The Mauryan Polity c5.s2.t8.1

c5.s2.t8.1

An examination *in extenso* of the religious data³ afforded by the *Arthaśāstra* shows that it belongs to a period when the Vedic religious practices and rituals were in vogue. Great significance is indeed attached to the performance of *yajñas* or sacrifices⁴ and there is an unreasoned belief in the efficacy and fruitfulness of such sacrifices. Whenever the kingdom or king was visited by *vyasana* or dangers, providential or otherwise, prayers were offered to the Vedic deities⁵ like Indra, Varuṇa, Agni, Aśvins, Jayanta and others.