Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

Understanding Global Symbolism


Home
Preface
5 Planes of Existence
Introduction
Five Planes of Manifestation

A to Z

Contact

Related Information

BIBLE VERSES

SOMA, AS THE MOON

A symbol of the Divine Life reflected upon the astral plane as desire which is inverted love.

“Fire proceeds from him (Purusha), and the sun is the fuel of that fire. From the moon proceeds the cloud-god Parjanya; from the cloud-god the plants upon the earth; from these the germ of life. Thus the various living things issue out of Purusha.” — Mundaka Upanishad, II.

“Soma, the Moon, the progenitor of the lunar race, who reigned at Hastinapur, was the child of the Rishi Atri” (Mahā‑bhārata). — Mon. Williams, *Indian Wisdom*, p. 376.

“The moon is (as in Rig‑veda, X. 85, 5) the soma cup of the gods, which is alternately drained by them and again filled” (Chānd. V. 10, 4). — Deussen, *Philosophy of the Upanishads*, p. 218.

Life‑energy (fire) proceeds from the Supreme Spirit, and the Higher Self (sun) conditions and directs that energy. From the life on the astral plane (moon) the Divine Life on the buddhic plane is aroused, and this Life causes the lower emotions (plants) to develop and also to receive the germs of the higher qualities. Thus the various qualities and forms of life issue forth from the Supreme.

The astral life‑energy (Soma the moon) from which proceed the desire‑nature and the personality that ruled the lower mind (Hastina‑pur), was the product of the nascent soul (Atri).

The life of the astral plane (moon) produces the lower qualities which become transmuted into the higher qualities (gods), leaving no lower qualities. This requires the process to be repeated; and so on alternately.

“Soma is the husband of the Nakshatras, the constellations of the lunar zodiac.” — Barth, *Religions of India*, p. 42.

The Divine life is, as it were, the Husbandman who sows the seed of the higher qualities in the astral or desire‑nature which has been developed on the lunar planetary chain of globes.

See Also

ASTRAL PLANE
ATRI
CLOUD
CUP
EARTH
EVOLUTION
FIRE
GERMS
GODS
HUSBANDMAN
LUNAR CHAIN
MOON (solar)
PARGANYA
PITRIS (lunar)
PLANTS
PURUSHA
SEED
SELENE
SUN