Śrauta Tradition Hinduism Organised By Janamejaya

It is a different matter that these practices were carried to the extreme and they were followed more by rote than by conviction and understanding of the Gnana Kanda of the Vedas.

The message of the Vedas is that , the Ultimate Aim being the Realization of Brahman, The Reality, the performance of actions are to be a tool in the path Realization as Brahman is identified with Knowledge.

Unfortunately, the spirit was lost and the practice of performing Srauta Karmas reached a peak with the advent of Mimamsa.

And innumerable Deities were worshiped, causing confusion.

How Western Scholars Misinterpret Hinduism Max Mueller

If one were to read Indian history, one is struck by a curious fact..

History between the period of Harshavardhana onward to Mogul Emperors is hazy , if not missing.
It becomes clear after this period.

You do not get authentic records or information about the Middle ages, when Tamil and Sanskrit literature were awash with Bhakthi literatue.

For instance one does not find reference of Adi Shankaracharya in either Sanskrit or Tamil literature during this period.

One does not find reference to Shankaracharya even among Sanskrit and even among the records of kings who were ardent promoters of Sanskrit in their chronicles, either written by them or others.

You find this only by the time of Vidyaranya when he established the Vijayanagar Empire.

The information has been so scanty that it took the 33rd Acharaya of Sringeri Sharada Mutt to locate Kalady, the birth place of Shankaracharya!