The Rig Veda and Soma - Terence McKenna

Terence McKenna discusses the Rig Veda and Soma in relation to ancient techniques of shamans around the world.

From Thinking Allowed with host Jeffrey Mishlove

[rudhisundar]

This is my first video of Terence McKenna! Then, obviously, one becomes hooked to listening him.

[DudasJenoZsolt]

Soma is s + A U + ma. Indra = central nervous system. Indriyas are the senses. If your stomach "altar" and your digestion system are pure, then through food, and drinks, "soma" start to flow into the nervous system, to "Indra". "press the soma" = kapalabhati, bhastrika, and kumbhaka. Check the SCI of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Jgd!

[zenpaganwarrior]

And this is likely why the Hindus and others in India to this day hold the cow to be sacred -- Amanita Muscaria likes to grow where cow patties are plentiful (among other places like birch-tree groves). It makes perfect sense to me that an "immortal god" was seen by ancient seers, shamans, poets, and other partakers as something of the plant kingdom or mycelium.

[Nectarofyoga]

Soma is also referred to in ancient Vedic scripture symbolically. Look at the Shiva Samhita for one. Soma is a reference to all that which is nutritive / nourishing in nature and to all that which supports deep inner insight born of deep inner satisfaction. The sages of Vedic tradition did not merely “speculate” about the nature of the universe as stated here. They inquired and investigated both inwardly and outwardly. There work is the work not of speculation, but of of discovery.

[Archetype]

It was not a mushroom. In the Ninth Mandal of the Rig Veda it is described as ''pressed out of was a creeper plant of some kind. Not a mushroom...

[praffulkaul]

Also there is some connection of Soma with moon, I don't know what but the moon is also known as Soma in Sanskrit. It was definitely some ritualistic drink which I'm sure about because to this day hallucinogenic drinks are called Somras (Ras meaning nectar) in our language (which has now distorted to mean even alcohol) and also Shankar Bhagvaan (Lord Shiva's form) is said to have moon on top of his head which gives him the name Someshvara (Lord of The Moon). In our tradition, moon is associated with the mind and emotions symbolizing his control over his mind and emotions. Ultimately connecting Soma with mind and emotions which would assert the fact that it was something which would open up the mind. We don't know what that plant was since it is long lost but it's remnants can be seen in our traditions.

[ThatHabsburgMapGuy]

Scholars today generally believe that Soma was the pressed juice, or maybe tea, of the plant Ephedra among other ingredients. This is a shrub that grows widely across Eurasia, and contains large quantities of the alkaloid ephedrine, which is a mild stimulant apparently similar to caffeine. Zoroastrians in Iran (also descending from the prehistoric Aryans) ritually drank a drink from this plant known as Homa or Haoma as late as the 1800s. Another possible candidate is the plant Somalata or "moon creeper, " which is drunk by some Brahmins today in Southern India. This plant (Cynancum Acidum) is a climbing vine with potent anti-oxidizing and anti-inflammatory effects, but nothing psychoactive.

While its fun to think that ancient people were all hallucinating on mushrooms, its more likely that the Rig Veda shaman-priests were getting buzzed on an herbal mixture. It would have probably been quite bitter, very healthy for you, and would have kept you awake all night composing poetry.

[terpyindicvibes]

Somras literally means juice of Soma.
As far as I know it's a vine found in Himalayas and it's ground and squeezed to bring the juices out then mixed with cow's milk honey and clarified butter and consumed but their are very few how know how to identify this vine and the knowledge is kept so secretive that it's only passed down to the very few and is now considered lost but still Himalayas are full of things beyond comprehension and there are yogis so deep in the mountains who may have the knowledge but reaching them would be next to impossible as they the most real ones are known to avoid any interaction with other and are in locations so remote.. but still there is hope if one takes the challenge..m

[GUNSQUIRREL]

In the northern hemisphere the amanita mascara grows in a symbiotic relationship with the bishop pine the North coast of California is one of the areas where it can be found I have personally ingested 28 grams and all I can tell you is that we are all one

[skylark]

Funny thing is that the followers of Ancient Iranian predating Zoroaster and Zoroastrianism are the cultural cousins of the Hindus with both religions likely originating from a common source. Even the language of the Zend Avesta and the Rig Veda are near cognates but they were also religiously and philosophically antithetical to each other. Certain elemental gods called Devas in the Hindu pantheon were sometimes cast as Demons or Deivas in the Avestan pantheon and likewise the Avestan gods or Ahuras were cast as demons or Asuras in the Hindu pantheon. Nonetheless the practice of Soma drinking is reflected in the Ancient Iranian religion as the drinking of Homa and has survived in Zoroastrianism with Parsis practicing the ceremony even today. Not sure what plant they use but its important from the mountain regions of Afghanistan apparently. Also, the description of the Soma plant in the 9th Mandala of the Rig Veda doesnt point to a mushroom but rather a creeper or a shrub more likely.

[theuncomfortablepan]

The Vedas say "[Soma] you have been sieved and poured into vessals" in one homage to Soma. What is being said here is "[Spirit] you have been extrapolated from the universe and placed into the physical so that we may learn from you".

[FloresRain]

Im here after the last Joe Rogan podcast with Graham and the impressive dude Brian who spoke about soma and another ancient psychedelic

[kikeheebchinkjigaboo]

Gordon Wasson wrote Soma: Mushroom of immortality

[hkumar]

Why don't we first figure out where Mount Mujavan (or Mujavant) is, since the Rig Veda mentions that the best quality Soma comes from Mount Mujavan?

Isn't there some mountain in Central Asia -- Uzbekistan or Tajikistan or thereabouts -- which has a mountain with a very similar name? Why don't we ask the people who live in that area what is the best locally available hallucinogen?

[samwell]

I think soma is psilocybin mushrooms. They bleed blue and grow in cow poop. The devas many have blue skin and cows sacred. Plus look at the Hindu tapestry

[_SPREZZATURA_McGEE_]

Soma is India's Ayahuasca... a Mother drug, a Teacher Drug, A Guru..a Big Brother -provided by nature!! Not intended for frat bois in hoodies n cargo shorts :) Yet I feel that's where everything will end up.. a weekend recreational activity, eventually synthesized and sold by shady Chinese labs to be distributed by Mexican Cartels...and NOWWWW coming to a website or Festival NEAR

[ladulaser]

I dunno... Would you express the juice of a toadstool with stones, as is said in the rigveda samhita?

[sergiogarciac.]

What about amrita, sacred allucigenic drink

[PaulTheSkeptic]

I have a new hypothesis. It could've been like an Indian ayahuasca. It's believed to be a drink made from a number of things but including one green plant which I assume is the active ingredient. That seems to rule out mushrooms. The Vedas describe how they would drink it and go to see the gods.


Ayahuasca is made from 2 main ingredients. One contains DMT, the other has an MAOI. DMT is broken down quickly by the body but the MAOI stops this and allows it to be active orally. DMT is found all over the world in a number of different plants and animals. So it's possible. And whatever it is, it appears to be a psychedelic just based on their description. LSD wasn't invented yet and mushrooms seem to be out. To my knowledge, that leaves mescalin and ayahuasca. And mescalin is usually found in cacti indigenous to the Americas. There are other substances that could be described as psychedelic but usually their effects put a limit on the desire for them. Anything in the nightshade family, salvia, nutmeg. But soma seems to have been used frequently and receives high praise in the many hymns written for it.


I'm not saying this is definitely so. It's still a mystery. But it seems to make sense.

[cokedupnormies]

Isn't Soma made in Kerala still? How do we not know what it is if it is made in Kerala?