--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "mark robert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > _____
> > One of the articles in the Journal of Vedic studies attempted to > prove, thru this detailed > textual analysis, that soma was in fact the ephedra plant. The > real reason that the Vedic > rishis were so awake was because they were quaffing down ephedra! > The image was just > hilarious of these dreadlocked rishis, speeding there brains out > like undergrads cramming > for midterms. > > -V. > > > ---------------- > > Ahhh, the real definition of "awakening". > ------------- There is more than textual pointers that Euphedra (and cannabis) were used in ancient rites -- that involved lots of mixing, grinding and straining (echos of 9th mandala -- and many other things) . While this does not prove any link to soma, it is interesting. Ephedra herb contains various neurotransmitters or chemicals that effect neurotransmitters: 0.5-2 percent alkaloids, including ephedrine; pseudophedrine; norephedrine; norpseudoephedrine; and methylephedrine. If Soma or related substances have a physical structure, its not a stretch to hypothesize that it enables some special links between neurons, creating a special functioning of the nervous system to enhance or enable higher states. Thus, its not inconsistent, though by no means a proof, that a neuro-transmitter rich substance, when prepared in special ways, with other substances, could be a part of such higher states neuro-transmitter cocktail . The following was hidden in the large multi-link dump I provided yesterday -- which I doubt anyone waded thru due to its size. (Sorry it was so big, but lots of interesting material) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/message/44279 Here the excerpt on euphedra: http://www.huxley.net/soma/ archaeological evidence emerged from Russian excavations in the Kara Kum desert of Turkmenistan... known to the ancients as Margiana, the Russians uncovered a number of sites of monumental architecture dating from the second millennium BC. One of these sites, Gonur South, consists of a fortified complex of buildings, a number of private dwellings and a fort. Within this complex there is also a large shrine (known to have been used as a sacred fire temple) consisting of two parts: one clearly used for public worship and the other, hidden from the gaze of the multitude, an inner sanctum of the priesthood. In one of these private rooms were found three ceramic bowls. Analysis of samples found in these vessels by Professor Mayer-Melikyan revealed the traces of both cannabis and Ephedra. Clearly both these psychoactive substances had been used in conjunction in the making of hallucinogenic drinks. In the adjoining room of the same inner sanctum were found ten ceramic pot-stands which appear to have been used in conjunction with strainers designed to separate the juices from the twigs, stems and leaves of the plants. In another room at the other end of the shrine a basin containing remains of a considerable quantity of cannabis was discovered, as well as a number of pottery stands and strainers that have also been associated with making psychoactive beverages. The excavators believe that, given the considerable size of the fortress, the shrine may well have been dispensing the entheogenic drink to worshippers from all over Margiana in the first half of the second millennium BC.... These sites also yielded up other artefacts that gave tantalising clues as to what sort of rituals took place in these Bronze Age shrines. Designs on a cylinder seal depict a drummer, an acrobat and two men with the heads of monkeys. ... the discovery in the shrines of the remains of opium, cannabis and Ephedra in ritual vessels that are dated between 2000-1000 BC show that soma in its Iranian form haoma may be considered as a composite psychoactive substance comprising of cannabis and Ephedra in one instance and opium and Ephedra in another. This identification of haoma has an archaeological background which neither the fly-agaric nor Syrian rue can match, unless such evidence comes to light. Despite the considerable efforts made to discover the botanical identity of soma, it may be that this is one mystery that will never be satisfactorily solved. To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
