Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c4.1

v1.c4.1

A long period intervened between the Vedic people and the sacrificing Brāhmaṇas of Kuru-pañcāla. This period witnessed the growth and development of Brāhmaṇism and Brāhmaṇic sacrificial literature to an extent "unparalleled in the history of the world."¹ It is when this sacrificial system reached its climax about the 7th century B.C. that Buddhism made its appearance with its voice of protest. But this Brāhmaṇism rooted itself so deep in northern India and made its hierarchy so strong that non-Brāhmaṇic religions including Buddhism could hardly make its way into this stronghold.