The History of Alcohol

We have already seen the division of Bharata Varsha into two parts, Aryavarta and Aryayana.

East of Sindhu is Aryavarta up to Taiwan.

West of Sindu is Aryayana up to the Mediterranean.

East of Sindhu remained as Indra worshippers.

West of Sindhu from the time of Zaratustra became rebels and became Varuna worshippers instead.

The entire territory to the west of Sindhu became known as Iran and became enemies of the Aryans.

Even though they were Aryans themselves originally, those on the west since they deviated from the established Vedic path, challenged Indra's supremacy, and the two groups became enemies.

In Atharva Veda kanda 12, the first sukta is Bhumi-sukta.

In the 28th mantra of this sukta,

उदीराणा उतासीनास्तिष्ठन्तः प्रक्रामन्तः।

The term ईराणा is there.

This is connected to Iran.

The term Iran in the Vedic context has three connotations.

1. Aryayana, the Oriens, land to the west of Sindhu.

2. ईरणा - unstable.

Even today if you see, this is the area which is full of violence, battles, unrest, killings.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq: the entire middle east is the most unstable territory in the entire world.

Veda itself mentions this characteristic of this region, the name Iran itself represents this instability.

We say what's in a name!

But see how it has turned out?

The third meaning is अरणा indicating enmity.

Of course, this is a region from where we have been facing onslaughts at various levels; for land, terrorism, religious dominance.

These territorial names have kept on changing as conquests happened.

Today, Iran is just one country in the entire region.

In the Vedic age, it was not like that.

At one point in time, the entire territory was called Iran, west of Sindhu.

Even Khurasan, Kurdistan was like that.

The extent kept on changing.

So, Zaratustra the daughter's son of Rishi Rijraswa was the one who started the Asura dharma to the west of Sindhu Nadi.

He is called Jaradashti in the Veda.

His definition of Asuras was that- ये असून् प्राणान् दधते ते असुराः।

Asuras are energetic, powerful, strong, whereas Suras the Devas are devoid of power, strength.

That is also the reason they nominated Varuna as their god, as their chief.

Varuna is the lord of water.

It is water that gives strength to the body.

You can survive without food for a few days, but not without water.

Asuras believed in physical strength, power.

Asuras believe in strength power.

I am not talking anything negative about Asuras here, it is just a change in approach.

The split between Devas and Asuras kept on increasing day by day.

Asuras invented liquor, sura to counter the soma-rasa that Devas consume.

Liquor is called sura.

While drinking liquor they used to cheer- सुरान् पिबामः।

Let us drink up the Suras, the Devas, meaning let's finish them.

Liquor is impure.

Liquor is called the malam of grains, the waste of grains.

Of course, this is obvious, the fermentation process itself is so foul-smelling.

सुरा वै मलमन्नानां पाप्मा च मलमुच्यते तस्मात् ब्राह्मणराजन्यौ वैश्यश्च न सुरां पिबेत्।

Liquor is forbidden for Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas.

But Indra did not harbor any antagonism towards the Asuras thus far.

He even participated in a Soutramani yajna organized by the Asuras at Balkh which is in present-day Afghanistan.

Vrishakapi was the king of Asuras.

Indra was very fond of him and looked upon him as his own son because Indra was also known as Vrishakapi, one who causes vrishti, rains.

Asuras instigated Vrishakapi, their king to organize a Soutramani yajna in which liquor will be one of the offerings along with soma-juice, and make Indra to drink liquor, and make him fall from his status.

We will see more about this Soutrmani yajna in the next episode.

The pramana for all these is in Rigveda mandala 10, sukta number 86, starting wiht वि हि सोतोः।

Knowledge Bank

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