Sambodhi

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

Page 56

S. N. Ghosal
A sweet smell comes from the herb that remains spread over a wide tract. The top of the mountain is the place, where the divine plant grows. staumi zdmö yaOra raodahe hubaoidis aurvo carändm uta Mazda huruOma haoma raose gara paiti 10.4
“I praise the earth, where you grow with sweet fragrance on a wide tract. Oh Haoma like a great treasure of Mazdā you grow on the mountain."
The juice of haoma is mixed with milk and the beverege is prepared. It is distributed then to the people, who assemble to get a share of the excellent drink. yasd ta bada haoma zaira gava iristahe boxšaiti. 10.13. "Who distributes you, oh Haoma, constantly (among the assembled persons) mixed with milk.”
The drinking of the juice is highly efficacious for the body. It surely gives health. The intoxication caused by its drinking cheers the heart. ranjaiti haomahe mado, yo yada puOrdm taurumdm haomdm vandacta masyo frā alovo tanub yao haomo vīsaite boesazai 10.8. “The intoxication, caused by Haoma, cheers. He, who adores Haoma like a young son, is favoured by Haoma, who attributes health to his body." As Haoma gives health. there occurs an appeal from the worshipper for the granting of health. haoma dazdi me bazsazanam yābyo ahi baeśazada. 10. 9. "Oh Haoma! give me health since you are the giver of health. The phenomenon of the distribution of health by Haoma leads to a great delight and remains associa. ted with it. This indicates obviously the magnanimous heart of Haoma, å te bačśaja irīradard vanghẽus mananho mayāloyo 10.12. “your health-giving is for delight and is an outcome of an excellent heart. So Haoma remains ever associated with health. Vanghusdato baësajo. 9.16. “Haoma is created by excellence and is the health-giver."
The praise of the Haoma helps the growth of the plant. One becomes more victorious if one praises Haoma. The regular pressing of the plant, its worship and its systematic drinking help one to assault the Devilish spirits: haoma uxśyeiti stavano, aoa nā yo dim staoiti vdrdOtjastaro vavaiti nitdmčit haomahūitis nitdmcit haoma stūitis nitdmcithaoma xarditis hazanraynàyāi asti daevanam. 10.6 “Haoma grows when belauded. The man, who praises Haoma, becomes more victorious. The regular pressing of Haoma, the regular worship of Haoma and its regular drinking make one strong enough to inflict assaults on thousand Daevas."
The above discussion clearly shows that the image of Haoma as a plant was quite clear to the propagators of the Zoroastrian faith and the