The Soma or Sauma Sect of the Saivas
By Chintaharan Chakravarti
Summary
Chakravarti examines a little‑known sect within Śaivism that venerated Soma (Sauma) as a manifestation of Śiva. Drawing on tantric texts and ritual manuals, he describes their distinctive practices, including the use of a lunar‑labeled sacrament and the worship of Śiva as a milky deity. The sect synthesized Vedic Soma rituals with tantric iconography, creating hybrid rites that emphasised the intoxicating and regenerative aspects of Soma. Chakravarti notes that the sect may have been prominent in certain Himalayan regions and eventually merged with mainstream Śaiva traditions. He compares the Sauma sect with other marginal Śaiva groups, such as the Kāpālikas and Lākulas, and discusses references to Soma worship in literature and inscriptions.
Conclusion
Chakravarti concludes that the Sauma sect exemplifies the syncretism characteristic of medieval Indian religion. Its assimilation of Vedic Soma symbolism into Śaiva worship highlights the fluid boundaries between sects and illustrates how doctrinal innovations could arise from ritual experimentation.