[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925) › v1.c19.s8.20 # The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c19.s8.20 The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c19.s8.20 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c19.s8.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s8.20) Nor again is it possible to lay any stress on the argument that the occasional offering of food to animals in place of the sacrifice of animals points to totemism: the best known instances are the offerings made at the spit-ox ceremony to a bull, a cow, and a calf in place of Rudra, his consort, and Jayanta respectively instead of slaughtering an ox, and the similar rite at the Aṣṭakās.⁴ With these usages may be compared the legends, which seem to show that in the worship of the wolf-god Apollo at Sikyon an offering was made to wolves, regarded as in some degree the temporary incarnations of the god.⁵ But not much stress can be laid on the Indian cases, as they are recorded merely in Sūtras, which show the influence of the desire to avoid animal offerings, partly no doubt for economy, partly perhaps on humanitarian grounds.⁶ - [Previous: v1.c19.s8.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s8.19) - [Next: v1.c19.s8.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s8.21) - [Up: v1.c19.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s8.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.keith-1925.v1.c19.s8.20) · Pramāṇa