The Efficacy of Sacrifice

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The analysis focuses on the sacrificial worldview presented in the Vedic Brahmana texts, particularly the Aitareya Brahmana, exploring how these texts legitimize increasingly elaborate and costly sacrifices. It highlights the intricate correspondences established between ritual acts and broader categories, including the Cosmos, Varna, Animals, and notably, Man. The concept of breath as a central goal of these rituals introduces complexities, as the efficacy of sacrifice becomes tied to human interiority, challenging the established system of correspondences and emphasizing the vital powers of individuals.