Multifaceted interactions had existed among the mainstream Brahminic tradition, regional cults and local practices for years. These interactions have led to acculturation and assimilation among them. Sectarianism and Syncretism developed in amidst the process of these acculturation and assimilation. Sectarianism means the excessive devotion to a particular religion or sect whereas syncretism is the union or attempted fusion of different religions, sects, cultures or philosophies. Unwillingness to accept or give equal status to other religious groups is the main feature of sectarianism whereas syncretism asserts the underlying unity and takes an inclusive approach to other faiths. There are many examples to cite from literature on syncretism and sectarianism. Early texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata did not give emphasis on sectarianism. It emerged in the early medieval period in southern and the late medieval period in northern India. A nonsectarian approach is seen infused in many references of Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Valmiki Ramayana (Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 123, Verse 19), there is a reference to Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, worshipping Lord Shiva and Shiva glorifying Rama. Bhargava Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, worshipped Lord Shiva and obtained the divine axe parashu to annihilate Kshatriyas. Another example is seen in the Anushasana Parva (Section 149, verses 14 to 120) of Mahabharata wherein Bhishma recites Vishnu sahashranama in the Kurukshetra battlefield to Yudhistira and Shri Krishna, and Shri Krishna, in turn, recites Shiva sahashranama.