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Amanita Muscaria as the God/ Plant Soma of the Rigveda |
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Written by Michael S. Smith
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Tuesday, 12 August 1997 |
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Page 3 of 3
Since the Amanita's psychoactive principle are altered very little by passing through the human body the possibility of interpreting the Rigveda's references to a second form of Soma being urine is simplified. I hope this one quote will allow a deeper understanding of Wasson's thesis. Soma, storm cloud imbued with life, is milked of ghee (milk). Navel of the Way, Immortal Principle, he sprang into life in the far distance. Acting in concert, those charged with the office, richly gifted, do full honor to Soma. The swollen men piss the flowing Soma (Mandala IX 74).
Though many more Mandala's in the Rigveda itself can be better interpreted in the light of Amanita muscaria, and more information about its use in other cultures could be examined, it goes beyond the scope of this essay. I simply believe that this beautiful mushroom is the best explanation of Soma to date and should be taken serious by all scholars interested in the divine Soma of the Rigveda.
“The Fly-Agaric (Amanita muscaria) produces intoxication, hallucination, and delirium. Light forms of intoxication are accompanied by a certain degree of animation and some spontaneity of movements. Many Shamans, previous to their seances, eat the Fly-Agaric to get into ecstatic states... Under strong intoxication the senses become deranged; surrounding objects appear either very large or very small, hallucinations set in, spontaneous movements and convulsions. So far as I could observe, attacks of great animation alternate with moments of deep depression. The person intoxicated by the Fly-Agaric sits quietly rocking from side to side, even taking part in conversations with his family. Suddenly his eyes dilate, he begins to gesticulate convulsively, converses with persons whom he imagines he sees, sing, and dances. Then an interval of rest sets in again. However, to keep up the intoxication additional doses of the fungus are necessary... There is reason to think that the effects of the Fly-Agaric would be stronger were not its alkaloids quickly taken out of the organism with the urine. The Koryak knows this by experience, and the urine of the persons intoxicated with the Fly-Agaric is not wasted. The drunkard himself drinks it to prolong his hallucinations, or he offers it to others as a treat.” - Waldemar Jochelson, Early 1900's
Wasson, R. Gordon. Soma: The Divine Mushroom of Immortality. Harcourt Brace Jovanovick, Inc., 1968.
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