Changes

Atharvana or Atharva Veda (Samskrit : अथर्वण or अथर्व) थु्र्वी हिंसायाम् धातु undergoes change into थर्व. अथर्व means that which is devoid of himsa or harm to others.   

Atharvana or Atharva Veda (Samskrit : अथर्वण or अथर्व) थु्र्वी हिंसायाम् धातु undergoes change into थर्व. अथर्व means that which is devoid of himsa or harm to others.   

Other names of this Veda include Brahma Veda, Kshtra veda (as it contains a information about statecraft and administration for kings), Bhishagveda (as it contains information about diseases and their cure), Angiroveda and Atharvangiro veda.<ref>Regmi, SriRishiramji. Article : ''[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/pdf/ved_vedang_gp_17.pdf Atharvaved ka sankshipth parichay]'' available at Vedic Heritage Portal</ref><ref>''[https://ia800209.us.archive.org/22/items/atharvavedasamhi014565mbp/atharvavedasamhi014565mbp.pdf Atharva Veda Samhita]'' (Telugu) Tirupati : Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam</ref> It is called as Brahma Veda due to the following 3 reasons   

Other names of this Veda include Brahma Veda, Kshtra veda (as it contains a information about rajaneeti or statecraft and administration for kings), Bhishagveda (as it contains information about diseases and their cure), Angiroveda and Atharvangiro veda.<ref name=":0">Regmi, SriRishiramji. Article : ''[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/pdf/ved_vedang_gp_17.pdf Atharvaved ka sankshipth parichay]'' available at Vedic Heritage Portal</ref><ref>''[https://ia800209.us.archive.org/22/items/atharvavedasamhi014565mbp/atharvavedasamhi014565mbp.pdf Atharva Veda Samhita]'' (Telugu) Tirupati : Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam</ref> It is called as Brahma Veda due to the following 3 reasons   

# In Yajna karmas Brahma is the Rtvik who oversees the yajna.   

# In Yajna karmas Brahma is the Rtvik who oversees the yajna.   

# Contains the knowledge of Brahman   

# Contains the knowledge of Brahman   

=== Atharva Veda Vibhajana ===

=== Atharva Veda Vibhajana ===

The Artharvaveda Samhita is the text 'belonging to the अथर्वण || Atharvan and [[Angirasa (अङ्गिरसः)|अङ्गिरस || Angirasa]] rishis. It has about 760 hymns, and about 160 of the hymns are in common with the Rigveda. Most of the verses are metrical, but some sections are in prose.   

The Artharvaveda Samhita is the text revealed to the अथर्वण || Atharvan and [[Angirasa (अङ्गिरसः)|अङ्गिरस || Angirasa]] rishis. Atharvasamhita of Shaunaka shaka has the following divisions of the text.<ref name=":0" />    

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!

!<nowiki>| Kandas      ►</nowiki>

!

!<nowiki>| Suktas      ►</nowiki>

!

!<nowiki>| Prapathaka      ►</nowiki>

!

!<nowiki>| Mantras      </nowiki>

|}  

|}

=== Devatas, Chandas and Rtvik ===

=== Devatas, Chandas and Rtvik ===

to the '''[[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|ब्रह्मा || Brahma]]''' priest who supervises the conduct of the Yajnas.  

Like other vedas, the chandas here include Anustuph, Tristup etc. The rtvik of Atharvaveda is '''[[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|ब्रह्मा || Brahma]]''' who supervises the conduct of the Yajnas.  

=== Shakas ===

=== Shakas ===

The mantras in this Veda are both in prose and verse forms. Most of the Shakhas of Atharva Veda are lost. Out of the 9 Shakhas known to have existed under this Samhita only two are available now. They are

According to Atharvana Parishista, Charanavyuha, Prapanchahrudaya, Pathanjali's Mahabhasya and Kurma Purana and Sarvanukramani, Atharvana veda had 9 shakas. Another version of Sarvanukramani and Muktikopanishad mention the existence of 50 shakas. The 9 shakas according to Charanavyuha are, slightly different from other versions, given as follows

# Pippalada  

 

# Saunaka

 

According to other versions<ref name=":223222" /><ref name=":0" /> the nine shakas are

 

 

Out of the 9 Shakhas known only two are available now. They are

# Pippalada (incomplete version)

# Saunaka  

=== Content ===

=== Content ===

As the Atharva Veda Samhita has some special features it stands apart from the other three Vedas. It deals more with things here and now than with the hereafter and the sacrifices are utilized as a means to them. This Veda contains many types of mantras designed to ward off evils and hardship as also to destroy enemies. Besides this it deals with diseases and their cure, rites for prolonging life, for fulfilling one’s desires, construction activities, trade and commerce, statecraft, defense systems of the country among others.

As the Atharva Veda Samhita has some special features it stands apart from the other three Vedas. It deals more with worldly things than with the other worlds and the yajnas mentioned here are utilized as a means to them.  

 

This Veda contains many types of mantras for the following purposes

* To ward off evils and hardship

* To destroy enemies  

* Description of diseases and their cure

* For prolonging life,

* For fulfilling one’s desires

* For trade and commerce

* Rajaneeti includes statecraft, defense systems of the country, training for soldiers, winning in wars.

Many mantras deal with creation and emergence of the Universe. The sukta extolling the wonder of creation is called पृथ्वी सूक्तं || Prithvi Sooktam. Amidst mundane subjects high philosophical ideas are also found in this Veda. The literary style of this Veda is highly sophisticated.

Many mantras deal with creation and emergence of the Universe. The sukta extolling the wonder of creation is called पृथ्वी सूक्तं || Prithvi Sooktam. Amidst mundane subjects high philosophical ideas are also found in this Veda. The literary style of this Veda is highly sophisticated.