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Lord Mahavira and His Times
scrupulously performed by a large section of people. Though their number grew smaller and smaller, they never died out altogether.
The Jaina and Buddhist literary sources throw some light on Brahmanical religion and practices. The Sotthiyas and the Brāhmaṇa Mahāsālas of the age were custodians of the Vedic religion which was mostly sacrificial. The Brāhmana Mahāsālas sometimes performed sacrifices for themselves, and sometimes officiated as priests in the rajñas performed for kings. Descriptions of the preparations for the Mahāyajñas of the Brāhmaṇa Kütadanta of Magadha?, of the Brāhmaṇa Uggatasarıra of Sāvatthi’ and of king Pasenadi of Kośala3 throw considerale light on the method of performing these Yajñas. Animals sacrificed included cows, bulls, steers, goats, sheep, etc. The number of animals used for sacrificial purposes sometimes rose to 500 or 700.
There are references to the performance of the Assamedha, the Parisamedha, the Sammapasa and the Vajapera sacrifices.* Yajñas were performed with pomp and grandeur, and people flocked from neighbouring places to witness it. They were attended by big feasts, offerings, gifts of cows, beds, garments, women, chariots, carpets, and even places filled with corn. The picture of the rajñās thus revealed by the Buddhist sources is similar to that painted by the Brahmanical sources leaving aside a few exaggerations.
The Brāhmaṇas appear as teachers representing various Vedic schools, such as the Addhariyas (Aitareyas), Tittiriyas (Taittiriyas), Chhandokas (Chhāndogyas), Chhandāvas, and so on." They worshipped Indra, Soma, Varuna, Išāna, Prajāpati, Brahmā, Mahiddhi, Yama, etc. They invoked them and offered prayer.6
POPULAR DEITIES Because of the new notions regarding religion current during the time of Lord Mahāvīra, the functions of the 1. Digha, 1, 127.
Angu, IV, 41. 3. San, I. 76. 4. lbid. 5. Digha, 1,p. 237. 6. Ibid, p. 244.
