contd from: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2012/04/vedic-culture-cradle-of-other_16.html
To obtain salvation people were asked to follow different paths during each of the 4 ages. During Krita Yuga the prescribed path was through meditation, during Treta Yuga the path prescribed is by performing sacrifices. The Dwapara Yuga prescribes prayers and the Kali Yuga prescribes chanting the names of god. The time period of Ramayana is Treta Yuga and sacrifices were performed to attain salvation. All the Vedas and the Upanishads prohibit animal sacrifice and such sacrifices are said to prevent a person from attaining salvation. This being the case we can safely say that the Ashwamedha Yaga mentioned in the Ramayana is a symbolic sacrifice only; the goal of this yagna is attaining Supreme Brahman i.e salvation. Animals were not sacrificed in this yagna. The sacrifices of various animals mentioned in the Vedas are also reference to the sacrifice of animal nature inherent in the performer of the sacrifice.
To obtain salvation people were asked to follow different paths during each of the 4 ages. During Krita Yuga the prescribed path was through meditation, during Treta Yuga the path prescribed is by performing sacrifices. The Dwapara Yuga prescribes prayers and the Kali Yuga prescribes chanting the names of god. The time period of Ramayana is Treta Yuga and sacrifices were performed to attain salvation. All the Vedas and the Upanishads prohibit animal sacrifice and such sacrifices are said to prevent a person from attaining salvation. This being the case we can safely say that the Ashwamedha Yaga mentioned in the Ramayana is a symbolic sacrifice only; the goal of this yagna is attaining Supreme Brahman i.e salvation. Animals were not sacrificed in this yagna. The sacrifices of various animals mentioned in the Vedas are also reference to the sacrifice of animal nature inherent in the performer of the sacrifice.
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