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ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS 497
all realms.
In this sacrifice in the preliminary stage a he-goat was sacrificed. Other Śrautasutras do not mention this killing1. Then two pregnant cows were immolated (XV. 14.13). Then a red he-goat an ewe and a bull was immolated for expiating various gods (XV. 15.2-4). Sura was offered and partaken by the Brahmaņas (XV. 15.15). The sacrificial fee is said to be 10000 cows (XV. 16.16). Thus the killing of father, mother and kings in the sacrifices as stated in the PCV seems to be a false allegation. K. K. Handiqui (p. 378) observes that the Sunaḥśepa legend of the Rgveda is taken by some as a reference to the human sacrifice while some hold it to be a reminiscent of an early rite of Rajasuya and others reject it totally..
The Satapatha Brahmana (13.5.4.1) states that by performing an Asvamedha sacrifice one propitiates his sins and even the heinous
sin of killing a Brahmana is anulled. In the Śrautasutras the Aśvamedha sacrifice is described.2 The Sankhāyana Srautasutra mentions that the performer of the Aśvamedha attains all wishes, achieves all worldly attainments (XV1.1). In it a horse is let loose for a year (XVI. 13.14-15). After that period the horse (XVI.3.13), a hornless he-goat, a go-mrga and many other animals are killed. Thus in this sacrifice a horse was actually killed.
The Gobhila Grhyasutra (3.6) lays down that Goyajña and Aśvayjña are performed for the prosperity of the animals concerned, but it does not ordain the killing of these animals.
There are references to the Gosava sacrifice in the Brahmanical literature. It was a Vrata which was observed imitating the ways of an ox. The sacrificer slept with his mother, sister and a woman of his gotra. He drank water and ate grass with face downwards and ease himself whenever he felt the necessity. It was observed during old age but no COW or bull was killed on this occasion. However there are references to the killing of cows on the occasions of a wedding or a sacrifice1. The cow was killed as a rule in the honour of the guest". In the Aṣṭaka ceremony, the parts of the cow killed on the occasion were given to the Brahmanas, In the Grhyasutras cow-sacrifice is prescribed compulsorily on diffe
1. Sankhayana Srautasutra, p. 433.
2. See VSS, p. 287.
3. Jaiminiya. Brahmana, I. 113; Taittiriya Brāhmaṇa, II. 7. 6; Tandya Brahmana XIX. 13.1; Vide Handiqui, p.384.
4. Para, 1. 3. 30.
5. SRL. Gr, p. 82.
6. Ibid. p. 100.
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