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The story of Shunahshepa is famous because it is an attempted human sacrifice to a Vedic deity. There are other mentions of attempted human sacrifice in Hindu scriptures. For example, in the Mahabharata, king Jarasandha tried sacrificing some other kings to another Vedic deity.
The priest conducting the ceremony told the king that he needed to find the animal, or perform a human sacrifice to avert the misfortune resulting from the situation. The king tried to search for the horse unsuccessfully.
Feb 16, 2014 · Human sacrifice of Shunashepa proves that human sacrifice existed in the Vedic period and the Vedic god Varuna asking for a human sacrifice proves that it was very much Vedic. Rig Veda 5.2.7 Thou from the stake didst loose e’en Śunaḥśepa bound for a thousand; for he prayed with fervour.
He was first mentioned in Mandala 1, Hymn 24 of the Rigveda as a devotee of the god Varuna. According to a legend, Shunahshepa was chosen to be sacrificed in a ritual, but was saved after praying to the Rigvedic deities. The earliest extant text to mention this legend is Aitareya Brahmana (7.13-18) of Rigveda.
Dec 21, 2023 · On the advice of the chief priest, the king started looking for a human who could be offered as a sacrifice, in place of the horse. Sage Ruchika and Satyavati (step-sister of sage Vishwamitra)...
Aug 9, 2019 · Aitareya Brahmana says Harishchandra tried to sacrifice Shunahshepa instead of his own son, while Ramayana says Ambarisha tried to sacrifice Shunahshepa on behalf of an animal. In Ramayana, all of his sons refused to accept Shunahshepa, but in Aitareya Brahmana, only his elder 50 sons refused to accept him.
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Oct 6, 2019 · Every year, he decided to give up and return to the kingdom to be offered as a sacrificial animal to Varuna, but was discouraged by Indra to do so. He wandered for six years, until when he met Ajigarta, the father of three sons in dire poverty with no food to eat. The three sons were Sunahpuccha, Shunahshepa, and Shunolangula.
