Subhas Mitra : 26 March 2024
Is SOMRAS a mere Intoxicant?
“सोमरस” सिर्फ दारू है क्या?
Somras is believed to be the intoxicant of Debatas (gods) which literally means Nectar from the Moon brought by the Gandharvas. It was Rambha, the apshara, who collected during the cosmic churning, the Samudra Manthan.
What is Somras ?
Som (moon=lunar> lunatic), Som = Taal beat of music rhythm, Somras = ordinarily known as alcoholic beverage.
“Sri Vidya” practitioners of, Tantra Kundalini Kriya Yoga School believe ‘Somchakra’ (near Medulla oblongata or ‘God’s Mouth’ in Biblical terms) has a ‘secretion’ called Somras which elevates Yogi’s consciousness and free from sorrow.
Somchakra
Modern science says:
1. Catecholamine comprises Dopamine, Adrenaline, and Noradrenaline. They are important in stress responses.
2. Dopamine acts on areas of the brain to give you feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation.
3. Serotonin is one of the natural body chemicals that control your mood. It works with It works with Melatonin to help control sleep and wake up, feel pain, well-being and sexual desire.
Brain
In Ancient days besides the Yoga, they knew external stimulation to the ‘Somchakra’ by fermented fruit juice, a light Alcoholic comparable to Barbarian brew or ‘beer’ named after Barbara, a Byzantine goddess (now known as St. Barbara for Catholic).
They also knew about “Choi”, which is nothing but ‘tea’ from the highest altitude of the Himalayas in
Ladakh – Tibet. It is available in stores as an Ayurvedic herb. ***
Leaves of “Cannabis Plant” (used as Ganja or its paste called Bhang) also help stimulating SOMCHAKRA. It was banned in India by British to sell their Alcohol in India. Today it is legal in 38 states of USA and also in German.
***Ref: India Beyond Narrative Page – 162.
Who are Gandharvas:
A Gandharva (गन्धर्व, =’musician’) is a member of a class of celestial beings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. In Rig Veda they are physicians, in Vishnu Puran they are husbands of APSHARAs the daughters of The Sun. They procure and secure SOMRAS. In later texts, they are projected as men fallen from demigods engaged in Music, Dance as well as healing. There are 43 definitions of Gandharvas. The Atharvaveda mentions 6333 Gandharvas.
In Mahabharata, they are human rulers as well as musicians. Historically scholars believe they are now present in about 200 countries and in as many religions and known by their respective countries and in languages as singers, musicians, artists, craftsmen and holistic healers.
During the Buddhist rise from Afghanistan to Kashmir Gandharvas lived in that entire area. They are Muslims today except perhaps the “Kalash Tribes” who live in Hindu Kush (Afghan-Pak border). Scholars also believe the Roma people of Romania or Roma (Gypsies) of Europe are discontent with Gandharvas who migrated during the early Muslim invasion in Afghanistan to the Punjab region.
Gandharva Marriage.
The Gandharva marriage is a marriage based on mutual attraction and desire/lust to marry by the bride and the groom without involving the families or society. It was supposed to be a meeting and mating recognition process without following social or Vedic norms or rituals.
This is still in practice in certain tribal societies in the subcontinent, Kalash Tribes as well as Roma people (video available on YouTube)
Kalash
A L Basham included it in his “Wonder That Was India” as one of the Eight types of Hindu marriages.
Let us see what Sri Krishna asks us to seek in Gandharvas in
Bhagwat Gita, Chapter – 10.
Here is Shloka: 26
अश्वत्थ: सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारद: |
गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथ: सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनि: || 26||
Translation:
Amongst trees I am the Peepal tree (sacred fig tree); of the celestial sages, I am Narad. Amongst the Gandharvas I am Chitrath, and amongst the Siddhas, I am sage Kapil.
Narration:
Peepal Tree:
अश्वत्थ: (Ashwatya) has 750 verities fig trees, pollinated only by its own group of species of tiny wasps that breed only inside the figs of their partner trees (‘वट‘ or ‘बड़‘ and पिप्पल). Bar and Pipal are planted together only because of this but in my school days we were told that these two trees symbolize ARIYAN & DRAVID UNION-what stupidity we were taught).
Banyans are ecological linchpins. Gives fruit twice a year, and feeds birds, fruit bats, primates and other creatures, which in turn disperse the seeds of hundreds of other plant species. It is an enormous oxygen producer. It has medicinal effects on over 20 ailments. (Ref: Ladder to Heaven by MIKE SHANAHAN)
Gita Ch-15 Sl-1 describes the tree with its roots above and branches below. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns, and one who knows the secret of this tree is the knower of the Vedas.
