Vedic texts, notably the Rig Veda, speak of the ritual use of a sacred drink, Soma, widely linked to spiritual enlightenment and social harmony in the civilization of the 7 rivers, or Indus civilization. This substance, most likely based on psilocybin, was renowned for its transcendent and unifying effects, facilitating the dissolution of the ego and promoting a peaceful society, free from greed and violence. Yet, around 2200 BCE, a significant and prolonged drought set in in the region, profoundly disrupting this civilization and leading to the end of the abundance of Soma, because mushrooms need humidity. This event marked the gradual return of ego, greed and violence, profoundly transforming society in the space of a few generations.
The Benefits of Soma for the Individual and Society
Soma, based on psilocybin, brought undeniable benefits, both at the individual and collective level:
1. Dissolution of the Ego: The consumption of Soma facilitated the dissolution of the ego, helping the individual to detach himself from personal desires and selfish ambitions. This helped to maintain a society without internal tensions and conflicts, as community values took precedence over individual interests.
2. Spiritual Illumination: This drink was described as a gateway to higher states of consciousness. By freeing the mind from material constraints and allowing individuals to reach a level of spiritual awakening, Soma opened the way to collective wisdom and a quest for meaning beyond mere material needs.
3. Social harmony and pacifism: With widespread access to Soma, Vedic society seemed profoundly peaceful, without armies or structures of institutionalized violence. Individuals, without excessive attachment to material goods, contributed to a community life based on sharing, mutual respect, and the absence of oppressive hierarchies.
The Impact of the 2200 BCE Drought
Around 2200 BCE, a persistent drought struck the Indus Valley and the Sarasvati and Yamunâ rivers, destabilizing the entire region. This climatic crisis had drastic consequences:
1. Depletion of natural resources: Decreased rainfall and the gradual drying up of watercourses caused a shortage of essential resources, making it difficult to access wild plants, especially mushrooms used for the preparation of Soma.
2. Change in ritual practices: Deprived of Soma, the religious rituals and spiritual practices of Vedic society lost some of their power and effectiveness. This reduced the scope of unifying rituals, and practices focused on spiritual awakening were gradually replaced by more symbolic and less impactful rituals.
3. Long-term effects: Migration and fragmentation: Although the drought of 2200 BCE severely affected life in the Indus Valley, mass population movements did not occur until three centuries later, when the Sarasvati almost completely dried up following an earthquake. This earthquake diverted the Yamunâ and the Sutlej, its main tributaries, forcing many communities to move in order to survive. This movement accelerated social fragmentation, contributing to the emergence of new structures that were less focused on the community and more focused on individual survival.
The Reappearance of Ego, Greed and Violence
In the absence of Soma, the values and mindset that had shaped this civilization into a harmonious society began to disappear. Three generations after the end of Soma’s abundance, profound changes had taken place in mentalities:
1. Return of the ego and personal ambitions: The lack of Soma left a spiritual void that favored the return of personal interests and the ego. The new generations, less exposed to rituals of self-transcendence, developed attitudes centered on the accumulation of goods and inter-individual competition.
2. Rise of Greed: The scarcity of natural resources, combined with the extinction of the Soma, exacerbated the need for material security and accumulation. The values of sharing and equality were eroded, replaced by more possessive and individualistic behaviors. The accumulation of goods, once foreign to this society, gradually became the norm.
3. Emergence of violence and conflict: With the return of power structures based on competition for resources, society experienced a rise in tensions and rivalries. Violence, which had no place in this once peaceful civilization, became a means of defending or conquering limited resources. Conflicts between groups began to multiply, disrupting the initially peaceful social order.
Conclusion
The end of the abundance of Soma, marked by the drought of 2200 BCE, marked a decisive turning point for the Indus civilization. This sacred drink, beyond its spiritual and pacifying effects, embodied a vital link with a high collective consciousness, preventing the ego and violence from dominating. The scarcity of this substance led to a profound transformation of mentalities and society. In only three generations, ego and greed resurfaced, marking the end of an era of peace and harmony to make way for a more materialistic and hierarchical society. Three centuries later, the drying up of the Sarasvati forced a displacement of populations that completed the transformation of this once united civilization into a fragmented society prey to struggles as described in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
Le Rig Veda 
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