Hindu god soma ( from google.com )

Hindu god soma ( from google.com )

1. HINDU GOD - SOMA
GOD OF THE MOON
Soma is a very difficult deity for
many outside of India to
comprehend. He works on
numerous levels, all of which are
tied together rather strangely.
Soma is firstly a plant. He is also
an intoxicating drink which was
brewed from that plant. As the
blood of animals and the sap of
plants, Soma courses through all
living things. He is Inspiration to
those who seek it, and so is the
god of poets. He is also the god
of the moon. He is the dwelling
place of the venerated dead, as
well as the divine cure for evil.
The ancient Hindus did not
differentiate between these
divergent aspects; all were the
god Soma.
Soma was one of the more
important gods in the Rig Veda;
120 hymns and one entire book
are dedicated to him. He has
many different forms. He is seen
as a celestial bull, a bird, a giant
rising from the waters, the lord
of plants, and as an embryo. He
rarely is seen as a fully grown
human.

As a drink, Soma is the ambrosia
of the gods. It was due to this
influence that they could rise
above all obstacles to achieve
their goals.Indra was a great
drinker of the substance; before
his confrontation with Vritra, he
drank rivers of it to gain the
strength needed to overcome the

2. fearsome dragon.
Agni also consumed it in large amounts. Soma was what gave the Vedic
gods their immortality. It was also a drink for mortals, a golden-hued
nectar which was derived from the Soma plant, which may be a species
known as ephedra vulgaris to botanists. This drink brought hallucinations
and ecstasy to those who consumed it. It helped warriors to overcome
their fears in battle, and it helped poets to become inspired to create.
Soma was a bridge between the mortal world and that of the gods. This
drink is the same as Haoma in Persian mythology.

As the moon, Soma became equated with the god Chandra, who originally
was the moon deity. The moon was considered the cup which held the
drink Soma for the gods, and one reason that the moon waxed and
waned was due to this fact. When the moon waned, it was because the
gods were drinking down all the Soma; as it waxed, the god was re-
creating himself, only to be consumed again once the cup was again full.
As the Vedic age ended and the Brahmans asserted themselves, the
power of the gods no longer came from Soma but instead from sacrifices
made by humans; Soma came more and more to be just a god of the
moon. In later times, the waxing and waning of the moon was due to a
curse put on Soma. Soma had twenty -seven wives (who correspond to
the twenty-seven stations of the moon). They were all the daughters
of Daksha. Daksha felt that Soma was paying too much attention to one
of his daughters, thereby neglecting the rest. He cursed Soma to die a
withering death. But Soma's wives intervened, and so the death became
only periodic; during half the month, the moon slowly dies away, but is
reborn and comes around again to full vigor.

Though he is never depicted in human form, Soma obviously did not want
for lovers; poets rarely do. In one episode, his desires caused a war. He
had grown arrogant due to the glory that was offered him. Because of
this, he let his lust overcome him; he kidnapped and carried off Tara, the
wife of the god Brihaspati. After refusing to give her up, the gods made
war on him to force her release, and Soma called on the Asuras to aid
him. Finally Brahma interceded and compelled Soma to let Tara go. But
she was with child, and it ended up that this child was Soma's. The child
was born and named Budha (not to be confu sed with the Buddha).
This Soma is a god; he cures
The sharpest ills that man endures.
He heals the sick, the sad he cheers,
He nerves the weak, dispels their fears.