Sura (alcoholic drink)
Surāh is a strong distilled alcoholic drink originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is referred to as an anaesthetic by Suśruta. Other ancient medical authorities also mention it; Charaka referred to making a woman with a miscarriage senseless to pain by administering alcoholic drinks like surā, sīdhu, ariṣṭa, madhu, madirā or āsava.
The method for preparation appears in the Atharvaveda in the Kandas 5 and 8.
In Buddhist texts surāh is mentioned as one of intoxicating drinks, along with meraya and majja, and renunciation of its usage constitutes the 5th of the Buddhist precepts : "I undertake the training rule to abstain from fermented drinks which cause heedlessness".
