[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.s2.1 # The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c7.s2.1 The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c7.s2.1 - **Language:** English ### [c7.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.s2.1) We have come to the end of our search for the severed head. That it had to be a long-winded one is a measure of the ancient ritualists' achievement; their ritual science was devised in order to eliminate the agonistic exchange of the "head of the sacrifice." - [Previous: c7.s1.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.s1.17) - [Next: c7.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.s2.2) - [Up: c7.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.heesterman-1985.c7.s2.1) · Pramāṇa