[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985) › c7.9 # The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c7.9 The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c7.9 - **Language:** English ### [c7.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.9) Before going into the relation between abstract system and reality, it may be worthwhile first to explore the meaning of the "head of the sacrifice." In the \*Ṛgveda\*, the head in expressions like the "head of the universe," "the head of the bull or of the cow," seems to indicate an invisible and mysterious place where the essence, especially of Agni and Soma, is hidden.¹⁶ The head is associated with and contains a treasure or a secret that is the essence of the universe. Everything depends on obtaining the head, and the gods have to contend for its possession. This idea is graphically expressed in the myths of Namuci, Dadhyañc, Makha, and Viśvarūpa, often mentioned in the ritual texts in explanation of the "head of the sacrifice." They all have in common that their heads are or contain the priceless treasure. Without belonging unequivocally to the asuras, the rivals of the gods—they seem to be intermediary figures between the two parties of devas and asuras, in a position to grant their favor to either of them—they try to withhold the treasure from Indra and the devas.¹⁷ - [Previous: c7.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.8) - [Next: c7.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.10) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7) ## Linked texts (1) - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.9) · Pramāṇa