The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c7.s2.30

c7.s2.30

Many of these notions and particularities are found in Vedic India. The soma, which corresponds to the haoma, is both the sacrificial liquor and the king of plants. Among other hymns, the oṣadhīstuti, the "praise of plants" (RV., X. 97) is addressed to him, this hymn being ascribed to Bhiṣaja, the "cure-man". The quality of the sovereign remedy of the soma has been proclaimed on many occasions.² It is specially said (RV., I, 23, 19) and repeated in other forms that: "In the water is the liquor of immortality (amṛta), in the waters is the remedy (bheṣaja)".³