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Yajurveda (Samskrit: यजुर्वेदः) is one of the Chaturvedas (four Vedic texts); the other three being Rigveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.<ref name=":1">Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/892/mode/2up?view=theater Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref> It has two chief branches namely, Shukla Yajurveda and Krishna Yajurveda. And consists of a collection of mantras relating to various Yajnas.<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://archive.org/details/ldpd_7285627_000/page/882/mode/2up?view=theater The Practical Sanskrit English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.</ref> {{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hTuHb4uNHs&feature=youtu.be
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Yajurveda (Samskrit: यजुर्वेदः) is one of the Chaturvedas (four Vedic texts); the other three being Rigveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda.<ref name=":1">Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/892/mode/2up?view=theater Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref> It has two chief branches namely, Shukla Yajurveda and Krishna Yajurveda. And consists of a collection of mantras relating to various Yajnas.<ref name=":8">Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://archive.org/details/ldpd_7285627_000/page/882/mode/2up?view=theater The Practical Sanskrit English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.</ref> {{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hTuHb4uNHs&feature=youtu.be
 
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ādyo vedaścatuṣpādaḥ śatasāhastrasammitaḥ ...।। 1 ।।  
 
ādyo vedaścatuṣpādaḥ śatasāhastrasammitaḥ ...।। 1 ।।  
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tato'tra matsuto vyāso hyaṣṭāviṁśatitame'ntare । vadamekaṁ catuṣpādaṁ caturdhā vyabhajat prabuḥ ।। 2 ।।</blockquote>Thus, the Veda was divided into four texts ie. Rik, Yajus, Sama and Atharva by Veda Vyasa who then taught it to four of his disciples Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu respectively.<ref name=":2">Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref><ref name=":1" /><blockquote>ऋगुवेदश्वावकं पैलं जग्राह स महामुनिः । वैशम्पायननामानं यजूर्वेदस्य चाग्रहीत् ।। ८ ।। जैमिनि सामवेदस्य तथैवाथर्ववेदवित् ।<ref name=":6" />
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tato'tra matsuto vyāso hyaṣṭāviṁśatitame'ntare । vadamekaṁ catuṣpādaṁ caturdhā vyabhajat prabuḥ ।। 2 ।।</blockquote>Thus, the Veda was divided into four texts ie. Rik, Yajus, Sama and Atharva by Veda Vyasa who then taught it to four of his disciples Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu respectively.<ref name=":2">Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref><ref name=":1" /><blockquote>ऋगुवेदश्वावकं पैलं जग्राह स महामुनिः । वैशम्पायननामानं यजूर्वेदस्य चाग्रहीत् ।। ८ ।। जैमिनि सामवेदस्य तथैवाथर्ववेदवित् ।<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9" />
    
r̥guvedaśvāvakaṁ pailaṁ jagrāha sa mahāmuniḥ । vaiśampāyananāmānaṁ yajūrvedasya cāgrahīt ।। 8 ।।  
 
r̥guvedaśvāvakaṁ pailaṁ jagrāha sa mahāmuniḥ । vaiśampāyananāmānaṁ yajūrvedasya cāgrahīt ।। 8 ।।  
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jaimini sāmavedasya tathaivātharvavedavit ।</blockquote>Of the four, the Yajurveda is mostly in prose and contains mantra specifications and rules applicable in the performance of various yajnas. Meant to be used by the Adhvaryu (the Yajurvedic priest), it forms the foundation of Karmakanda.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak ([https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Chapter 1]).</ref> It is said that there are special rules for the observance of homa performed towards fulfilment of specific desires. These rules for japa, homa etc. of the Yajurveda were taught to Vyasa by Agnideva. And that, if all the rules of the Yajurveda are correctly observed, all desires will be fulfilled.<ref name=":1" />
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jaimini sāmavedasya tathaivātharvavedavit ।</blockquote>Of the four, the Yajurveda is mostly in prose and contains mantra specifications and rules applicable in the performance of various yajnas. Meant to be used by the Adhvaryu (the Yajurvedic priest), it forms the foundation of Karmakanda.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">Ahilya Singh (2010), Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak ([https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Chapter 1]).</ref> It is said that there are special rules for the observance of homa performed towards fulfilment of specific desires. These rules for japa, homa etc. of the Yajurveda were taught to Vyasa by Agnideva. And that, if all the rules of the Yajurveda are correctly observed, all desires will be fulfilled.<ref name=":1" />Furthermore, Dhanurveda is the Upaveda of Yajurveda, Rudra is the prime deity, Bharadvaja is the prominent gotra and Trishtubh is the recurring metre.<blockquote>यजुर्वेदस्य धनुर्वेद उपवेदः । यजुर्वेदस्य भारद्वाजगोत्रम् । रुद्रदैवत्यम् । त्रैष्टुभं छन्दः ।<ref name=":4" />
 
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Furthermore, Dhanurveda is the Upaveda of Yajurveda, Rudra is the prime deity, Bharadvaja is the prominent gotra and Trishtubh is the recurring metre.<blockquote>यजुर्वेदस्य धनुर्वेद उपवेदः । यजुर्वेदस्य भारद्वाजगोत्रम् । रुद्रदैवत्यम् । त्रैष्टुभं छन्दः ।<ref name=":4" />
      
yajurvedasya dhanurveda upavedaḥ । yajurvedasya bhāradvājagotram । rudradaivatyam । traiṣṭubhaṁ chandaḥ ।</blockquote>
 
yajurvedasya dhanurveda upavedaḥ । yajurvedasya bhāradvājagotram । rudradaivatyam । traiṣṭubhaṁ chandaḥ ।</blockquote>
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== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==
 
== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==
 
It is said that Veda Vyasa compiled the Yajurveda with the mantras named 'Yajus'.<ref name=":7" /> <blockquote>
 
