Question

Rajas’ who let the ‘ashvamedha’ horse pass through their lands were invited to the sacrifice.
A)True
B)False

Answer 1

Hint: 1)It is a horse surrender ritual followed by the Srauta tradition of Vedic religion.
2)To show their imperial sovereignty, it was used by ancient Indian kings.
3)The horse sacrifice is one of the most popular observances in the Hindu Society.

Complete answer:
Option A) True – is a correct answer because Ashvamedha, the horse sacrifice rituals described in the Vedas. It was a political ritual and it concerned the king’s right to rule. First a horse would be allowed to wander around freely for a year. If the horse wandered into the lands of an enemy, the king would have had to occupy the territory. Meanwhile, any competitor of the king was free to challenge the attendants of the horse to a battle. If they did, and they killed the horse, the king will lose his right to rule. If, on the other hand, after a year, the horse was still alive, it was taken back to the court of the king. Thus, it is a correct answer.

Option B) false – is an incorrect answer because there were ‘Rajas’ who let the ‘ashvamedha’ horses pass through their lands were invited to the sacrifice and it is true. Thus, it is incorrect here.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A)

Note: 1)Jaipur is witnessing a unique Vedic event, the Ashwamedha Yagya-conducted first in the Ramayana era, and later by Raja Sawai Jaisingh II here 300 years back.
2)The ritual is recorded as being held by many ancient rulers.
3)By conducting Ashvamedha, the object was acquisition of power and glory.