The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c6.s3.13

c6.s3.13

Genetically the basis of the rigid unity of yajamāna and officiants may be found in the alliance ritual, which, we may assume, has also been part of the preclassical ritual and which is still reflected in the *tānūnaptra* rite of the classical, normalized Soma ritual. In the preclassical system, the united group derived its meaning from its opposition to another group. The mythological explanation of the samjñāneṣṭi, mentioned above, makes it clear that the bond between the devas was established because of their rivalry with the asuras.⁵⁰ The antithetical relations have, however, been broken up in the classical system, thus depriving the sacrificer-officiant bond of its meaning. The dakṣiṇās no longer circulate but stay in the same place. The brahmin has to keep the dakṣiṇās and is not allowed to pass them on or to return the compliment,⁵¹ while the depleted stocks of the yajamāna are supposed to be replenished through the automatism of the ritual.⁵²