Soma
The subtle cellular food and nourishing plasma that is the mother of prana, transformed by tejas into consciousness and life force.
Soma: The Food of Prana
Soma and oxygen are the food of prana. Many people misinterpret oxygen as prana, but if oxygen is pumped into a dead body, life will not return, because that oxygen cannot be used by prana. Prana is life force, the flow of intelligence. Every cell has cytoplasm, the cellular material inside the plasma membrane, and that cytoplasm is the cellular rasa dhatu, which contains cellular soma.
Outside of the cell membrane, the molecules of food, water, and air are lifeless ahara rasa. The moment they enter the cell, they are transformed into an energized living cell. This transformation of lifeless molecules into living cells is governed by tejas. From ahara rasa, pilu agni (and pilu tejas) transforms soma into cellular food.
Charaka says that ojas is the pure essence of all bodily tissues and the superfine essence (para ojas) becomes soma. Soma is then transformed by tejas into prana, which is the flow of supreme intelligence. Soma is the mother of prana and tejas is the father of prana. Just as global consciousness is maintained by the sun (surya), the moon (soma), and cosmic prana (anila), the life of a single cell is governed by a microform of these as tejas, ojas, and prana.
Source: Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles, Chapter Eight: Ojas, Tejas, Prana
Soma as Particle and Wave
Modern quantum physics observes that matter and energy are one. Soma is the subtlest matter — the food of a cell, of RNA/DNA molecules, chromosomes, and genes. Soma is not a structure; it is a particle, and many particles get together to create structure. A particle is material, but a wave is not — when a particle becomes a wave, it becomes consciousness. Soma is a particle, and when it becomes a wave, it becomes consciousness.
If a living cell is removed from the body and placed under a microscope, it will die within two minutes because the plasma has been removed. If the cell is kept in the plasma, it remains alive longer. This cellular plasma is soma. Soma is the consciousness that nourishes the cell; without cellular plasma, the cell has no consciousness and dies.
Soma is transformed into sattva, rajas, and tamas, the qualities of consciousness. Through meditation, one can change the quality of soma and therefore change the qualities of one's consciousness.
Source: Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles, Chapter Eight: Ojas, Tejas, Prana
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.