Ṛgveda 1.28 and the Alleged Domestic Soma-Pressing

Abstract

The hymn Ṛgveda 1.28 has attracted much attention because of its obvious use of sexual metaphors and the use of mortar and pestle for pressing Soma. The sexual allusions have been judged as humoristic and lascivious by Geldner and J.J. Meyer, a view vehemently rejected by Lommel. Oliphant considered the hymn as particularly old because of the use of pestle and mortar which has a close parallel in the Zoroastrian Haoma ritual. Witzel closely follows Geldner. The most recent treatment is that of Schlerath who interprets the hymn as a description of the sexual act as a Soma sacrifice