Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s10.t3.30

v1.c7.s10.t3.30

People in the Vedic period had a variety of ways to worship deities, and sacrifice is an important option. For Indians, sacrificial rituals are to win the favour and obtain the blessing from the gods and to realise benefits. Nevertheless, some tend to think a sacrificial ritual has nothing to do with the gods and can bring good by itself. The Vedas mentions a great variety of sacrifices, for example, new moon or full moon sacrifice (on the first and 15th day every month), fire sacrifice, horse sacrifice, human sacrifice (with human beings or any alternative as an offering), etc.