soma ［蘇摩］ (, Pali;  soma): A drink with a stimulating effect used as an offering to the gods at Brahmanic rituals in ancient India. Also the name of the plant from which this drink is made. Soma was highly praised in Vedic scriptures. Later the moon came to be regarded as a heavenly vessel for soma, and was itself called Soma. In Buddhism as well, the god of the moon was called Soma or Soma-deva, deva meaning god.