ABSTRACT
TUE main feature which distinguishes the religion of the Epic Period from that of the preceding age is the great importance which carne to be attached to sacrifice. In the earlier portion of the. Vedic Period, men composed hymns in praise of the most imposing manifestations of nature; they deified these various natural phenomena, and they worshipped these deities under the name of Indra or Varuna, of Agni or the Maruts. And the wcrship took the shape of sacrifice, i.e., .~he offering of milk or grain, of animals or libations of the Soma-juice to the gods.
