Hare krishna,All glories to srila prabhupada,I read 'Krsna-the supreme pesonality of godhead' that balram ji frequently used to drink somras, what was the reason behind it? For balram is krishna's expansion. Plz clear my doubts prabhjis and matajis,Haribol
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Soma paanam and Sura Paanam Soma has to be differentiated from Sura (physically intoxiating alcohol ) made from grapes or grains). Soma is a CONCEPTUAL beverage of Gods , which is described as Truth (Sathyam), Auspiciousness( Sri:) , light /radiance (Jyothi:) . Sura in contrast is untruth (anrutham), misery (Paapmaa) and darkness ( tama:). Soma leads to Jn~anam (enlightenment ) and Anandham ( bliss):
Soma is not produced by crushing and filtering a Creeper with the name of Soma. The creeeper is also a conceptual creeper , the juice of which is presented in a RITUALISTIC manner in Soma Yaagams .
Soma rasam & Geethacharyan Geethacharyan states in Gita that He is Soma among medicinal herbs . By that He means that all the medicinal herbs owe their curative powers to the POWER OF Soma present in them. All the medicinal herbs on this earth are recognized as the gift of Soma , which is not cultivable by Humans.
The significance of Soma rasam offering Soma is offered to Indra in Soma Yaagam , since it is considered as his favorite drink. At a metaphysical level , Indra is the Atman and the Soma is the spiritual love and affection that flows from the Supreme Lord to fill the inner conscience of the man with Jn~anam and Aanandham.
In the Vedas, the drink, and the plant refer to the same entity. Drinking Soma produces immortality (Amrita, Rigveda 8.48.3). Indra and Agni are portrayed as consuming Soma in copious quantities. The consumption of Soma by human beings is well attested in Vedic ritual.
a ápāma sómam amŕtā abhūmâganma jyótir ávidāma devân
c kíṃ nūnám asmân kṛṇavad árātiḥ kím u dhūrtír amṛta mártyasya
We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.
Now what may foeman's malice do to harm us? What, O Immortal, mortal man's deception?
or
Som (good fruit containing food not any intoxicating drink) apama (we drink you)
amŕtā abhūmâ (you are elixir of life) jyótir âganma (achieve physical strength or light of god)
ávidāma devân (achieve control over senses);
kíṃ nūnám asmân kṛṇavad árātiḥ (in this situation, what our internal enemy can do to me)
kím u dhūrtír amṛta mártyasya (god, what even violent people can do to me)
"Heaven above does not equal one half of me. Have I been drinking soma? In my glory I have passed beyond earth and sky. Have I been drinking soma? I will pick up the earth and place it here or there. Have I been drinking soma?" Rig-Veda X:U9, 7-9
The Ninth Mandala of the Rigveda is known as the Soma Mandala. It consists entirely of hymns addressed to Soma Pavamana ("purified Soma").
There are several references in the RgVeda, associating Soma with the visionary seeing of Light e.g. RV 9.4, RV 9.5, RV 9.8, RV 9.10, RV 9.42.
RV 8.82.25 For thee, O Lord of Light, are shed these Soma-drops, and grass is strewn. Bring Indra to his worshippers. May Indra give thee skill, and lights of heaven, wealth to his votary. And priests who praise him: laud ye him.
Personal Interpretation:
1. Soma also means Moon or Moon God, In Vedic Astrology - Moon is representation of one's Mind and Moon is also responsible for vegetation of plants and trees. so in one sense somras is nector of mind but how? man-manābhava mad-bhakto (BG 9.34, 18.65) means Engage your mind always in thinking of Me or Always think of Me (Krsna)
Somras is juice of immortality how? BG 6.7: For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.
2. Lord Krishna or Balram Ji descend upon earth comes in Moon Dynasty.
To know more about Moon please read following link
Well, Somras itself have many meanings in scriptures according to place they are used, so when it is said Balram Ji used to drink somras it may not be taken in context of somesort of alcohol or intoxication.
gaurav chauhan > Speaking SoulSeptember 20, 2013 at 10:02am
As His deeds were sung, Lord Halayudha wandered as if inebriated among the various forests with His girlfriends. His eyes rolled from the effects of the liquor.
