Saturday, May 14, 2011

RITUALS & OFFICERS & PRIESTS OF VEDIC AGE-UGC


Administrative Officers

Purohita- Chief priest
Senani -The leader of the army.
Vrajapati -Officer who enjoyed authority over pasture ground.
Kulapas -Heads of families led by Vrajapati.
Gramini -Head of fitting hordes under Vrajapati.
Important Rituals
1-Rajasuya: The King’s influence was strengthened by rituals. He performed this sacrifice, which was supposed to confer supreme power on him.

2-Asvamedha: A King performed the Asvamedha, which meant unquestioned control over the area in which the royal horse ran uninterrupted. The ceremony
lasted for 3 days at the end of which horse sacrifice was performed.
3-Vajapeya: A King performed the Vajpeya or the chariot race, in which the royal chariot was made to win the race against his kinsmen (a case of match-fixing!).The ritual lasted for 17 days and was believed not only to restore the strength of the middle-aged king but also to elevate him from the position of Raja to that of Samrat.

Chief Priests
The chief priests who were engaged in performing the sacrifices were -
a. Hotri - the Invoker, he recited hymns from Rigveda.
b. Adhvaryu - the executor, he rected hymns from Yajurvada.
c. Udgatri - the singer, he recited hymns from Samveda.

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