Soma andAmanita muscaria

Bibliographic Data

ID2779409
AuthorsJohn Brough (corresponding author)
Year1971
Volume34
Issue2
Pages331-362
Publication date1971-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0041-977X • E-ISSN: 1474-0699
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0041977x0012957x
OpenAlexW2005276596
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited3

The importance of the Soma-plant in Vedic religion has never been underestimated. Among the rituals of the Yajurvedic texts, thesoma-sacrifices are among the most elaborate and important, and are described in minute detail in theBrāhmaṇasandŚrauta-sūtras. These later texts nevertheless continue a direct tradition from theṚgveda, which can be seen to reflect an earlier stage in the development of the ritual, doubtless of a less rigidly formalized and probably less elaborate nature. Even so, theṚgvedais, so to speak, permeated by Soma. Understandably, therefore, from the early days of Vedic studies in the West, many scholars have speculated on the botanical identity of the plant in question. Numerous candidates have been nominated, the most frequently favoured being species of the generaEphedra, Sarcostemma, Periploca, and latterlyCannabis, and evenRheum. Not a single one of these conjectures has gained general assent, and the opinion is widely held that the problem is insoluble

Aesthetics · Ancient history · Art · Biology · Identity (music) · Literature · Soma · Traditional medicine · Chemical synthesis and alkaloids · Classics · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · History · Medicine · Philosophy · Psychedelics and Drug Studies

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