Haoma Plant and its role in Indo-Iranian liturgies and myths

Subject Areas : Research Allegory in Persian Language and Literature

Katayoun Mazdapour ¹ , Saba Latifpour ²

1 - Professor in Cultural Studies and Research Institute
2 - Member of Iranology Department in Center of Great Islamic Encyclopaedia

Received: 2011-07-26 Accepted : 2011-10-28 Published : 2012-02-20

Keywords:

Abstract :

Hom is a plant from which procures a juice and its widest usage is in the religious ceremonies. The plant is called Saoma in India, and was called Haoma in ancient Iran; the similarities of the names and usages of two plants, leads us to one Indo-Iranian root for both of them. Because of its importance and being numinous, many properties have been attributed to the plant, and even it has been personalized as a God. This plant and its juice were important elements in shaping the mentality of primitive Indo-European human beings. It should be noted that similar plant and beverage, which was procured from it, can be seen among primitive people, all around the world.    

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