Definition

Noun 1. A leafless East Indian vine (Sarcostemma acidum or S. brevistigma): A specific plant species native to regions of South Asia, characterized by its vine-like growth and lack of leaves. 2. The sour milky juice from this vine: A liquid extract from the haoma plant, historically used in religious rituals to prepare a sacred, intoxicating drink.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant):
  • The haoma is a distinctive, leafless vine found in arid regions of India.
  • Botanists study the unique adaptations of the haoma plant.
• Noun (Juice/Substance):
  • In ancient Zoroastrian rituals, priests prepared a drink from haoma.
  • The sour, milky haoma was considered a sacred offering.

Advanced Usage

• Religious and Historical Context: The term is almost exclusively used in the context of Zoroastrianism and ancient Persian culture. It refers to the plant and the ritual drink central to the Yasna ceremony, believed to confer immortality and communion with the divine.
  • The preparation of haoma is a central act in the Zoroastrian liturgy.

Variants and Related Words

• Soma: The Vedic equivalent of , a sacred plant and ritual drink in ancient Indian Hinduism, described in the Rigveda. While often identified with the same or a similar plant, the rituals and theological contexts differ.
  • Scholars debate the botanical identity of both haoma and soma.

Synonyms

• Ritual drink (for the prepared substance).
• Sacred plant (for the vine itself, in its specific cultural context).

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The word's core meaning is inextricably linked to its religious and ceremonial use in Zoroastrianism. It is not a common botanical term but a historical and theological one.
• Modern Usage: In contemporary English, "haoma" is a specialized term used by historians, scholars of religion, and in discussions of ancient Iranian culture. It is not used in everyday language.

Noun

1. leafless East Indian vine; its sour milky juice formerly used to make an intoxicating drink