It is said that Veda Vyasa compiled the Yajurveda with the mantras named 'Yajus'.<ref name=":7" /> <blockquote>
यजूषि च यजुर्वेदं ... ।। १३ ।।<ref name=":6" /> yajūṣi ca yajurvedaṁ ... ।। 13 ।। </blockquote>
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यजूषि च यजुर्वेदं ... ।। १३ ।।<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9" /> yajūṣi ca yajurvedaṁ ... ।। 13 ।। </blockquote>
Shabdakalpadruma also explains Yajurveda as <blockquote>यजुरेव वेदः । यजुषां वेद इति वा ।<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AF Shabdakalpadruma], See: Yajurveda.</ref> yajureva vedaḥ । yajuṣāṁ veda iti vā ।</blockquote>Meaning: Yajurveda is a collection of Yajus.<ref name=":3" /> The term 'Yajus' is derived from the root यज् (to worship) added with the Unadi affix उसि and refers to the mantras used in the performance of Yajnas.<ref name=":5">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AF Vachaspatyam]. See: Yajus.</ref><ref>Kulapati Jibananda Vidyasagara (1900), Shabda Sagara, First Edition, See: [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.195943/page/n581/mode/2up?view=theater Yajus]</ref><ref name=":3" /><blockquote>इज्यतेऽनेनेति यजुः ।<ref name=":4">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AF Shabdakalpadruma], See: Yajuh</ref> ijyate'neneti yajuḥ ।</blockquote>The term Yajuh variegatedly explained as,<ref name=":0" />
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Shabdakalpadruma also explains Yajurveda as <blockquote>यजुरेव वेदः । यजुषां वेद इति वा ।<ref name=":9">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AF Shabdakalpadruma], See: Yajurveda.</ref> yajureva vedaḥ । yajuṣāṁ veda iti vā ।</blockquote>Meaning: Yajurveda is a collection of Yajus.<ref name=":3" /> The term 'Yajus' is derived from the root यज् (to worship) added with the Unadi affix उसि and refers to the mantras used in the performance of Yajnas.<ref name=":5">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AF Vachaspatyam]. See: Yajus.</ref><ref name=":10">Kulapati Jibananda Vidyasagara (1900), Shabda Sagara, First Edition, See: [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.195943/page/n581/mode/2up?view=theater Yajus]</ref><ref name=":3" /><blockquote>इज्यतेऽनेनेति यजुः ।<ref name=":4">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AF Shabdakalpadruma], See: Yajuh</ref> ijyate'neneti yajuḥ ।</blockquote>The term Yajuh variegatedly explained as,<ref name=":0" />
    
# अनियताक्षरावसानो यजुः । aniyatākṣarāvasāno yajuḥ । ie. The one in which the number of syllables is not designated or fixed.
 
# अनियताक्षरावसानो यजुः । aniyatākṣarāvasāno yajuḥ । ie. The one in which the number of syllables is not designated or fixed.
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Thus, the mantras different from rks and samans that are prosaic in nature being devoid of metres are referred to by the term Yajuh.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
 
Thus, the mantras different from rks and samans that are prosaic in nature being devoid of metres are referred to by the term Yajuh.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
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# शेषे वा यजुः शब्दः । शेषे ऋक्सामभिन्ने मन्त्रजाते ततश्च यन्मन्त्रजातं प्रश्लिष्य पठितं गानादिविच्छेदरहितं तत् यजुरिति ।<ref name=":4" />   śeṣe vā yajuḥ śabdaḥ । śeṣe r̥ksāmabhinne mantrajāte tataśca yanmantrajātaṁ praśliṣya paṭhitaṁ gānādivicchedarahitaṁ tat yajuriti ।
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# शेषे वा यजुः शब्दः । शेषे ऋक्सामभिन्ने मन्त्रजाते ततश्च यन्मन्त्रजातं प्रश्लिष्य पठितं गानादिविच्छेदरहितं तत् यजुरिति ।<ref name=":4" /> śeṣe vā yajuḥ śabdaḥ । śeṣe r̥ksāmabhinne mantrajāte tataśca yanmantrajātaṁ praśliṣya paṭhitaṁ gānādivicchedarahitaṁ tat yajuriti ।
# ऋकसामभिन्ने पदच्छेदरहितेमन्त्रभेदे अमरः । तल्लक्षणम् "वृत्तगीतिवर्जितत्वेनप्रश्लिष्टपठिता मन्त्रा यजूंषि” सा॰ भा॰ उक्तम्।<ref name=":5" /> r̥kasāmabhinne padacchedarahitemantrabhede amaraḥ । tallakṣaṇam "vr̥ttagītivarjitatvenapraśliṣṭapaṭhitā mantrā yajūṁṣi" sā॰ bhā॰ uktam।
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# ऋकसामभिन्ने पदच्छेदरहितेमन्त्रभेदे अमरः । तल्लक्षणम् "वृत्तगीतिवर्जितत्वेनप्रश्लिष्टपठिता मन्त्रा यजूंषि” सा॰ भा॰ उक्तम्।<ref name=":5" /> r̥kasāmabhinne padacchedarahitemantrabhede amaraḥ । tallakṣaṇam "vr̥ttagītivarjitatvenapraśliṣṭapaṭhitā mantrā yajūṁṣi" sā॰ bhā॰ uktam।
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Therefore, Vachaspatyam defines Yajurveda as the collection of mantras different from rks and samans.<blockquote>यजुषां ऋक्सामभिन्नानां मन्त्राणां प्रतिपादकोवेदः ।<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AF Vachaspatyam]. See: Yajurveda</ref> yajuṣāṁ r̥ksāmabhinnānāṁ mantrāṇāṁ pratipādakovedaḥ ।</blockquote>
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Therefore, Vachaspatyam defines Yajurveda as the collection of mantras different from rks and samans.<blockquote>यजुषां ऋक्सामभिन्नानां मन्त्राणां प्रतिपादकोवेदः ।<ref name=":11">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AF Vachaspatyam]. See: Yajurveda</ref> yajuṣāṁ r̥ksāmabhinnānāṁ mantrāṇāṁ pratipādakovedaḥ ।</blockquote>
    
