Sambodhi

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 55

Haoma as a plant in the Avestan text
53:
always speak of your intoxication." haoma zāire vadard Jaidi 9.30. "oh gold-coloured Haoma, hurl the weapon" haomo gaoma zairi-gaono 10.12 Haoma is sweet and gold-coloured. Reference is found to the roots, the branches and the spouts of Haoma. Varddayaņuha mana vaca vispdsca
varsajis vispašča paiti fraspavryd vispāiča paiti fravāxšo 10.5. May you thrive with your mind and word with the growth of all stems, with the growth of all branches and with the growth of all sprouts."
In the first pressing the sprouts of Haoma are held together with the chanting of the hymps and in the second (pressing) when these are pounded with a great force such chanting of the verses takes place.
fratardmčit te havandm vača upastaomi huxratvājā acsus hangdurva yeiti upardmčit të havandm vača upa staomi huxratyo yahmi niymd marš aojangha 10.2. "In the first pressing I promise thee with the word, oh one, when I am holding together they sprouts. In the second pressing of the Haoma I praise thee with the word, oh intelligent one, when I am pounding thee down with manly strength."
Haoma grows on the top of the mountains, particularly on that of the Harburja mountain and from there it spreads to the whole of the Pārsika range. dat aiņhe ahiaiwyāsto barśnus pāiti gairinam 9.26. "you are spread in plenty on the top of the mountains," haraid yo paiti vardzaya 10.11. "you grew on the high Haraburja." Therefrom the birds scattered you to other directions on the mountain, ā ar Owā aOra fradasta mdrdya vizvanca vivardm avi iskata upäirisaena. 10.11. "Thereupon the birds brought you to the other solitary places on the mountain beyond the range of the hawks."
Besides the mountains the river-vaileys (i, e, river-beds) too are the places, where the Haoma-plant grows. This seems to have been indicated by the Yest 10. 17. vispe haoma upastaomi yatveit barsnusva gairinam yetvčit jafnuşva raonam yatčit azahu dardtanho jaininam upadardzahu 10. 17. "I praise all the Haomas, which are on the tops of the mountains, those, which are in the river-valleys (beds) and also those, which as fetters are in the possession of women."
Haoma grows by the rains, which help the development of the body of the plant and make it blossom. The mountains, upon which the plant thrives with all its splendour, must be very high, staomi maeyam ča vārdm ča ya te kdhrpdm vaxśayato barśnus paiti gairinam staomi garayo bordzanto yaOra haoma urūruduśa. 103. "I praise the cloud and rain, which make thy body blossom upon the tops of the mountains. I praise the very high mountain, where you grow up.” The land, where Haoma grows, is laudable.