Changes

=== In Yajurveda ===

=== In Yajurveda ===

Yajurveda says that one should make effort for producing abundant grains through agriculture. In the Yajurveda and Taittirīya Samhita agriculture is regarded as the means of human welfare. It is the source of prosperity and sustenance. It gives grain, strength and lustre.<ref name=":2" />  

Yajurveda says that one should make effort for producing abundant grains through agriculture. In the Yajurveda and Taittirīya Samhita agriculture is regarded as the means of human welfare. In the Rajasuya and Vajapeya mantras a Raja is placed in a high position as one who protects and nourishes the yajnas, progeny, wealth, agriculture, and cattle.<blockquote>...यन्तासि यमनो ध्रुवोऽसि धरुणः कृष्यै त्वा क्षेमाय त्वा रय्यै त्वा पोषाय त्वा ॥ (Yaju. Veda. 9.22)<ref>Shukla Yajurveda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 9])</ref></blockquote>In the context of worship of Rudra, the one who worships expresses his desires, both laukika and alaukika to be granted to him. It is called Rudra Chamakam, and the worshipper asks Rudra as follows<blockquote>कृषिश् च मे वृष्टिश् च मे... औद्भिद्यं च मे....ऽन्नं च मे ऽक्षुच् च मे व्रीहयश् च मे यवाश् च मे माषाश् च मे तिलाश् च मे मुद्गाश् च मे खल्वाश् च मे गोधूमाश् च मे मसुराश् च मे प्रियंगवश् च मे ऽणवश् च मे श्यामाकाश् च मे नीवाराश् च मे ॥</blockquote><blockquote>...वनस्पतयश् च मे... वीरुधश् च म ओषधयश् च मे कृष्टपच्यं च मेऽकृष्टपच्यं च मे ग्राम्याश् च मे पशव आरण्याश् च यज्ञेन कल्पन्ताम् । (Yaju. Veda. 4.7.4)<ref>Krishna Yajurveda, Taittriya Samhita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A Kanda 4 Prapathaka 7])</ref></blockquote>Grant me.... agriculture, rains, sprouting saplings, dhanya (for food), that which fulfils hunger, vrihi (dhanyas), yavas (a kind of grain), masha (black gram), tilas (sesame seeds), mudga (green gram), khalvas (a big sized, kind of grain), godhuma (wheat grains), masur (horsegram), priyangu (a kind of grain), anva grains (small like variga grains), grains growing in the villages and in the forests (one that grows without ploughing), vanaspati trees, creepers, medicinal plants, the crop obtained in the lands which are ploughed (example paddy fields and fruit farms), and those crops obtained in the land which is not ploughed (example is like the crop obtained in forest).

=== In Atharvaveda ===

=== In Atharvaveda ===

Krshiparashara has discussed the importance of agriculture. It says that even a learned Brahmin who is proficient in all the four Vedas, who recites Shastras and is intelligent, when is overpowered by Alakṣmī, is reduced to humiliation caused be begging for food with folded hands. And only through farming, one however ceases to be a suitor. By practicing agriculture alone one is bound to be bhupati (master of the earth). People even having surplus of gold, silver, jewels and garments have to solicit farmers as earnestly as a devotee would pray. People in spite of having gold ornaments in their necks, ears and hands have to suffer from hunger in absence of food. Food is life, food is also the strength, food is everything. The divinities, the demons, and all human beings depend on food for surviving. Food, verily, comes from grains and grains cannot be available without agriculture. Therefore, leaving everything else one should strive for farming. Blessed is agriculture, holy is agriculture, and agriculture is life of all living creatures.

Krshiparashara has discussed the importance of agriculture. It says that even a learned Brahmin who is proficient in all the four Vedas, who recites Shastras and is intelligent, when is overpowered by Alakṣmī, is reduced to humiliation caused be begging for food with folded hands. And only through farming, one however ceases to be a suitor. By practicing agriculture alone one is bound to be bhupati (master of the earth). People even having surplus of gold, silver, jewels and garments have to solicit farmers as earnestly as a devotee would pray. People in spite of having gold ornaments in their necks, ears and hands have to suffer from hunger in absence of food. Food is life, food is also the strength, food is everything. The divinities, the demons, and all human beings depend on food for surviving. Food, verily, comes from grains and grains cannot be available without agriculture. Therefore, leaving everything else one should strive for farming. Blessed is agriculture, holy is agriculture, and agriculture is life of all living creatures.