== शाखावतरणम् ॥ Emergence of Shakhas ==
 
== शाखावतरणम् ॥ Emergence of Shakhas ==
Vachaspatyam
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<blockquote>वेदभेदे स च शुक्लकृष्णभेदेन द्विधा ।<ref name=":11" /> vedabhede sa ca śuklakr̥ṣṇabhedena dvidhā ।</blockquote>The Yajurveda is seen in two forms viz.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":10" />
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# Shukla Yajurveda: Also known as Vajasaneyi Samhita, it is attributed to Rishi Yajnavalkya to whom it was revealed by the sun, in the form of a horse.
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# Krishna Yajurveda: Also known as Taittiriya Samhita, since the disciples of Vaishampayana (to whom Vyasa taught the Yajurveda) took the form of the Tittiri bird and picked up the text disgorged by Yajnavalkya.
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It is said that Krishna Yajurveda or Taittiriya Samhita is the older text while the Shukla Yajurveda or Vajasaneyi Samhita is a later revelation to Maharshi Yajnavalkya from the resplendent Surya deva.<ref name=":2" /> The story of how the two forms of the Yajurveda came into being is narrated in the Vishnu Purana.
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As mentioned earlier, when Veda Vyas divided the Veda into four, he taught the Yajurveda to his disciple, Maharshi Vaishampayana. According to the Vishnu Purana, Vaishampayana made 27 branches of the Yajurveda and taught it to his disciples including Yajnavalkya (the son of Brahmarata).<ref name=":1" />
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वेदभेदे स च शुक्लकृष्णभेदेन द्विधा तद्विवरणंचरणव्यूहे भाग॰
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Once Vaishampayana asked his disciples to perform, on his behalf, a Vrata that repels the consequences of Brahmahatya. Yajnavalkya who was his disciple offered to do the vrata alone by himself that enraged Vaishampayana. He asked Yajnavalkya to abandon everything that he had learnt from him for disobeying his Guru's instructions. Yajnavalkya thus, ejected the texts of Yajurveda from his stomach that the other disciples of Vaishampayana picked up by transforming themselves into Tittiri birds thereby, giving it the name Taittiriya Samhita.<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>यजूष्यथ विसृष्टानि याज्ञवल्क्येन वै द्रिज । जगृहुस्तित्तिरा भूत्वा तैत्तिरीयास्तु ते ततः ।। १२ ।।<ref name=":12">Vishnu Purana, Amsha 3, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%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%AB Adhyaya 5]</ref>
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Ahilya Singh (2010), [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak Chapter 1.]
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yajūṣyatha visr̥ṣṭāni yājñavalkyena vai drija । jagr̥hustittirā bhūtvā taittirīyāstu te tataḥ ।। 12 ।।</blockquote>On the other hand, Yajnavalkya propitiated Surya deva and asked to be conferred upon the knowledge of those Yajurveda texts hitherto unexplored. Thus, the Sun who appeared in the form of a horse, gave Yajnavalkya the texts of Yajurveda known as ayātayāma. And since the knowledge was imparted by Surya deva in the form of a horse, those who studied this text are called Vajis.<ref name=":7" /> <blockquote>यजूषि यैरधीतानि तानि विप्रैर्द्रिजोत्तम । वाजिनस्ते समाख्याताः सूर्याश्वः सोऽभवद यतः ।। २८ ।।<ref name=":12" />
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Chapter 1
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yajūṣi yairadhītāni tāni viprairdrijottama । vājinaste samākhyātāḥ sūryāśvaḥ so'bhavada yataḥ ।। 28 ।। </blockquote>According to Shatapatha Brahmana, Shukla Yajurveda thus narrated further by Maharshi Yajnavalkya represents the Aditya Sampradaya, one of the two Sampradayas of the Vedas. The other one being the Brahma Sampradaya that is represented by the Krishna Yajurveda.<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>आदित्यानीमानि शुक्लानि यजूंषि वाजसनेयेन याज्ञवल्क्येनाख्यायन्ते १४.९.४.३३<ref>Shatapatha Brahmana, Kanda 14, Adhyaya 9, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AA/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AF/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3_%E0%A5%AA Brahmana 4]</ref>
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यजुर्वेदप्रवक्तारं वैशंपायनमेव च ।। [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%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%A9%E0%A5%AA ३४.१४] ।। Brahmanda Purana, Purvabhaga
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ādityānīmāni śuklāni yajūṁṣi vājasaneyena yājñavalkyenākhyāyante 14.9.4.33</blockquote>Though both the Krishna and Shukla Yajurveda are chiefly in measured and poetical prose and their subject matter are rituals, mantras peculiar to them, etc.,<ref name=":10" /> it is seen that the Shukla Yajurveda has a collection of only mantras essential for performing rituals like darshapurnamasa, etc. While the Krishna Yajurveda also includes the relevant brahmana portions therein. Thus, the differentiation of the Yajurveda into Krishna and Shukla is to do with their content. Wherein, the combination of mantras and brahmanas defines the nature of Krishna Yajurveda and the unalloyed collection of mantras alone defines the nature of the Shukla Yajurveda.<ref name=":0" />
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==शाखाः ॥ Recensions==
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Vishnu Purana
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Puranic Encyclopedia
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3.5 - Fifteen branches of this school sprang from Kaṇwa and other pupils of Yājñawalkya
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viṣṇu purāṇa, Part 3, Chapter 5, mentions that vaiśampāyana, the disciple of vedavyāsa, divided yajurveda into twentyseven branches and taught them to his disciples. Among those disciples there was yājñavalkya, the son of Brahmarāta.  
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Ahilya Singh (2010), [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak Chapter 1.]
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Shabda Sagara
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Chapter 1
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-जुः) The Yajur or Yajush, one of the four Ve4das; it is divided into two principal portions, the white and black, or Va4jasane4yi and Taittiri4ya, the former of which is attributed to the saint YA4JNAWALKYA, to whom it was revealed by the sun, in the form of a horse; and the latter to TAITTIRI, to whom it was communicated by YA4SKA, the first pupil of its original author, the sage VAIS4AMPA4YANA: according to the Pura4n4as the Taittiri4ya portion was named from Tittiri a partridge; the disciples of VAIS4AMPA4YANA being changed into those birds, to pick up the texts of the Ve4da as they were disgorged in a tangible shape by YA4JNAWALKYA, at the command of VAIS4AMPA4YANA: both portions of this Ve4da are very full on the subject of religious rites, and the prayers peculiar to it, are chiefly in measured and poetical prose.
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यजुर्वेदप्रवक्तारं वैशंपायनमेव च ।। [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%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%A9%E0%A5%AA ३४.१४] ।। Brahmanda Purana, Purvabhaga
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Mahabharata Cultural Index  
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Mahabharata Cultural Index
    
