The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c6.2
The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c6.2
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- English
c6.2
The reason for this preeminence is generally assumed to be the brahmin's priestly capacity. He has a monopoly of the performance of the Vedic ritual, the most hallowed part of brahminical tradition. However, this priestly capacity of the brahmin is open to serious qualification and his preeminence does not seem to be founded on priesthood, as I shall argue.³ But what then is the basis of the brahmin's preeminence?