Contrary to popular conception Brahmins did not Drink, it is a fact that Brahmins , Sages, Rishis and Munis drank liquor.
Even Lord Ram and Krishna drank
I have posted articles on this with references.
But there is a view , including from Mr.Cho.Ramaswamy that Soma and Sura bana were different and that the consumption of Soma Bana does not amount to Drinking Liquor as it is not an intoxicant and it is used in the Yagnas.
Soma bana is assumed to be a non intoxicant which was used in the performance of Yagnas and as such does not constitute drinking.
Sura bana consumption is of course accepted ad a Drink and blamed as such.
Facts seem to be other wise.
if Soma was to be drunk why should it be drunk when one does not perform Yagna?
It is stated in the Rig Veda that it leads to Immortality and it tastes as Nectar.
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The Rigveda (8.48.3) says:
- a ápāma sómam amŕtā abhūmâganma jyótir ávidāma devân
- c kíṃ nūnám asmân kṛṇavad árātiḥ kím u dhūrtír amṛta mártyasya
Ralph T.H. Griffith translates this as:
- We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered.
- Now what may foeman’s malice do to harm us? What, O Immortal, mortal man’s deception?
Soma Bana was served in Social functions and Government councils
This sounds strange for a group which abstains from any intoxicating stuff whatsoever and is choosy about what they eat.
The answer is that the Vedas and the Indian Society recorded facts without bothering whether it would affect the Image of Hinduism.
It also records the Sins that will accrue by Drinking.
I have been curious that if Gods were shown to be drinking along with Sages and others, why ban it for Brahmins.
Some Sages were Brahmins too!
Answer is in the Mahabharata Adi Parva.
The Preceptor of the Devas.s, (Bruhaspati) son( Kusa, (was sent by Indra and the Devas to go and serve Asura Guru Sukracharia , get into the good books of Devayani, Sukra’s daughter so that Kusa learns the Sanjeevini Mantra with which Sukra was making the Asuras rise from the dead, against whom the Devas were losing heavily.
Kusa served Sukra as a Brahmachari for 1000 years in total.
After 500 years the Asuras, having learnt that he was the son of Bruhaspati, killed him and fed him to animals twice.
In both the instances Bruhaspati resurrected him.
Exasperated the Asuras killed Kusa,burnt him , dissolved his ashes in the Drink which they made Sukra drink.
When Sukra tried to resurrect Kusa, Sukra learnt from Kusa who was in Sukra’s stomach the story of his killing and how he was drunk by Sukra along with the Drink.
Immediately Sukra declared,
‘May all the Devas, Rishis and Brahmins learn this.
From this day any one who drinks will lose his identity as a Brahmin and will suffer both her and after Life.”
Thus came about the ban on Brahmins Drinking.
Sukra taught Kusa the Sanjeevini Mantra to enable him come out of his stomach.
For more please read the Mahabharata.
Reference.
Adi Parva , Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva.
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It doesn’t ban any practice like drinking. Anyone can drink but once one has consumed,they can’t call themselves as brahmins . it comes under the pancha maha papas.
After Sukra’s declaration, drinking might have been included as a Pancha Maha Papa.