Gift of Āditya to Yājñavalkya: The sage Yājñavalkya told king Janaka that while he was practising the prescribed rite, (although) he was despised (? avamatena), he propitiated the god Sun with severe austerity; he then received from Āditya the yajuses (yathārṣeṇeha vidhinā caratāvamatena ha/mayādityād avāptāni yajūṁṣi mithilādhipa//mahatā tapasā devas tapiṣṭhaḥ sevito mayā) 12. 306. 2-3; when the pleased god Sūrya offered a boon to Yājñavalkya, the latter requested the god to grant him the yajuses which had not been used before (? yajūṁṣi nopayuktāni kṣipram icchāmi veditum) 12. 306. 4-5; the god agreed to Yājñavalkya's request; Sarasvatī then in the form of speech entered Yājñavalkya's mouth 12. 306. 6-7; the God said that as a result of that, the whole of Veda (i. e. the Yajurveda) together with its latter half and the khila would be established in him (Yājñavalkya) (pratiṣṭhāsyati te vedaḥ sottaraḥ sakhilo dvijā) 12. 306. 10 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 318. 10: khilaṁ paraśākhīyaṁ svaśākhyāyām apekṣāvaśāt paṭhyate tat khilam ity ucyate/…sakhilam tatsahitam/ sottaraṁ sopaniṣatkam/); Yājñavalkya received fifteen yajuses from Arka (Sūrya) (daśa pañca ca prāptāni yajūṁṣy arkān mayānagha) 12. 306. 21; Sūrya gave the yajuses (to Yājñavalkya) in the east (atra (i. e. in the east) dattāni sūryeṇa yajūṁṣi) 5. 106. 11 (Nī on Bom. Ed. 5. 108. 11: yājñavalkyāyeti śeṣaḥ).
 
Gift of Āditya to Yājñavalkya: The sage Yājñavalkya told king Janaka that while he was practising the prescribed rite, (although) he was despised (? avamatena), he propitiated the god Sun with severe austerity; he then received from Āditya the yajuses (yathārṣeṇeha vidhinā caratāvamatena ha/mayādityād avāptāni yajūṁṣi mithilādhipa//mahatā tapasā devas tapiṣṭhaḥ sevito mayā) 12. 306. 2-3; when the pleased god Sūrya offered a boon to Yājñavalkya, the latter requested the god to grant him the yajuses which had not been used before (? yajūṁṣi nopayuktāni kṣipram icchāmi veditum) 12. 306. 4-5; the god agreed to Yājñavalkya's request; Sarasvatī then in the form of speech entered Yājñavalkya's mouth 12. 306. 6-7; the God said that as a result of that, the whole of Veda (i. e. the Yajurveda) together with its latter half and the khila would be established in him (Yājñavalkya) (pratiṣṭhāsyati te vedaḥ sottaraḥ sakhilo dvijā) 12. 306. 10 (Nī. on Bom. Ed. 12. 318. 10: khilaṁ paraśākhīyaṁ svaśākhyāyām apekṣāvaśāt paṭhyate tat khilam ity ucyate/…sakhilam tatsahitam/ sottaraṁ sopaniṣatkam/); Yājñavalkya received fifteen yajuses from Arka (Sūrya) (daśa pañca ca prāptāni yajūṁṣy arkān mayānagha) 12. 306. 21; Sūrya gave the yajuses (to Yājñavalkya) in the east (atra (i. e. in the east) dattāni sūryeṇa yajūṁṣi) 5. 106. 11 (Nī on Bom. Ed. 5. 108. 11: yājñavalkyāyeti śeṣaḥ).
    
All about Hinduism - Swami Sivananda
 
All about Hinduism - Swami Sivananda
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The Yajur-Veda is again divided into two parts, the Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittiriya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage Yajnavalkya from the resplendent Sun-God.
      
The Rig-Veda is divided into twenty-one sections, the Yajur-Veda into one hundred and nine sections, the Sama-Veda into one thousand sections and the Atharva-Veda into fifty sections. In all, the whole Veda is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty recensions.
 
The Rig-Veda is divided into twenty-one sections, the Yajur-Veda into one hundred and nine sections, the Sama-Veda into one thousand sections and the Atharva-Veda into fifty sections. In all, the whole Veda is thus divided into one thousand one hundred and eighty recensions.
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Ahilya Singh (2010), [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak Chapter 1.]
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Baldev Upadhyay (1955), [https://ia801607.us.archive.org/10/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.347181/2015.347181.Vaidik-Sahitya.pdf Vaidik Sahitya], Kashi
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There are two Sampradayas of the Vedas viz. Brahma Sampradaya and Aditya Sampradaya.
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According to the Shatapatha Brahmana, Shukla Yajurveda narrated by Yajnavalkya represents the Aditya Sampradaya.
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आदित्यानीमानि शुक्लानि यजूंषि वाजसनेयेन याज्ञवल्क्येनाख्यायन्ते १४.९.५.३३
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Consequently, the Krshna Yajurveda represents the Brahma Sampradaya.
      