Replies
Soma paanam and Sura Paanam
Soma has to be differentiated from Sura (physically intoxiating alcohol ) made from grapes or grains). Soma is a CONCEPTUAL beverage of Gods , which is described as Truth (Sathyam), Auspiciousness( Sri:) , light /radiance (Jyothi:) . Sura in contrast is untruth (anrutham), misery (Paapmaa) and darkness ( tama:). Soma leads to Jn~anam (enlightenment ) and Anandham ( bliss):
"sathyam vai Sri: Jyothi: Soma: anrutha paapma tama: Suraithe " --Satapatha Brahmanam: VI.1.3.10
Soma is not produced by crushing and filtering a Creeper with the name of Soma. The creeeper is also a conceptual creeper , the juice of which is presented in a RITUALISTIC manner in Soma Yaagams .
Soma rasam & Geethacharyan
Geethacharyan states in Gita that He is Soma among medicinal herbs . By that He means that all the medicinal herbs owe their curative powers to the POWER OF Soma present in them. All the medicinal herbs on this earth are recognized as the gift of Soma , which is not cultivable by Humans.
The significance of Soma rasam offering
Soma is offered to Indra in Soma Yaagam , since it is considered as his favorite drink. At a metaphysical level , Indra is the Atman and the Soma is the spiritual love and affection that flows from the Supreme Lord to fill the inner conscience of the man with Jn~anam and Aanandham.
In the Vedas, the drink, and the plant refer to the same entity. Drinking Soma produces immortality (Amrita, Rigveda 8.48.3). Indra and Agni are portrayed as consuming Soma in copious quantities. The consumption of Soma by human beings is well attested in Vedic ritual.
The Rigveda (8.48.3) states,
"Heaven above does not equal one half of me.
Have I been drinking soma?
In my glory I have passed beyond earth and sky.
Have I been drinking soma?
I will pick up the earth and place it here or there.
Have I been drinking soma?"
Rig-Veda X:U9, 7-9
The Ninth Mandala of the Rigveda is known as the Soma Mandala. It consists entirely of hymns addressed to Soma Pavamana ("purified Soma").
There are several references in the RgVeda, associating Soma with the visionary seeing of Light e.g. RV 9.4, RV 9.5, RV 9.8, RV 9.10, RV 9.42.
RV 8.82.25 For thee, O Lord of Light, are shed these Soma-drops, and grass is strewn. Bring Indra to his worshippers. May Indra give thee skill, and lights of heaven, wealth to his votary. And priests who praise him: laud ye him.
Personal Interpretation:
1. Soma also means Moon or Moon God, In Vedic Astrology - Moon is representation of one's Mind and Moon is also responsible for vegetation of plants and trees. so in one sense somras is nector of mind but how? man-manā bhava mad-bhakto (BG 9.34, 18.65) means Engage your mind always in thinking of Me or Always think of Me (Krsna)
Somras is juice of immortality how? BG 6.7: For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.
2. Lord Krishna or Balram Ji descend upon earth comes in Moon Dynasty.
To know more about Moon please read following link
http://www.harekrsna.com/philosophy/associates/demigods/chandra.htm
Well, Somras itself have many meanings in scriptures according to place they are used, so when it is said Balram Ji used to drink somras it may not be taken in context of somesort of alcohol or intoxication.
Kindly show us reference where you read this....
For above article sources are
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070728234135AAH3OjN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandra
As His deeds were sung, Lord Halayudha wandered as if inebriated among the various forests with His girlfriends. His eyes rolled from the effects of the liquor.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.65.23
Looks like intoxication to me..
He drinks Varuni.
Varuni is made of mixture of curd and honey.
Lord Shiva drank ocean of poison so source of Lord Shiva Lord Vishnu or Lord Balarama can drink anything He desires, doesn't He Prabhu?!
Your servant in serving to Srila Prabhupada,