It has been known for about 2500 years and world’s biggest tree in terms of the area it covers. The biggest one alive today is in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It covers 1.9 hectares (4.7 acres) and can shelter 20,000 people.
The tree is also called TRIMURTY as Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh reside within.
People who have planted the tree in Hawaii, USA include Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Amelia Earhart and Louis Armstrong.
Botanists tell us that Mango is a fruit (that primarily Human consumes) found in India some 4000 BC and is carried worldwide but the Banyan tree (purely ecological treasure house) has gone only with Hinduism.
Mango
No one should surprise when you see some Hindus are offering flowers etc. at those trees. It represents Sri Krishna.
Narad Muni:
Narad is the Guru of many great personalities such as Ved Vyas, Valmiki, Dhruv, and Prahlad. He connects TRI-BHUVAN as a celestial massager. He is also famous for deliberately creating quarrels which ultimately result in self-introspection and purification. He sings in praise of the Supreme Being on all occasions.
Chitrath,the Gandharva chief :
Gandharvas were sons of Kashyap and Daksh Kanya Muni/ Aristha – Vishnu Purana.
- Gandharvas live in heaven and are the husbands of Apsaras. He is a lower-class god. He is also the protector of Soma (starting ‘beat’ or Taal in a rhythm) of the singer in the assembly of the gods.
Gandharva
- They are messengers between gods and humans. They married daughters of the Sun ( Apsaras without any rituals thus called Gandharv marriage) and procured SOMRAS ( from Som or Moon)
Apshara
c. The mention of men can also be seen in Mahabharata. During the exile of Pandavas, at the behest of Devraj Indra, Duryodhana and the Kauravas were held captive by the Gandharvas. Later, the Kauravas were freed from bondage by defeating the Gandharvas.
d. The chief of the Gandharvas was Chitrarath. He is mentioned as a broadcaster. He gets the name from SADASHIV (who first played DAMRU) and TANDAVA (cosmic dance of SHIVA).
e. I do not know if “Chitral” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan was named on “Chitrath” as that area belonged to Gandharvas during the Mahabharata era.
Chitral
Therefore CHITRATH is that ‘god’s properties’ which keep us ecstatic.
Thus seek Sri Krishna rapturously as chidananda.
Who are Siddhas?
The Siddha Purusha (mortal human) was one who had gone beyond the physical to spiritual realms, and by conquering the senses had attained union with the one God. Having conquered the senses, the Siddhar turned his body into a channel for spiritual attainment.
Siddhas may broadly refer to Siddhars, Naths, Ascetics, Sadhus, or Yogis because they all practice Sādhanā.
- In Hinduism, the first usage of the term Siddha occurs in the Maitreya Upanishad. There are many Shiddashramas.
- Sri Vidya Tantra has 18 Shiddhas.
- Jainism and Buddhism also have Siddhas.
Kapil Dev’s achievements:
He explained the ‘Sankhya Yoga’ to his mother for the first time. Kapil Muni is mentioned in the Adi Khand of Ramayana. The 13th ancestor of Sri Ramachandra, Raja Sagar had a curse from Kapildev. Segar’s descendent Bhagiratha, brought Ganga down to earth till the Kapil Ashram to cleanse the curse.
Sri Krishan’s brother Balarama also came to Gangasagar Ashram. Sati Anyshuya was his sister and disciple who was married to Rishi Atri.
Kapil Muni:
Kapila (Sanskrit: कपिल), also referred to as Cakradhanus is a sage in Hindu tradition. According to Bhagavata Purana, he is the son of the sage Kardama and Devahuti, the daughter of the Svayambhuva Manu.
Why Kapil Muni is important?
Believed to be an avatar or reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, Maharishi Kapil Muni (or Sage Kapila) has an important position in the Hindu pantheon of sages. His ashram in West Bengal’s Gangasagar is visited by millions of pilgrims
The name Kapila appears in many texts and these names likely refer to different people. The most famous reference is to the sage Kapila with his student Āsuri, who in the Indian tradition, are considered as the first masters of Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.
The first “Kapil Muni Temple” was built by Bamboos at ‘Gangasagar’ in West Bengal by one Queen Satyabhama in 430 AD when the ‘Shishunaga’ dynasty of Magadha ruled the area. Another major Temple is at Nashik, Maharashtra and one at Purbashthali in West Bengal.
We are therefore argued to seek the Supreme Godhead Sri Krishna in Kapil Muni of Gangasagar.
Temples:
Gangasagar :
Nashik :
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