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Concept
Haoma
Summary
Haoma (ˈhoʊmə; Avestan: 𐬵𐬀𐬊𐬨𐬀) is a divine plant in Zoroastrianism and in later Persian culture and mythology. Haoma has its origins in Indo-Iranian religion and is the cognate of Vedic soma.
Both Avestan haoma and Sanskrit soma derived from proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma. The linguistic root of the word haoma, hu-, and of soma, su-, suggests 'press' or 'pound'.
In Old Persian cuneiform it was known as 𐏃𐎢𐎶 hauma, as in the DNa inscription (c. 490 BC) which makes reference to "haoma-drinking Scythians" (Sakā haumavargā).
The Middle Persian form of the name is 𐭧𐭥𐭬 hōm, which continues to be the name in Modern Persian, and other living Iranian languages (هوم).
The physical attributes, as described in the texts of the Avesta, include:
the plant has stems, roots and branches (Yasna 10.5).
it has a plant asu (Yasna 9.16). The term asu is only used in conjunction with a description of haoma, and does not have an established translation. It refers to 'twigs' according to Dieter Taillieu, 'stalk' according to Robert Wasson, 'fibre' or 'flesh' according to Ilya Gershevitch, 'sprouts' according to Lawrence Heyworth Mills.
it is tall (Yasna 10.21, Vendidad 19.19)
it is fragrant (Yasna 10.4)
it is golden-green (standard appellation, Yasna 9.16 et al.)
it can be pressed (Yasna 9.1, 9.2)
it grows on the mountains, 'swiftly spreading', 'apart on many paths' (Yasna 9.26, 10.3-4 et al.) 'to the gorges and abysses' (Yasna 10–11) and 'on the ranges' (Yasna 10.12)
The indirect attributes (i.e. as effects of its consumption) include:
it furthers healing (Yasna 9.16-17, 9.19, 10.8, 10.9)
it furthers sexual arousal (Yasna 9.13-15, 9.22)
it is physically strengthening (Yasna 9.17, 9.22, 9.27)
it stimulates alertness and awareness (Yasna 9.17, 9.22, 10.13)
the mildly intoxicating extract can be consumed without negative side effects (Yasna 10.8).
it is nourishing (Yasna 9.4, 10.20) and 'most nutritious for the soul' (Yasna 9.16).
Many of the physical attributes as described in the texts of the Avesta match the plant used in present-day Zoroastrian practice.
Official source
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