The ninth mandala of the Rig Veda, humanity’s oldest sacred text, is a unique tribute dedicated entirely to the celebration of Soma, a sacred drink whose power played a crucial role in Vedic culture. This beverage, associated with intense spiritual experiences, was much more than a simple drink: it embodied the divine and offered practitioners a true inner transformation. This article explores the different facets of this mandala, examining how Soma is deified and its role in establishing a peaceful, egalitarian, and spiritually evolved society.
1. Soma: A Deification of the Psilocybin Drink
In the Rig Veda, Soma is not just a drink; it is a deity, a powerful force that grants its drinker vision, enlightenment, and the experience of oneness with the divine. Vedic descriptions of Soma suggest a plant without leaves, seeds, flowers, or fruit, a characteristic reminiscent of entheogenic mushrooms such as Psilocybe cubensis. Soma was prepared from this plant, and drinking the beverage allowed initiates to transcend their ordinary consciousness.
The effects of Soma, as an entheogenic substance, are associated with spiritual elevation and the dissolution of the ego. This dissolution of the ego, key to enlightenment in many mystical traditions, transformed Vedic rulers and priests into peaceful beings anchored in harmonious functioning, thus preventing the accumulation of egocentric powers.
2. A sacred compilation that ends on the ninth Mandala
The Rig Veda is organized into ten mandalas (or books), and the ninth marks the end of the penultimate compilation. The tenth mandala, added later, brings hymns of a more technical and less spiritual nature. The initial closing of the Rig Veda with this ninth mandala, entirely dedicated to Soma, shows the importance of this drink in Vedic spirituality.
It is likely that this initial compilation was completed during the mature period of the Indus civilization, also known as the civilization of the 7 rivers. This choice to end the collection on a Soma mandala reveals the importance that the ancient Vedic people attached to this substance, considered as the central element of their spiritual elevation and their social harmony. The addition of a tenth mandala, probably in a context of Soma shortage, shows the evolution towards a society having to redefine its spiritual practices without this central beverage.
3. The Soma Shortage and the Tenth Mandala: Impact of a Major Drought
Around 2200 BC, a severe drought struck the region, probably linked to climatic fluctuations and the drying up of the Sarasvati River. This period of crisis led to a scarcity of Soma, a shortage that disrupted spiritual and social practices. Scholars hypothesize that it was at this time, when the supply of Soma was becoming increasingly difficult, that the tenth mandala was added to the Rig Veda. The latter is distinguished by its more technical approach, revealing existential speculations that replace the immediate experience of enlightenment provided by Soma.
The end of the abundance of Soma thus marks a spiritual turning point for the civilization of the 7 rivers. Faced with this shortage, society seeks alternative means to maintain its spiritual balance. This confirms that Soma was not a mere metaphor; its actual consumption had a tangible and central impact on social and spiritual well-being.
4. An instrument of peace and harmony in society
Soma appears as an agent of social pacification within the Indus civilization. The dissolution of the ego by Soma allows leaders and priests to act in a selfless manner, without falling into the trap of authoritarianism and domination. Unlike other ancient civilizations, structured hierarchically with dominant elites, the society of the 7 Rivers seems to operate according to a more horizontal model, favoring equality and peace.
By reducing self-centered desires and rivalries, Soma establishes a climate of cooperation and mutual respect. The hymns of the ninth mandala often evoke inner peace and cosmic unity as natural consequences of Soma consumption. This profound spiritual dimension explains why the Vedic society of the time managed to maintain social stability without exploitation and violence.
Conclusion
The ninth mandala of the Rig Veda is much more than a simple homage to a sacred drink; it shows us a unique vision of spirituality, society and peace. By devoting an entire collection to the worship of Soma, Vedic society gives us a glimpse of a way of life where spiritual quest and wisdom take precedence over material desires and power relations. The gradual disappearance of this plant, following drought, marks a turning point in the spiritual history of the Indus civilization, opening the way to new forms of metaphysical practices that we sense emerging in the tenth mandala.
Soma, through its entheogenic properties, remains one of the oldest symbols of the human quest for unity and enlightenment.
Le Rig Veda 
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