Ashvamedha Sacrifical Ritual
When Bramhin Monopoly overdivine knowledge was established,3 form of yajna was developed–Rajasu yajna,Ashvamedha and Vajpaya yajna.
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The Ashvamedha was one of the most important royal rituals of the historical Vedic religion of ancient India. It is described in detail in the Yajurveda.
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Ashwamedha, the horse sacrifice, is also known as haya-medha sacrifice. It is said to be the most difficult Yagna to perform, having many onerous requirements.
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Aswamedha yajna was a royal rite. It was done only by the Kings to spread their glory throughout the world and for the benefit of their kingdom.
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It was considered if anyone does 100 Ashwamedha Yajna, he would be considered as Indra, as Indra was the King of Gods,and was the king of entire Swarga.
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Ashwamedha Yajna was also done if anyone thinks he had committed any big Mistake or sin in his life and now want to do the Penanace for that(Lord Rama has done the Ashwamedha yajna to do the Penance for killing a women(Strihattya of Tarka) and a Bramhmin()Bramhahatya of Ravana).
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Its object was the acquisition of power and glory, the sovereignty over neighbouring provinces, seeking progeny and general prosperity of the kingdom.
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The horse to be sacrificed must be a stallion, more than 24, but less than 100 years old.
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The horse to be sacroficed, set loose towards the North-East, to roam around wherever it chooses, for the period of one year (or half a year, according to some commentators). The horse is associated with the Sun, and its yearly course.
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The horse, a hornless he-goat, a wild ox are bound to sacrificial stakes near the fire, seventeen other animals are attached to the horse. A great number of animals, both tame and wild, are tied to other stakes,around 609 animals are sacrificed.
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After slaughter, The chief queen ritually calls on the king’s fellow wives for pity. The queens walk around the dead horse reciting mantras. The chief queen then has to mimic copulation with the dead horse, while the other queens ritually utter obscenities.
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The Ashvamedha celebrated the king as king of the whole world, not as king of a part of the world that constituted his kingdom. The stature of a king was not related to a particular part of the world that might have been his kingdom.
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Pushyamitra Shunga is said to have performed the Ashvamedha rite after he toppled Mauryan rule in 185 BC.
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It was also performed during the reign of Samudragupta I, the father of Chandragupta II.
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Performances of the Ashvamedha feature in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as well.
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As per Brahma Vaivarta Purana, the Ashvamedha is one of five rites forbidden in the Kali Yuga, the present age.
