Synopsis The Smarta literature composed by the sages like Manu, Brhaspati, Parasara, Angirasa, Yajnavalkya, Bhrgu, Katyayana, Gautama and Vyasa was regarded as authority. The Puranas and the Mahabharata were devoutly recited and heard. The ideals and values enshrined in these works exerted a great influence on the minds of people in almost every corner of northern India, cutting across geographical, linguistic and regional barriers. Indeed, the ethos of the vast majority in the sub-continent was formulated in this age. Its most important feature, of course, was the perspective of Vedic activism and agamic devotionalism which were mainly responsible for the formation of the early medieval culture. A brilliant exposition of this momentous tradition characterizes this book.