Shakha Vibhaga
 
Shakha Vibhaga
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# Kanva
 
# Kanva
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The Yajurveda text includes Shukla Yajurveda of which about 16 recensions are known, while the Krishna Yajurveda may have had as many as 86 recensions.<ref name="prabhakar" />  
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The Yajurveda text includes Shukla Yajurveda of which about 16 recensions are known, while the Krishna Yajurveda may have had as many as 86 recensions.<ref name="prabhakar" />
 
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Baldev Upadhyay (1955), [https://ia801607.us.archive.org/10/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.347181/2015.347181.Vaidik-Sahitya.pdf Vaidik Sahitya], Kashi
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The differentiation of the Yajurveda into Krshna and Shukla is to do with their content.
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The Shukla Yajurveda has a collection of only mantras essential for performing rituals like darshapurnamasa, etc. While the Krshna Yajurveda also includes the relevant brahmana portions therein. The combination of mantras and brahmanas defines the nature of Krshna Yajurveda and the unalloyed collection of mantras alone defines the nature of the Shukla Yajurveda.
      
Shabdakalpadruma
 
Shabdakalpadruma
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यजुर्व्वेदः, पुं, तस्याधिपतिर्यथा, -- “ऋग्वेदाधिपतिर्जीवः सामवेदाधिपः कुजः । यजुर्व्वेदाधिपः शुक्रः शशिजोऽथर्व्ववेदराट् ॥” इति ज्योतिषम् ॥ अस्य वक्ता वैशम्पायनः । स तु आदावेक एवासीत् । यथा, -- “ऋग्वेदंश्रावकं पैलं जग्राह स महामुनिः । यजुर्व्वेदप्रवक्तारं वैशम्पायनमेव च ॥ जैमिनं सामवेदस्य श्रावकं सोऽन्वपद्यत । तथैवाथर्व्ववेदस्य सुमन्तुमृषिसत्तमम् ॥ एक आसीद्यजुर्व्वेदस्तञ्चतुर्धा व्यकल्पयत् । चातुर्होत्रमभूद्यस्मिंस्तेन यज्ञमथाकरोत् ॥ अध्वर्यवं यजुर्भिः स्यादृग्भिर्होत्रं द्विजोत्तमाः । उद्गात्रं सामभिश्चक्रे ब्रह्मत्वञ्चाप्यथर्व्वभिः ॥ ततः स ऋच उद्धृत्य ऋग्वेदं कृतावान् प्रभुः । यजूंषि च यजुर्व्वेदं सामवेदञ्च सामभिः ॥ एकविंशतिभेदेन ऋग्वेदं कृतवान् पुरा । शाखानान्तु शतेनाथ यजुर्व्वेदमथाकरोत् ॥ सामवेदं सहस्रेण शाखानाञ्च विभेदतः । अथर्व्वाणमथो वेदं बिभेद नवकेन तु ॥” इति कौर्म्म्ये ४९ अध्यायः ॥
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यजुर्व्वेदः, पुं, तस्याधिपतिर्यथा, -- “ऋग्वेदाधिपतिर्जीवः सामवेदाधिपः कुजः । यजुर्व्वेदाधिपः शुक्रः शशिजोऽथर्व्ववेदराट् ॥” इति ज्योतिषम् ॥ अस्य वक्ता वैशम्पायनः ।   एकविंशतिभेदेन ऋग्वेदं कृतवान् पुरा । शाखानान्तु शतेनाथ यजुर्व्वेदमथाकरोत् ॥ सामवेदं सहस्रेण शाखानाञ्च विभेदतः । अथर्व्वाणमथो वेदं बिभेद नवकेन तु ॥” इति कौर्म्म्ये ४९ अध्यायः ॥
    
Shabdakalpadruma
 
Shabdakalpadruma
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यजुर्व्वेदस्य षडशीतिर्भेदा भवन्ति । तत्र चरका नाम द्वादश भेदा भवन्ति । चरकाः १ आह्व- रकाः २ कठाः ३ प्राच्यकठाः ४ कपिष्ठलकठाः ५ औपमन्याः ६ आष्ठालकठाः ७ चाराय- णीयाः ८ वारायणीयाः ९ वार्त्तान्तवेयाः १० श्वेताश्वतराः ११ मैत्रायणीयाश्चेति १२ । तत्र मैत्रायणीया नाम सप्त भेदा भवन्ति । मानवाः १ दुन्दुभाः २ चैकेयाः ३ वाराहाः ४ हारिद्रवेयाः ५ श्यामाः ६ श्यामायनीया- श्चेति ७ । तेषामध्ययनमष्टौ शतम् । यजुः- महस्राण्यधीत्य शाखापारो भवति । तान्येव द्विगुणान्यधीत्य पदपारो भवति । तान्येव त्रिगु- णान्यधीत्य क्रमपारो भवति । षडङ्गान्यधीत्य षडङ्गविद्भवति । शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं च्छन्दो ज्योतिषमित्यङ्गानि । तत्र प्राच्योदीच्यां नैरृत्यां निरृत्यः । तत्र वाजसनेया नाम सप्त- दश भेदा भवन्ति । जाबालाः १ औधेघाः २ काण्वाः ३ माध्यन्दिनाः ४ शापीयाः ५ तापायनीयाः ६ कापालाः ७ पौण्ड्रवत्साः ८ आवटिकाः ९ पामावटिकाः १० पारा- शर्य्याः ११ वैधेयाः १२ वैनेयाः १३ औधेयाः १४ गालवाः १५ वैजवाः १६ कात्यायनीया- श्चेति १७ । प्रतिपदमनुपदं छन्दो भाषा धर्म्मो मीमांसा न्यायस्तर्क इत्युपाङ्गानि भवन्ति । उपज्योतिषम् १ साङ्गलक्षणम् २ प्रतिज्ञा ३ अनुवाक्यम् ४ परिसंख्या ५ चरणच्यूहम् ६ श्राद्धकल्पः ७ प्रवराध्यायश्च ८ शास्त्रम् ९ क्रतुः १० संख्या ११ अनुगमः १२ यज्ञम् १३ पाश्वानः १४ होत्रकम् १५ पशवः १५ उक्- थानि १७ कूर्म्मलक्षणम् १८ । इत्यष्टादशपरि- शिष्टानि । “द्बे सहस्रे शते न्यूने मन्त्रे वाजसनेयके । इत्युक्तं परिसंख्यातमेतत् सकलं सशुक्रियम् ॥ ग्रन्थांश्च परिसंख्यातं ब्राह्मणञ्च चतुर्गुणम् । आदावारभ्य वेदान्तं ब्रह्मव्याहृतिपूर्ब्बकम् । वेदमध्याय एतेषां होमान्ते तु समारभेत् ॥” तत्र तैत्तिरीयका नाम द्विभेदा भवन्ति । औख्याः खाण्डिकेयाश्चेति । तत्र खाण्डिकेया नाम पञ्च भेदा भवन्ति । आपस्तम्बी १ बौधा- यनी २ सत्याषाढी ३ हिरण्यकेशी ४ औधेया- श्चेति ५ । तत्र कठानान्तूपगानविशेषः । चतु- श्चत्वारिंशत्युपग्रन्थान् । “मन्त्रब्राह्मणयोर्वेदस्त्रिगुणं यत्र पठ्यते । यजुर्व्वेदः स विज्ञेयोऽन्ये शाखान्तराः स्मृताः ॥”  
 