=== Deities Related to Agriculture ===

=== Other References ===

Various sūktas of Ṛgveda such as Kṣetrapati (4.57), Parjanya (5.83), Prthvi (5.84), Go sukta (6.28), Aapah (7.47), Aksha (10.34), Visvedeva (10.101) and Araṇyanī36 have well described in the importance of agriculture.   

 

== Deities Related to Agriculture ==

Various suktas of Rigveda such as Ksetrapati (4.57), Parjanya (5.83), Prthvi (5.84), Go sukta (6.28), Aapah (7.47), Aksha (10.34), Visvedeva (10.101) and Araṇyanī have well described in the importance of agriculture.   

In the Rigveda, the deities Dyava-Prthvi, are extolled for regaining control over the fertile lands from the Dasyus. Mantras praising [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]] as the deity for granting copious rains are well-known. So also [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya]] is praised as the deity having bonds in the three lokas; his bond in water i.e., habitable world, explained by Sayanacharya, are tillage, rain and seed. His rays called Asva are powerful and he is known to "drink the waters in the oceans" to form clouds. Thus [[Jala Vijnana (जलविज्ञानम्)|hydrology]] or science of water is intimately connected with the deity Surya and with [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]] who is the deity for clouds and rains.  

In the Rigveda, the deities Dyava-Prthvi, are extolled for regaining control over the fertile lands from the Dasyus. Mantras praising [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]] as the deity for granting copious rains are well-known. So also [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya]] is praised as the deity having bonds in the three lokas; his bond in water i.e., habitable world, explained by Sayanacharya, are tillage, rain and seed. His rays called Asva are powerful and he is known to "drink the waters in the oceans" to form clouds. Thus [[Jala Vijnana (जलविज्ञानम्)|hydrology]] or science of water is intimately connected with the deity Surya and with [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]] who is the deity for clouds and rains.  

In effect, the agricultural work was considered to be pious job (Rig veda 10.117.7). It directs all classes of the society to perform the job of agriculture as it was considered to be equivalent of Yajna (Rig Veda 10.101.3-5). Rigveda mentions some experts in agriculture who knew how to increase the output of agriculture (Rig Veda 1.161.2).  

In effect, the agricultural work was considered to be pious job (Rig veda 10.117.7). It directs all classes of the society to perform the job of agriculture as it was considered to be equivalent of Yajna (Rig Veda 10.101.3-5). Rigveda mentions some experts in agriculture who knew how to increase the output of agriculture (Rig Veda 1.161.2).  

=== Other References ===

== Yajnas and Agriculture ==

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (2.100.47) and Mahābhārata (Sabhaparva 5.80) are also of the opinion that people engaged in agriculture are bound to lead a happy and prosperous life. According to Sukraniti (3.276), agriculture of a land irrigated with river water is the best means of one’s livelihood.

The Chaturmasya yajna or the four monthly rites were held at the beginning of the three seasons of four months each. These were carried out as preventive and expiatory rites. The four rites were known as Vaisvedeva, Varunapraghasa, Sakamedha and Sunaasira. Two among these four rites, Varunapraghasa and Sunaseera had direct link with agriculture. The former held in the rainy season was carried out for good rains, getting good yield of food grains and increase of cattle wealth. The latter, Sunaseera, which means the plough,  Not only this, symbolic agricultural activities were pursued on sacrificial ground with the purpose of successful crop-raising. Wide varieties of seeds were sown for varieties of crops raised in the same field.47 More interestingly offering to crops was a part of sacrificial rites so that these could be successfully cultivated. This helps us to know about the wide range of cultivated crops known in the Yajurvedic period.48 Craving for cultivated (kr.s.tapacya– ) and uncultivated (akr.s.t .apacya– ) crops mentioned in the sacrificial rites shows equal importance was given to the uncultivated crops. Uncultivated crops were wild crops species.49 Possibly these were used for hybridization with cultivated species for getting new variety of cultivated crop.

== Agricultural Processes ==

== Agricultural Processes ==

Broadly the processes which are performed by a farmer include the following eight steps from crop selection to harvesting.

Broadly the processes which are performed by a farmer include the following eight steps from crop selection to harvesting.