द सिनिकल माइंड

The most famous, significant and complex royal sacrifice was the ashvamedh (Horse-sacrifice), which lasted for three days. Four officiants, four wives of the king with their 400 attendants and a large number of spectators took part. A specially consecrated horse was set free to roam at will for a year, escorted by a chosen band of 400 warriors so that any king trying to capture the animal might be combated. The horse was brought back to the capital at the end of the year and sacrificed along with 600 bulls. The king’s wives walked around the carcass; the chief queen lay down beside it simulating copulation. The ceremony concluded with a sacrifice of 21 sterile cows and the distribution of fabulous fees to the priests.                                      : D. N. JHA  (Ancient India) The data on ‘Food Habits’ published by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) shows th...