The Aśvamedha or the horse sacrifice is one of the most ancient and important religious ceremonies by which the king approved his claim to suzerainty over his neighbors. It is performed by that ruler whose strength, power and wealth uphold such an aspirant undertaking. By performing this sacrifice, the sacrificer extends his empire, increases his strength and power and achieved success in new enterprises.
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a) According to Aurobindo, aśva - अश्व Horse, a figure of the prāṇa, the dynamic force of Life; Energy, Force.
b) Nirukta 3.19 says about medha, as follows:
“From what (root) is mēdhāvi (wise) derived ? (He is so called because) he is endowed with that, i. e. wisdom. me-dhā (wisdom) is (so called because) it is stored ( √dhā) in the mind.”
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Aśvamedha indicates directing the the dynamic force of Life/Energy towards the BRAHMAN, so that the BLISS is attained.
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The term Aśvamedha, which was first used in Rig Veda, had been coined by the rishis indicating purifying human consciousness of a spiritual practitioner and consequential attainment of SELF-REALISATION or BLISS or Immortality.
Hence, Aśvamedha is a synonym of SOMA, which also indicates a DIVINE BLISS.
Consider the following Rik from Rig Veda, which prays for wisdom from Aśvamedha.
यो म इति प्रवोचत्यश्वमेधाय सूरये । दददृचा सनिं यते ददन्मेधामृतायते ॥
yo ma iti pravocaty aśvamedhāya
sūraye | dadad ṛcā saniṃ yate dadan medhām ṛtāyate ||
English translation:
Who will declare thus to my patron Aśvamedha: “Let him [=Aśvamedha] give to (the poet) questing for gain by his verse; let him give to the one who seeks the truth, (questing for) wisdom.”
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