Page:Wine in Ancient India.pdf/13

 state of exaltation of intensified vitality, which raised them above the level of humanity. It was surely as potent as wine. It was a divine liquor which gave the Gods strength and immortality (LX. 108) without which they would lose their might, their eternal youth. This was the Amrita or ambrosia.

There was a sacrifice in honour of Soma in which the juice was first offered to the gods after which the priest and sacrificing party partook of the juice themselves. Needless to say large quantities of juice were used. In the invocation we find "O Soma there is nothing so bright as thou. When poured out, thou welcomest all the gods, to bestow on them immortality" A whole book (IX) is devoted to the praise of this juice and it is alleged that by the offering of the juice the gods were tempted out of the heavens!

Even the gods were not immune from disease, and the evils of intemperance were evident even among them. Indra, it is said drank so much once, that this stomach assumed huge proportions and saliva flowed freely from his mouth. And in the prayers to Soma we find an entreaty of this nature "O Soma do not derange our stomach" (8. 48. 10.)

In Yayur Veda we find that Vishva-rupa the son of Tuashtar, while performing the Soma sacrifice drank so much of the juice that he vomitted over the