The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c7.10

c7.10

Though these myths are only partially known to us in the form of unconnected elements, it is clear that the head is the main point of interest.¹⁸ By cutting off Namuci's head, Indra, with the help of the Aśvins, wins (or wins back) the fermented *sūrā* beverage. Dadhyañc similarly keeps the secret of a cultic beverage, the *madhu*,¹⁹ which he teaches to the Aśvins by means of a horse head. Another element is that Indra searches for Dadhyañc's head with which he finally crushes the asuras. Makha, whose name in the ritual literature is synonymous with sacrifice, is the holder of the head of the sacrifice par excellence. On his flight from the gods from whom he tries to withhold the preeminence or fame (*śrī*, *yaśas*) of sacrifice, he rests his head on his bow; the bow springing upward severs his head. Indra thus obtains the preeminence. Viśvarūpa is equally a representation of sacrifice; with his three heads he consumes the Soma, the sūrā, and the sacrificial cakes, thus possessing in his three heads the whole of sacrifice. Indra therefore cuts off the three heads (or has them cut off).²⁰