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Soma

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Russian Archaeologists seem to think that they have identified the mysterious plant known as Soma from the Rig Veda, as being a type of preserved psilocybin cubensis mushroom, based off of a 2000 year old woolen blanket discovered a few years ago.
I do not think so. Soma had golden leaves. Does the mushroom have golden leaves in any season? Just an embroidery is not proof enough. The stalk of the Soma (Haoma) plant was pounded with wood or stone and strained through a woolen cloth. Also mixed with milk, curd or barley water. My vote goes to some variety of Ephedra native to Asia. I have found a few and am checking on that.

It is so easy. Why not people check on these species, make a concoction in the way described in RigVeda and test? :)

Actually my supposed progenitor, Upamanyu (that is why my nick is Aupmanyav), wrote part of a hymn in RigVeda in praise of Soma. :)
Perhaps this one (best guess): Rig Veda: Rig-Veda, Book 9: HYMN XCVIII. Soma Pavamana

220px-Green_ephedra_Ephedra_viridis_close.jpg
Ephedra sinica
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
The candidates are (must be native to Siberia or Central Asia. American Ephedras will not do, nor will those from Africa, Europe, or even those from Iran, Afghanistan and India. They are substitutes. Must be from places where the practice may have started):
> E. dischatya L., E. gerardiana Wall (Ma Huang), E. intermedia, E. lomatolepis, E. monosperma, E. przewalskii, E. sinica, E. strobilacea.
We can check these first. In addition, there are some, for whom Wikipedia does not have separate pages. These are:
> E. aurantiaca, E. botschantzevii, E. dahurica, E. x eleutherolepis, E. equisetina, E. fedtschenkoae, E. major, E. oxyphylla, E. pseudodischatya, E. regeliana,
 
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Native

Free Natural Philosopher & Comparative Mythologist
Russian Archaeologists seem to think that they have identified the mysterious plant known as Soma from the Rig Veda, as being a type of preserved psilocybin cubensis mushroom, based off of a 2000 year old woolen blanket discovered a few years ago.
I don´t think so. Every time archaeologists don´t know what they are discovering, it all goes into their "physically ritual department" if they aren´t familiar with the mythical contexts, which they aren´t.

The very mythical definition of "SOMA" is a highly developed stage of consciousness - but yes, several methods and herbs can be used to get in contact with this cosmic consciousness, which is fine - if ones mind is naturally prepared for this. Otherwise it can be a case for psychiatric consultations and treatments.
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
IMHO, the archaeologists may be well aware of mythology, but it seems you are not aware of the scientific methods. What you are describing belongs to religious studies - cosmic consciousness.
 

Native

Free Natural Philosopher & Comparative Mythologist
IMHO, the archaeologists may be well aware of mythology, but it seems you are not aware of the scientific methods. What you are describing belongs to religious studies - cosmic consciousness.
I don´t differ between ancient and modern knowledge at all and I can´t help it if modern science and its numerous branches is unable to connect the many relevant dots. Which was exactly the problematics i described above.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I agree science cannot connect all dots, but it seems you think religion and philosophy connect all dots (even without any evidence)?
 

Native

Free Natural Philosopher & Comparative Mythologist
I agree science cannot connect all dots, but it seems you think religion and philosophy connect all dots (even without any evidence)?
I presume your "Hindu connection" has lots of religious/mythological scriptures of astronomy and cosmology. Even the swastika on your profile image is a cosmological symbol.

What other evidence do you need?
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I presume your "Hindu connection" has lots of religious/mythological scriptures of astronomy and cosmology. Even the swastika on your profile image is a cosmological symbol.
Hindu cosmology covers the whole range, from "Eko'ham Bahusyami" (I am one, I will be many) to "Brahma satyam, jagan-mithya" (Brahman alone is truth, the perceived is an illusion).
Swastika is a social symbol denoting every one's welfare (nothing is excluded, Humans, animals, vegetation and non-living substances). Here is what we term as a "Swasti Vachana" (Prayer for welfare of all):

"Dyauh shanti rantariksham shantih
Prithvi shantirapah shantih
Oshadhayah shantih Vanaspatayah shantih
Vishvedevah shantih Brahma shantih
Sarvam shantih Shantireva shantih
Sama shantiredhih
Shantih, shantih, shantih!"


May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere.
May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and creepers.
May peace flow over the whole universe.
May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman.
And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti to us and all beings!
 
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Native

Free Natural Philosopher & Comparative Mythologist
Brahman alone is truth, the perceived is an illusion)
I agree in the Brahma is the spiritually and universal truth, hence "the perceived is an illusion" ONLY if somebody take the material world to be the only truth.
Swastika is a social symbol denoting every one's welfare (nothing is excluded, Humans, animals, vegetation and non-living substances)
The Swastika symbolizes the very barred Milky Way galaxy itself as this was the primary object in the numerous ancient cultural Stories of Creation and everything created in this - http://www.native-science.net/index.html - (available only from Wednesday 6/1-22)

Aupmanyav, it´s a very nice praying, indeed.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Aupmanyav, it´s a very nice praying, indeed.
:) In my world view, I am constituted by what constitutes all things in the universe. If I am that, then, to whom do I pray to? Ishavasya Upanishad says:

"andhaṁ tamaḥ praviśanti ye vidyām upāsate; tato bhūya iva te tamo ya avidyāyāṁ ratāḥ."
Into a blind darkness they enter who worship the existent, they fall into a greater darkness who worship the non-existent.
(Aupmanyav's translation)
 
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