The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study)
by Aparna Dhar | 2016 | 61,606 words
This page relates ‘Summary of the Rajasuya sacrifice’ of the study dealing with the Sacrifices such as Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha including their ritualistic and monarchial strata with reference to the Shatapatha-Brahmana. These Brahmanas represent a category of ancient Sanskrit texts dealing with ancient Vedic rituals and ceremonies based on the Vedas.
Summary of the Rājasūya sacrifice
[Full title: A Brief note on the sacrifices of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (9): Rājasūya]
The Rājasūya is the royal ceremony of consecration, which comes under the purview of Soma sacrifice and is a very complex ceremony extending over more than one year. It also consists of soma sacrifices, animal sacrifices and a number of iṣṭis. The performer of the Rājasūya sacrifice attains sovereignty and supremacy over all dominions. It is generally performed by a ḳsatriya king who has not performed the Vājapeya sacrifice. This sacrifice was also in vogue in ancient India and in the post Vedic era also.