The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c10.1

c10.1

Sacrifice and transcendence are closely related to each other. Regardless of its bewildering variety and the many questions it raises, the purpose of sacrifice is clear. It mediates between the human and the transcendent world. Sacrifice, therefore, takes up a pivotal place in religion, not least in Christianity. It is precisely this central importance of sacrifice that can mislead us when we come to consider Indian religious thought.