यजुर्व्वेदस्य षडशीतिर्भेदा भवन्ति । तत्र चरका नाम द्वादश भेदा भवन्ति । चरकाः १ आह्व- रकाः २ कठाः ३ प्राच्यकठाः ४ कपिष्ठलकठाः ५ औपमन्याः ६ आष्ठालकठाः ७ चाराय- णीयाः ८ वारायणीयाः ९ वार्त्तान्तवेयाः १० श्वेताश्वतराः ११ मैत्रायणीयाश्चेति १२ । तत्र मैत्रायणीया नाम सप्त भेदा भवन्ति । मानवाः १ दुन्दुभाः २ चैकेयाः ३ वाराहाः ४ हारिद्रवेयाः ५ श्यामाः ६ श्यामायनीया- श्चेति ७ । तेषामध्ययनमष्टौ शतम् । यजुः- महस्राण्यधीत्य शाखापारो भवति । तान्येव द्विगुणान्यधीत्य पदपारो भवति । तान्येव त्रिगु- णान्यधीत्य क्रमपारो भवति । षडङ्गान्यधीत्य षडङ्गविद्भवति । शिक्षा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं च्छन्दो ज्योतिषमित्यङ्गानि । तत्र प्राच्योदीच्यां नैरृत्यां निरृत्यः । तत्र वाजसनेया नाम सप्त- दश भेदा भवन्ति । जाबालाः १ औधेघाः २ काण्वाः ३ माध्यन्दिनाः ४ शापीयाः ५ तापायनीयाः ६ कापालाः ७ पौण्ड्रवत्साः ८ आवटिकाः ९ पामावटिकाः १० पारा- शर्य्याः ११ वैधेयाः १२ वैनेयाः १३ औधेयाः १४ गालवाः १५ वैजवाः १६ कात्यायनीया- श्चेति १७ । प्रतिपदमनुपदं छन्दो भाषा धर्म्मो मीमांसा न्यायस्तर्क इत्युपाङ्गानि भवन्ति । उपज्योतिषम् १ साङ्गलक्षणम् २ प्रतिज्ञा ३ अनुवाक्यम् ४ परिसंख्या ५ चरणच्यूहम् ६ श्राद्धकल्पः ७ प्रवराध्यायश्च ८ शास्त्रम् ९ क्रतुः १० संख्या ११ अनुगमः १२ यज्ञम् १३ पाश्वानः १४ होत्रकम् १५ पशवः १५ उक्- थानि १७ कूर्म्मलक्षणम् १८ । इत्यष्टादशपरि- शिष्टानि । “द्बे सहस्रे शते न्यूने मन्त्रे वाजसनेयके । इत्युक्तं परिसंख्यातमेतत् सकलं सशुक्रियम् ॥ ग्रन्थांश्च परिसंख्यातं ब्राह्मणञ्च चतुर्गुणम् । आदावारभ्य वेदान्तं ब्रह्मव्याहृतिपूर्ब्बकम् । वेदमध्याय एतेषां होमान्ते तु समारभेत् ॥” तत्र तैत्तिरीयका नाम द्विभेदा भवन्ति । औख्याः खाण्डिकेयाश्चेति । तत्र खाण्डिकेया नाम पञ्च भेदा भवन्ति । आपस्तम्बी १ बौधा- यनी २ सत्याषाढी ३ हिरण्यकेशी ४ औधेया- श्चेति ५ । तत्र कठानान्तूपगानविशेषः । चतु- श्चत्वारिंशत्युपग्रन्थान् । “मन्त्रब्राह्मणयोर्वेदस्त्रिगुणं यत्र पठ्यते । यजुर्व्वेदः स विज्ञेयोऽन्ये शाखान्तराः स्मृताः ॥”  
== Rtvik ==
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Apte
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अध्वर्युः. Any officiating priest, technically distinguished from होतृ, उद्रातृ and ब्रह्मन्. His duty was "to measure the ground, build the altar, prepare sacrificial vessels, to fetch wood and water, to light the fire, to bring the animal and immolate it," and while doing this to repeat the Yajurveda; होता प्रथमं शंसति तमध्वर्युः प्रोत्साहयति Sk. See अच्छावाक also.
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The Yajurveda Samhita was compiled keeping in mind the procedural principles of Yajnas. And among the four rtviks imperative to the fulfilment of Yajna-karmas, the Adhvaryu is of prime importance as he fulfils the prime rituals of the Yajna. And it is to aid the fulfilment of his specific duties known as the Adhvaryava that the Yajurveda Samhitas are compiled within different shakhas. The adhvaryu recites the prosaic mantras or yajus and performs the rituals.
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Baldev Upadhyay (1955), [https://ia801607.us.archive.org/10/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.347181/2015.347181.Vaidik-Sahitya.pdf Vaidik Sahitya], Kashi
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Vishnu Purana 3.4
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There was but one Yajur-veda; but dividing this into four parts, Vyāsa instituted the sacrificial rite that is administered by four kinds of priests: in which it was the duty of the Adhwaryu to recite the prayers (Yajush) (or direct the ceremony); of the Hotri, to repeat the hymns (Ricas); of the Udgātri, to chaunt other hymns (Sāma); and of the Brahman, to pronounce the formulæ called Atharva.
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एक आसीदू यजुर्वेदस्तं चतुर्धा व्यकल्पयत् ।
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चातुर्होत्रमभूदू यस्मिस्तन यज्ञमथाकरोत् ।। ११ ।।
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आध्वर्यवं यजुभिंस्तु ऋगूभिर्होत्रं तथा मुनिः ।
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औदूगात्रं सामभिश्चक्र ब्रह्मत्वं चाप्यथर्वभिः ।। १२ ।।
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Also, known as Adhvaryuveda. Has 18 Parishishtas. In the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, vi. 4, 33, there is a reference to the śuklāni Yajūṃṣi, ‘white or pure Yajus,’ as promulgated by Vājasaneya Yājñavalkya, whence the Vājasaneyi Saṃhītā is popularly known as the ‘White Yajurveda.’
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Apte
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वेदः the second of the three (or four, including the Atharvaveda) principal Vedas, which is a collection of sacred texts in prose relating to sacrifices; it has two chief branches or recensions: the तैत्तिरीय or कृष्ण- यजुर्वेद and बाजसनेयी or शुक्लयजुर्वेद.
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All about Hinduism - Swami Sivananda
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The Satapatha Brahmana belongs to the Sukla Yajur-Veda. The Krishna-Yajur-Veda has the Taittiriya and the Maitrayana Brahmanas. Each of the Brahmanas has got an Aranyaka.
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There are as many Upanishads to each Veda as there are Sakhas, branches or recensions, i.e., 21, 109, 1000 and 50 respectively to the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda.
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Among the Kalpa Sutras, The Katyayana and Paraskara belong to the Sukla Yajur-Veda. The Apastamba, Hiranyakesi, Bodhayana, Bharadvaja, Manava, Vaikhanasa and the Kathaka belong to the Krishna Yajur-Veda.<ref>Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>
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Ahilya Singh (2010), [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak Chapter 1.]
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Shakha Vibhaga
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According to Muktikopanishad 109 shakhas
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नवाधिकशतं शाखा यजुषो मारुतात्मज ॥ १२॥ [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Muktikopanishad]
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Currently, there are 5 Shakhas of Yajurveda viz.
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# Taittiriya
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# Katha-Kapishthala
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# Maitrayani
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# Vajasaneyi
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# Kanva
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Vajasaneyi Samhita
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It belongs to the Shukla Yajurveda branch. This Samhita was obtained by Yajnavalkya from a Vajin. Hence, the name. It comprises of 40 Adhyayas, 303 anuvakas, 1975 Kandikas. The mantras are in both Gadya and Padya.
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Kanva Samhita
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It belongs to the Shukla Yajurveda branch and comprises of 40 Adhyayas.
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Taittiriya Samhita
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It represents the Krishna Yajurveda branch. It was revealed through Rishi Tittiri, the disciple of Rishi Vaishampayana. Hence, the name. It comprises of 7 Kandas, 44 Prapathakas, 631 anuvakas, 2198 kandikas.
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Maitrayani Samhita
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It consists of 4 Kandas, 54 Prapathakas and 3144 mantras.
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Katha Samhita
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Katha Kapishthala Samhita
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This Samhita is not available in entirety.
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==शाखाः ॥ Recensions==
   
