Purushamedha (lit., "sacrifice of Purusha" or "human sacrifice") is a Vedicyajna (fire-sacrifice) described in the Yajurveda (Chapter XXX hymn 28). The verse describes people from all classes and of all descriptions tied to the stake and offered to Prajapati. Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old Marcus Aurelius and members of the Imperial family offer sacrifice in gratitude for success against Germanic tribes: contemporary bas-relief, Capitoline Museum, Rome French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the... In Hinduism, Purusha ([Cosmic] Man) is the self which pervades the universe. ... Human sacrifice was practiced in many ancient cultures. ... The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. ... In Hinduism, Yajña यजà¥à¤ž (Sanskrit yajñá worship, prayer, praise; offering, oblation, sacrifice) is a Vedic ritual of sacrifice performed to please the Devas, or sometimes to the Supreme Spirit Brahman. ... The Yajurveda (Sanskrit , a tatpurusha compound of sacrifice + veda knowledge) is one of the four Hindu Vedas; it contains religious texts focussing on liturgy and ritual. ... In Hinduism, Prajapati is Lord of Creatures, thought to be depicted on ancient Harappan seals, sitting in yogic posture, with an erection and what appear to be bison horns. ...
The Vedic sacrifice is generally believed to have been purely symbolic, with no actual killing of a human being.
In the shrauta rituals, the Purushasukta is recited in the purushamedha.
In the purushamedha, the yajamana should give as dakshina his entire property including his household fire.
The Shatapathabrahmana (13.6.1-2) says that it is "Purushanarayana" who saw the Purushamedha (and presumably its' mantras) so already there is a blending going on between the sacrificer and sacrificee.
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