The disappearance of sacred waters and the end of Soma

The Seven Rivers Civilization, which stretched along the fertile Indus and Sarasvati valleys, experienced a major upheaval around 2200 BCE. This event marked a turning point in its history, due to a prolonged drought that transformed the landscapes and spiritual practices.

The Drought of 2200 BCE: A Crisis for Sacred Waters

This period was marked by a global climate change, known as the « 2200 BCE crisis ». Monsoon rains, essential to the life and rituals of this civilization, became scarce. Rivers, once abundant, dried up. The Sarasvati, considered a sacred river, saw its flow drastically reduced. Modern research suggests that earthquakes also contributed to diverting two of its major tributaries, the Yamuna and the Sutlej, making the situation worse.

These changes had a direct impact on rituals and beliefs. Water, symbolizing life and purification in the Vedic texts, was at the heart of religious ceremonies. With its scarcity, these practices were disrupted.

The disappearance of Soma

Soma, described in the Vedic hymns as an entheogenic plant used to prepare a ritual drink, was closely linked to the abundance of natural resources. This drink, associated with spiritual enlightenment and offerings to the gods, depended on the availability of an entheogenic plant, which was probably a psilocybe cubensis.

The drought probably affected the growth of this fungus, contributing to its disappearance. Without true Soma, the rituals described in the Rig Veda gradually declined. Priests and sages had to adapt to an environment where nature, once generous, no longer met the needs of the ancient rites.

A cultural transformation

The end of the Soma rituals symbolizes a major transition in the Seven Rivers civilization. It had to evolve in the face of harsh environmental conditions, gradually abandoning certain practices and beliefs that depended on a thriving ecosystem.

Today, the Vedic texts remain a precious testimony of this time when sacred waters and Soma were at the heart of spiritual life. They recall the importance of the balance between man and nature, a balance that this civilization knew how to honor until the drought came to upset everything.

This episode in history also highlights how natural phenomena can profoundly transform human societies, their rituals and their relationship to the sacred.