Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s8.1

c12.s8.1

The Vedic and domestic ritual certainly occupied the most important place in the Brahmanical religion of this period. The account of Megasthenes bears clear testimony to it. Megasthenes tells us (Frag. I. B : Diod. III, 63) that the philosophers, by which he means the priestly class, although inferior in number, were prominent over all the classes in point of dignity and that they were engaged by private persons to offer sacrifices. Aśoka's reference to the Deva-worshippers relates to this class of priests who were engaged in sacrifices and not to the popular religious movements which do not seem to have as yet gained any considerable importance.