Soma

Soma, in Hindu mythology, is closely connected with Indra, as the deity of light and fire, inspiring courage, poetry, and song, and bestowing long life, joy, and immortality. Later on he is absolutely identified with the moon. In one of his aspects the god appears as the soma plant, a kind of milk-weed, from which is extracted an intoxicating liqueur, used freely in the rites of this divinity. The beverage is prepared with mystic solemnities prescribed in many of the most ancient hymns of the Rigveda-Sanhita, and the plant is itself made an object of worship.