Madhu

Madhu has been used for millennia since the Rigveda (1500–1000 BCE)[1] in a similar metaphorical sense as wine is in English, e.g. "the wine of truth", and employed in that manner in Hindu religious literature.

Some scholars date metaphorical usage of madhu to a time very close to the initial composition of the Vedas.

Soma, the shared sacred drink of the Indo-Iranians (known as haoma in Avestan), is often metaphorically referred to as madhu in the Vedas.

However, "the Avesta, which is quite close to the Veda with regard to the terminology of Soma, does not know the equation 'Soma' = 'madhu'.

Several other names are based on the root madhu, such as Madhukar, Madhusudhan, Madhulika and Madhubala.