| Strength is one of the main attributes of A. muscaria. It is said to impart to the user almost supernatural strength. The Ayurvedic doctor Sushrut says of those who drink the Soma: “The use of the Soma, the lord of all medicinal herbs, is followed by rejuvenation of the system of its user and enables him to witness ten thousand summers on earth in the full enjoyment of a new youthful body. Such a person bears a charmed life against fire, water, poison and weapons and develops a muscular energy in his limbs which would be in no way inferior to the combined strength of a thousand excited elephants. Equipped with such excellent physique, he can easily and without any opposition cross the ocean and go up to the abode of the king of the Gods and roam to the extreme confines of Uttara Kuru (the far north) or any other place he likes.” (47) I would also add to this, “or so he thinks he can,” since we have not seen this kind of strength demonstrated yet, in real life. These may have been poetic ways to describe a feeling of strength, rather than strength itself. Prof. Max Muller comments on the scarcity of Soma even in ancient times: “Even in the earliest liturgical works, in the Sutras and Brahmans, the same admission is made, viz., that true Soma is very difficult to be procured, and that substitutes may be used instead. When it was procured, it is said that it was brought by barbarians from the North, and that it had to be brought under very peculiar circumstances.” (48) In the Secret Doctrine by Madam H.P. Blavatsky, she claims that Soma is the asclepias acida, or rather, Sarcostemma acidum might be what she was referring to, both of which are milkweeds, native to the Himalayas and most species are actually toxic. (49) The ascelpias was named though, after the Greek god of healing and medicine, but that makes no difference. Practically the entire Wiki page on the Sarcostemma is devoted to a theory of its use as Soma, which reveals the uselessness of wiki, in many instances. However, she also has this to say about it, which is what leads me to my speculation of her “cover-up.” Blavatsky writes the following: “SOMA is the moon astronomically; but in mystical phraseology, it is also the name of the sacred beverage drunk by the Brahmins and the Initiates during their mysteries and sacrificial rites. The ‘Soma’ plant is the asclepias acida, which yields a juice from which that mystic beverage, the Soma drink, is made. Alone the descendants of the Rishis, the Agnihôtri (the fire priests) of the great mysteries knew all its powers. But the real property of the true Soma was (and is) to make a new man of the Initiate, after he is reborn, namely once that he begins to live in his astral body (See “The Elixir of Life”); for, his spiritual nature over-coming the physical, he would soon snap it off and part even from that etherealized form. The latter, freed from the former, soars for the time being in the ethereal higher regions, becoming virtually ‘as one of the gods,’ and yet preserving in his physical brain the memory of what he sees and learns. Plainly speaking, Soma is the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge forbidden by the jealous Elohim to Adam and |
Eve or Yah-ve, ‘lest Man should become as one of us.’ Soma was never given in days of old to the non-initiated Brahman the simple Grihasta, or priest of the exoteric ritual. Thus Brihaspati ‘guru of the gods,’ thought he was still represented by the dead-letter form of worship. It is Târâ his wife the symbol of one who, though wedded to dogmatic worship, longs for true wisdom who is shown as initiated into his mysteries by King Soma, the giver of that Wisdom.” (50) It appears to me by reading this previous paragraph, that Blavatsky did indeed know what Soma was but neglected to share the truth with the reader. One thing we can be certain of is that she is in fact discussing astral or mental projection such as remote viewing which occurs under the influence of the mushroom. The following extracts are from various sources in the Rig Veda, not attributed to any one deity. Once again, we read about thunder and lightning, resting on the grass, along with the amrita in the waters which heal, and the removal of sins or evil thoughts which might pervade the mind including lies: (10) We call the Universal Gods, and Maruts to the Soma draught, For passing strong are Pṛśni's Sons. (11) Fierce comes the Maruts’ thundering voice, like that of conquerors, when ye go Forward to victory, O Men. (12) Born of the laughing lightning. may the Maruts guard us everywhere May they be gracious unto Us. (13) Like some lost animal, drive to us, bright Pūṣan, him who bears up heaven, Resting on many-coloured grass. – (19) Amrit is in the Waters in the Waters there is healing balm Be swift, ye Gods, to give them praise. (20) Within the Waters—Soma thus hath told me—dwell all balms that heal, And Agni, he who blesseth all. The Waters hold all medicines. (21) O’ Waters, teem with medicine to keep my body safe from harm, So that I long may see the Sun. (22) Whatever sin is found in me, whatever evil I have wrought. If I have lied or falsely sworn, Waters, remove it far from me. (RV1) Hymn XXIII. Vāyu and Others This next hymn truly represents the idea of the psychedelic initiation as the gods are now discovered: (3) We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered. Now what may foeman's malice do to harm us? What, O Immortal, mortal man's deception? (RV8) Hymn XLVIII. Soma (47) Gods, Sages, Kings, p. 221-222; Kunjalal Bhishagratna, The Sushruta Samhita Vol. II, op. cit., p. 536 (48) The Fountainhead of Religion, p. 53-4; (Quoted in the Essay on "The Sacred Homa Tree" by Nasarvanji F. Belmoria in Zoroastrianism in the light of Theosophy, p. 98-99) of Oct. 25, 1884) (49) Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine Vol. II, page 498-499 (50) The Fountainhead of religion, p. 154-56; Secret Doctrine, Vol. 2, Page 499, Allegories on the “War in Heaven." |