Asceticism in Ancient Indian Religion

Asceticism in ancient Indian religion

A) served as a substitute for sacrificial practices as a means to placate and communicate with the gods.
B) enabled priests to facilitate communication between believers and the gods.
C) was the practice of self-mutilation to communicate with the gods.
D) provided means of firmly establishing one's experiences apart from the realm of spiritual meditative processes.
E) reduced food consumption, as desired by Ashoka.