The Yajurveda text includes Shukla Yajurveda of which about 16 recensions are known, while the Krishna Yajurveda may have had as many as 86 recensions.<ref name="prabhakar">CL Prabhakar (1972), The Recensions of the Sukla Yajurveda, Archív Orientální, Volume 40, Issue 1, pages 347-353</ref> Only two recensions of the Shukla Yajurveda have survived, Madhyandina and Kanva, and others are known by name only because they are mentioned in other texts. These two recensions are nearly the same, except for few differences.<ref name="prabhakar" /> In contrast to Shukla Yajurveda, the four surviving recensions of Krishna Yajurveda are very different versions.<ref name="prabhakar" />
 
The Yajurveda text includes Shukla Yajurveda of which about 16 recensions are known, while the Krishna Yajurveda may have had as many as 86 recensions.<ref name="prabhakar">CL Prabhakar (1972), The Recensions of the Sukla Yajurveda, Archív Orientální, Volume 40, Issue 1, pages 347-353</ref> Only two recensions of the Shukla Yajurveda have survived, Madhyandina and Kanva, and others are known by name only because they are mentioned in other texts. These two recensions are nearly the same, except for few differences.<ref name="prabhakar" /> In contrast to Shukla Yajurveda, the four surviving recensions of Krishna Yajurveda are very different versions.<ref name="prabhakar" />
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In Krishna Yajurveda, each of the recensions has or had their Brahmana text mixed into the Samhita text, thus creating a motley of the prose and verses,  and making it unclear, disorganized.<ref name="gsrai235" />
 
