---
title: Soma: The Elixir of the Hindu Gods
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Soma/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2025-04-18
---
# Soma: The Elixir of the Hindu Gods
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
Soma was a fermented juice drink which was believed to have been consumed by the [Hindu](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/) gods and their ancient priests, the *brahmanas*, during rituals. Thought to be an elixir its consumption not only healed illness but also brought great riches. Soma is personified by the [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) of the same name who is also the god of sacrifices and who may, in some texts, be associated with the Moon. The drink is famously described and praised in a [Mandala](https://www.worldhistory.org/mandala/) of the sacred Hindu text, the *Rigveda*.
### The Drink Soma
Perhaps first used in ancient [Persia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persia/), Soma juice may have derived from the fermented milky sap of *Asclepias acida*, a climbing plant which thrives in mountain areas. Other candidates for the origin of the drink, or partial ingredients therein, include hallucinogenic mushrooms, honey, cannabis, blue lotus, milk, and pomegranate.
In [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/), the gods gained their immortality by drinking Soma and it was the favourite tipple of the great god [Indra](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indra/). They then gave the drink to the archer-god Gandharva for safe-keeping but one day [Agni](https://www.worldhistory.org/Agni/), the fire-god, stole it and gave it to the human race. Not only drunk by priests for its sacred nature it was also credited with uplifting qualities, giving the drinker a boost in energy and alertness. These effects meant that the drink has been considered divine since ancient times; a beverage which brought humans closer to the divine. It was also commonly offered in libations to the gods by worshippers.
### The God Soma
The drink was personified as the god Soma who was considered primeval amongst the gods and a bringer of health and wealth; in many ways he is similar to the [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) and [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) gods of wine [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/) and [Bacchus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bacchus/) while the drink is the equivalent of ambrosia in those traditions. In addition, Soma is regarded as the deity who supervises Hindu religious sacrifices and he represents the direction North-east. In the *Puranas* religious texts, Soma is described as riding a [chariot](https://www.worldhistory.org/chariot/) with three wheels, which is drawn by a team of ten pure-white horses.
Later, Soma was also identified with the moon-god Osadhipati (or alternatively Chandra), a natural extension of the latter's role as the lord of herbs. In the *Puranas* Soma as the moon-god appears in several separate *puranas*, often with conflicting descriptions. He may be, variously, the son of Atri (the sage and one of the ten lords of creation), Prabhakara (of the Atri race), Parjanya (the Vedic rain-god), or Dharma (another ancient sage). In yet another version Soma was born from the churning of the milky ocean when the world was first created. He is also, confusingly, described as a warrior of the *kshatriya* caste and as a priest of the *brahman* caste. In the *[Vedas](https://www.worldhistory.org/The_Vedas/)* Sita, the daughter of Savita, the Sun, was Soma's lover but his most famous companions are Rohini and [Tara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tara_(Goddess)/).
### Soma & Rohini
One of the most picturesque myths involving Soma is, in his guise as the moon, when he ambitiously married all 27 daughters of Daksa, the great sage. The number of these beauties is not coincidental as they are the personification of the 27 lunar asterisms. Soma, perhaps inevitably, developed a favourite, Rohini (the Red One - the constellation of Taurus), the fourth sister, and this caused great jealousy amongst the other 26. As a body, they complained to their father but he could do nothing about Soma's preference. As a result, Daksa cursed Soma so that he would never have children and, even worse, ensured that he would slowly die of consumption. Hearing this, Daksa's daughters thought that their father had gone rather too far and pleaded with him not to be so harsh. Consequently, Daksa modified his curse so that instead of expiring completely Soma would die temporarily and then rejuvenate in a continuous cycle. And this was the explanation for the periodical waning of the moon.
### Soma & [Tara](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Tara/)
In another famous episode from Hindu mythology, the amorous Soma this time abducted Tara, the wife of Brhaspati, the god-priest who acted as messenger and link between humanity and the gods. In taking Tara, Soma sparked off a [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) between the gods and demons (*asura*), which only the intervention of mighty [Brahma](https://www.worldhistory.org/Brahma/) brought to an end. Tara was then returned to her family but not before she had fallen pregnant with Soma's son Budha (not to be confused with [Buddha](https://www.worldhistory.org/Siddhartha_Gautama/)), the personification of the planet Mercury and father of the Lunar race.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Anonymous. *Hindu Myths.* Penguin Classics, 2004.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140449906/)
- [Das, R. *The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism.* Lorenz Books, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0754820564/)
- [Dowson, J. *Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion; Geography, History.* DK Print World, 2000.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/8124601089/)
- [Hackin, J. *Asiatic Mythology.* Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1963.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B000HTLNIC/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 1500 BCE - c. 500 BCE**: The Vedic Period in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) after a greater migration of the Indo-[Aryans](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aryan/) from Central Asia
- **c. 1500 BCE - c. 500 BCE**: Indian scholars of the so-called Vedic Period commit [the Vedas](https://www.worldhistory.org/The_Vedas/) to written form; basic tenets of [Hinduism](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/) are established.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2016, January 30). Soma: The Elixir of the Hindu Gods. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Soma: The Elixir of the Hindu Gods." *World History Encyclopedia*, January 30, 2016. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Soma: The Elixir of the Hindu Gods." *World History Encyclopedia*, 30 Jan 2016, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 30 January 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.