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The orthodox religion of ancient India is broadly divided under three heads: Vedism, Br膩hma峁噄sm and the Hinduism.^[1] The Vedism and the Br膩hma峁噄sm were the two stages of the sacrificial religion, while the Hinduism is the representation of the 厂尘腻谤迟补 and Epic-Pur膩峁噄c religion. A great discussion on the Vedic religion is presented in the earlier chapter. Here, the Br膩hma峁噄cal religion is discussed concisely. The Vedic religion was the ritualistic religion of the 膧ryans, where the natural forces were worshipped as the deities with the prayer and the sacrifices, followed with the offerings of food, meat, Soma, etc. The Br膩hma峁噄cal religion was formulated following the Vedic tradition. It comprised the 艢谤补耻迟补 and the 厂尘腻谤迟补 elements. In the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉, the simplest form of worshipping of the deities in the 厂补峁僪颈迟腻蝉 became more expanded, and it became the religion of the masses of the people. The rules of the castes and the stages were strictly followed in the Br膩hma峁噄cal religion.

The 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉 were given the highest place of honour in the society and regarded as the highest commanding authority among the entire 膧ryans as they appeared from the mouth of the Vedapuru峁�a.^[2]

The other classes, viz. the 碍峁�a迟谤颈测补蝉, the 痴补颈艣测补蝉 and the 艢奴诲谤补蝉 stood next to them. Among different duties they had to perform, their first and the foremost duty was the performing of the sacrifices, showing reverence towards the divinities. Such performances were done following the Vedas, i.e. 艢谤耻迟颈 and for that, they were called 艢谤补耻迟补. But gradually, in course of time, sections of thinkers occurred in the society, who questioned over the existence of the deity,^[3] regarded sacrifice as futile.^[4]

Such thinking contributed a lot to the growth and development of different religious thought, against the Br膩hma峁噄sm. The elaborate system of sacrifice, which had been evolved and consolidated during the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 period, which had come to be recognised almost as the hallmark of Vedic religious practice, became well-nigh extinct during the Upani峁�adic period. The profound philosophical speculations of the 鲍辫补苍颈峁�a诲蝉 have given way to a new ethical code. Thus, it is observed that long before the time of Manu, 艢谤补耻迟补 rites became obsolete and finally, it was replaced with the tradition called 厂尘腻谤迟补.^[5]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Vide, Goyal, S.R., A Religious History of Ancient India, Vol. II, p.2

[2]:

cf., br膩hma峁噊使sya mukham膩s墨db膩h奴 谤腻箩补苍测补岣� 办峁泃补岣�/ 奴r奴 tadasya yadvai艣ya岣� padbhy膩峁� 艣奴dro

[3]:

Ibid., 10.121

[4]:

Vide, Goyal, S.R., Op. cit., Vol. II, p.2

[5]:

Vide, Hazra, R.C., Op.cit., p. 194