In Krishna Yajurveda, each of the recensions has or had their Brahmana text mixed into the Samhita text, thus creating a motley of the prose and verses,  and making it unclear, disorganized.<ref name="gsrai235" />
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== Rtvik ==
 +
Apte
 +
 +
अध्वर्युः. Any officiating priest, technically distinguished from होतृ, उद्रातृ and ब्रह्मन्. His duty was "to measure the ground, build the altar, prepare sacrificial vessels, to fetch wood and water, to light the fire, to bring the animal and immolate it," and while doing this to repeat the Yajurveda; होता प्रथमं शंसति तमध्वर्युः प्रोत्साहयति Sk. See अच्छावाक also.
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The Yajurveda Samhita was compiled keeping in mind the procedural principles of Yajnas. And among the four rtviks imperative to the fulfilment of Yajna-karmas, the Adhvaryu is of prime importance as he fulfils the prime rituals of the Yajna. And it is to aid the fulfilment of his specific duties known as the Adhvaryava that the Yajurveda Samhitas are compiled within different shakhas. The adhvaryu recites the prosaic mantras or yajus and performs the rituals.
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 +
Baldev Upadhyay (1955), [https://ia801607.us.archive.org/10/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.347181/2015.347181.Vaidik-Sahitya.pdf Vaidik Sahitya], Kashi
 +
 +
Vishnu Purana 3.4
 +
 +
There was but one Yajur-veda; but dividing this into four parts, Vyāsa instituted the sacrificial rite that is administered by four kinds of priests: in which it was the duty of the Adhwaryu to recite the prayers (Yajush) (or direct the ceremony); of the Hotri, to repeat the hymns (Ricas); of the Udgātri, to chaunt other hymns (Sāma); and of the Brahman, to pronounce the formulæ called Atharva.
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एक आसीदू यजुर्वेदस्तं चतुर्धा व्यकल्पयत् ।
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चातुर्होत्रमभूदू यस्मिस्तन यज्ञमथाकरोत् ।। ११ ।।
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आध्वर्यवं यजुभिंस्तु ऋगूभिर्होत्रं तथा मुनिः ।
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औदूगात्रं सामभिश्चक्र ब्रह्मत्वं चाप्यथर्वभिः ।। १२ ।।
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Shabdakalpadruma
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यजुर्व्वेदः,
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एक आसीद्यजुर्व्वेदस्तञ्चतुर्धा व्यकल्पयत् । चातुर्होत्रमभूद्यस्मिंस्तेन यज्ञमथाकरोत् ॥ अध्वर्यवं यजुर्भिः स्यादृग्भिर्होत्रं द्विजोत्तमाः । उद्गात्रं सामभिश्चक्रे ब्रह्मत्वञ्चाप्यथर्व्वभिः ॥
 
==Contents==
 
==Contents==
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All about Hinduism - Swami Sivananda
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The Satapatha Brahmana belongs to the Sukla Yajur-Veda. The Krishna-Yajur-Veda has the Taittiriya and the Maitrayana Brahmanas. Each of the Brahmanas has got an Aranyaka.
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There are as many Upanishads to each Veda as there are Sakhas, branches or recensions, i.e., 21, 109, 1000 and 50 respectively to the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda.
 +
 +
Among the Kalpa Sutras, The Katyayana and Paraskara belong to the Sukla Yajur-Veda. The Apastamba, Hiranyakesi, Bodhayana, Bharadvaja, Manava, Vaikhanasa and the Kathaka belong to the Krishna Yajur-Veda.<ref>Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>
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Need Citation
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Also, known as Adhvaryuveda. Has 18 Parishishtas. In the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, vi. 4, 33, there is a reference to the śuklāni Yajūṃṣi, ‘white or pure Yajus,’ as promulgated by Vājasaneya Yājñavalkya, whence the Vājasaneyi Saṃhītā is popularly known as the ‘White Yajurveda.’
 
===Samhitas===
 
===Samhitas===
 
Structure of the mantras
 
Structure of the mantras
    
The various ritual mantras in the Yajurveda Samhitas are typically set in a meter, and call on Vedic deities such as the Savita (Sun), Indra, Agni, Prajapati, Rudra and others. The Taittiriya Samhita in Book 4, for example, includes the following verses for the Agnicayana ritual recitation (abridged)
 
The various ritual mantras in the Yajurveda Samhitas are typically set in a meter, and call on Vedic deities such as the Savita (Sun), Indra, Agni, Prajapati, Rudra and others. The Taittiriya Samhita in Book 4, for example, includes the following verses for the Agnicayana ritual recitation (abridged)
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Ahilya Singh (2010), [https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan Prarambh se vaidik kaal tak Chapter 1.]
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Shakha Vibhaga
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According to Muktikopanishad 109 shakhas
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नवाधिकशतं शाखा यजुषो मारुतात्मज ॥ १२॥ [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Muktikopanishad]
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Currently, there are 5 Shakhas of Yajurveda viz.
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# Taittiriya
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# Katha-Kapishthala
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# Maitrayani
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# Vajasaneyi
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# Kanva
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Vajasaneyi Samhita
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It belongs to the Shukla Yajurveda branch. This Samhita was obtained by Yajnavalkya from a Vajin. Hence, the name. It comprises of 40 Adhyayas, 303 anuvakas, 1975 Kandikas. The mantras are in both Gadya and Padya.
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Kanva Samhita
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It belongs to the Shukla Yajurveda branch and comprises of 40 Adhyayas.
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Taittiriya Samhita
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It represents the Krishna Yajurveda branch. It was revealed through Rishi Tittiri, the disciple of Rishi Vaishampayana. Hence, the name. It comprises of 7 Kandas, 44 Prapathakas, 631 anuvakas, 2198 kandikas.
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Maitrayani Samhita
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It consists of 4 Kandas, 54 Prapathakas and 3144 mantras.
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Katha Samhita
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Katha Kapishthala Samhita
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This Samhita is not available in entirety.
 
===Brahmanas===
 
===Brahmanas===
 
Baldev Upadhyay (1955), [https://ia801607.us.archive.org/10/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.347181/2015.347181.Vaidik-Sahitya.pdf Vaidik Sahitya], Kashi
 
Baldev Upadhyay (1955), [https://ia801607.us.archive.org/10/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.347181/2015.347181.Vaidik-Sahitya.pdf Vaidik Sahitya], Kashi

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