in Persia the Soma, identical with the Zarathushtrian haoma, was regarded as a god.272 Before the end of the Rv., the yellow plant became esoterically identified with the yellow swelling and water-cleansed Moon, and in some of the latest hymns of the Rv. there is no question that some means the Moon. From this time onwards Soma was thus used in two senses, either of the divine plant or of the Moon-god, until as in the epics, unless expressly the plant, the word Soma means the Moon. 273 In the Brahma purana, Soma is considered to be the Moon and is the son of Atric An interesting story is given regarding its birth. The sage Atri practised a penance called Anuttara for 3,000 divine years. During that period, his virile-somen went on the upper side and came out of his eyes and it began to brighten the ten directions in the form of the Moon. When the Moon was thus falling, Brahma sat him on his chariot and the sons of Brahma as well as other sages began to pray him. Being pleased, he spread his lustre in all the directions for the welfare of the world and went round the world for 21 times. At that time from his lustre, corn and other things maintaining the world were created. Then the Moon practised penance for many

607 many years and lord Brahma got pleased with him and made him the king of herbs, seeds, water and brahmins (IX.1-12). Elsewhere it is said that he was made the king of sacrifices and penances (4.2). Then the Moon performed a Rajasuya in which he gave a daksina of lakhs of things. The nine goddesses sini, Kuhu, Dyuti, Pusti, Prabha, Vasu, Kirti, Dhrti and Laksmi attended him and he worshipped all the gods and sages (9.13-17). He was married to the 27 naksatras, daughters of Daksa, i.e. the 27 mansions of the Moon and their children were of immensurable lustre (3.59). it is said that Soma married Ausadhis (A.119). A disgraceful myth is related about Sona. Elsewhere He carried off Tara, the wife of Brhaspati, though Brahma bade 1.Usanas, hia restore her to her husband.Usanas, the teacher of the Asuras and the enemy of Brhaspati, Rudra and Angiras sided with Soma in the conflict between thon and the gods. At last Soma was compelled to give up Tara. After some time she gave birth to a boy whose parentage was doubtful; and sho declared, when coerced, that he was the son of Soma. The boy was named Budha (the Planet Mercury), who afterwards married Ila, daughter of Manu. Their son was Pururavas with whom lineage of lunar kings begins (9.18-36). Brhaspati cursed the Moon to have a spot and a crooked form (152.27-29).

608 Soma is once said to be Amrta and the Brahma Purana states that one who takes a bath and gives dana at Somatirtha goes to heaven (119.19). An interesting story is related about Soma, the favourite drink of gods (A.105). Soma was in the possession of Gandharvas. The gods wanted it and so gave Saraswati to the Gandharvas and took the Soma from them. Afterward Saraswati also returned to the gods without the acknowledgement of the Gandharvas and the Brahma purana lays down a rule that as Saraswati the speech - had returned to the gods without the knowledge of the Gandharvas, ever there is a sale of Soma, one has to speak slowly. WhenThe moon plays an important part in the ancient belief about the life after death. The souls of the dead are supposed to go to the Moon, and assembling there cause her waxing. At full Moon, the Moon sends some spirits on to the world of Brahma Devayana and sends the rest as rain down to the earth to be born again H Pitryana,274 Though, he was a deity of great holiness, he seems scarcely to have received popular worship as a separate god; at least no temples seem to have been dedicated to him. 275 274 Deussen, Eng.Trans., System Des vedanta, 1833, PP.392, 409, 475. 275 ERE., Vol. II, P.805.