Why was the Horse Sacrificed in early Hinduism?

Answer 1

because they are blinded by their faith. They do not see that if people will cut their necks instead of the goats that they sacrifice in dashain, they will understand that this is a inhumane act of barbarism

Answer 2

Ashwamedha, ( Sanskrit: "horse sacrifice") also spelled ashwamedha, grandest of the Vedic religious rites of ancient India, performed by a king to celebrate his paramountcy.

The ceremony is described in detail in various Vedic writings, particularly the Shatapatha Brahmana.

An especially fine stallion was selected and was allowed to roam freely for a year under the protection of a royal guard. If the horse entered a foreign country, its ruler had either to fight or to submit. If the horse was not captured during the year, it was victoriously brought back to the capital accompanied by the rulers of the lands it entered, and then sacrificed at a great public ceremony, which was accompanied by much feasting and celebration.

The wandering horse was said to symbolize the Sun in its journey over the world and, consequently, the power of the king over the whole Earth. On successfully carrying out a horse sacrifice, the king could assume the title of Chakravarthi (universal monarch).

The rite served not only to glorify the king but also to ensure the prosperity and fertility of the entire kingdom.

In historical times the practice was condemned by the Buddha and seems to have suffered a decline, but it was revived by Pushyamitra Shunga (reigned 187--151bce). He is said to have defeated, while protecting his horse, Greek warriors who had reached the Punjab. Samudra Gupta (c. 330--c. 380 ce) issued coins in commemoration of his successful completion of an Ashwamedha, and the rite is mentioned in connection with other Gupta and Chalukya monarchs. It may have continued as late as the 11th century, when it is said to have taken place during the Chola dynasty.

THE HORSE SACRIFICE IN HINDUISM

Our knowledge of Hinduism is based on the literal meanings of Vedic mantras.

The 'Horse sacrifice' is no exception to this rule.

To understand what horse in Hinduism means, we must know the seven Hindu gods.

They are,

1. Indra - god of dreaming

2. Shakti - god of illusion

3. Brahma - god of creativity

4. Vishnu - god of stabilization / associated with water

5. Shiva - god of determination

6. Shani - god of status increase

7. Yama - god of compulsion

Indra is the most powerful in facilitating thinking and Yama is the most powerful in facilitating action.

THE HORSE IN THE RIG VEDA

According to Ashwa (Rig Veda 1.1. 163.2) Indra is the first to mount the horse and it (the horse) is the son of Yama). It Should be obvious that horse means movement because every movement starts as a thought.

Since in the middle, the thought starts getting converted into action, horse is born in water (Rig Veda 1.1. 163.1)

According to Ashwa (Rig Veda 1.1.162.21) the horse neither dies nor injured during the 'sacrifice'. It just goes to gods.

YAJNA:

It is a common belief that Yajna means sacrifices offered to fire.

In Hinduism fire / Agni means Voluntary / manual force.

Yajna is a Vedic meditation experiment in which various skeletal muscle around the tongue are hardened manually to know what effect it produces on our life.

Thus, Yajna actually means 'hardening of which pair of muscles?'.

Thus, Ashwamedha Yajna is a Vedic meditation experiment of making a movement involuntary / automatic and has nothing to do with horse sacrifice.