Class and Religion in Ancient India (Anthem South Asian Normative Traditions Studies)

A fascinating read for scholars and general readers alike, 'Class and Religion in Ancient India' highlights the interdependence between the class structure and the Vedic and Brahmanical form of religion in ancient India. It seeks to demolish the myth that religiosity and spirituality were the distinctive characteristics of ancient Indian civilization. The author demonstrates that religion was a superstructure of class relations used primarily by the ruling class and the state to perpetuate a predatory class structure based on exploitation and oppression.