Changes

|}It has 20 काण्डाः ॥ Kandas, 760<ref name=":223222" /> / 730<ref name=":0" /> / 731<ref name=":0223222" /> सूक्तानि ॥ Suktas, 36 प्रपाठकाः ॥ Prapathakas and 5987 (5977<ref name=":0223222" />)  मन्त्राः ॥ mantras. Most of the mantras are metrical, but some sections are in prose. About 20% of the mantras are from Rigveda.

|}It has 20 काण्डाः ॥ Kandas, 760<ref name=":223222" /> / 730<ref name=":0" /> / 731<ref name=":0223222" /> सूक्तानि ॥ Suktas, 36 प्रपाठकाः ॥ Prapathakas and 5987 (5977<ref name=":0223222" />)  मन्त्राः ॥ mantras. Most of the mantras are metrical, but some sections are in prose. About 20% of the mantras are from Rigveda.

=== शाखाः ॥ Shakhas ===

=== शाखाः ॥ Shakhas ===

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  

According to अथर्वणपरिशिष्टम् ॥ Atharvana Parishista, चरणव्यूहम् ॥ Charanavyuha, प्रपञ्चहृदयम् ॥ Prapanchahrdaya, पतञ्जलेः महाभाष्यम् ॥ Patanjali's Mahabhashya and कूर्मपुराणम् ॥ Kurma Purana and सर्वानुक्रमणी ॥ Sarvanukramani, अथर्वणवेदः ॥ Atharvanaveda had 9 शाखाः ॥ shakhas. Another version of सर्वानुक्रमणी ॥ Sarvanukramani and मुक्तिकोपनिषद् ॥ Muktikopanishad mention the existence of 50 shakhas. The 9 shakhas according to चरणव्यूहम् ॥ Charanavyuha are, slightly different from other versions, given as follows:

पैपलादाः, स्त्रौदाः, शौनकीयाः,जाजलाः, देवदर्शाः, चारणविद्याः, स्त्रौदाः जलदाः ब्रह्मवादः <ref name=":0223222" />

पैपलादाः ॥ Paippalada, स्त्रौदाः || Strauda, शौनकीयाः || Shaunakeeya, जाजलाः || Jajala, देवदर्शाः || Devadarsha, चारणविद्याः || Charanavidya, स्त्रौदाः || Strauda, जलदाः || Jalada, ब्रह्मवादः || Brahmavada <ref name=":0223222" />

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

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

पैपलादाः, स्त्रौदाःor तौद, मौद, शौनक, जाजल, जलद, ब्रह्मवादः, देवदर्श, चारणवैद्य

पैपलादाः || Paippalada, स्त्रौदाः || Strauda or तौदः || Tauda, मौदः ॥ Mauda , शौनकः ॥ Shaunaka, जाजलः ॥ Jajala, जलदः ॥ Jalada, ब्रह्मवादः || Brahmavada, देवदर्शः ॥ Devadarsha, चारणवैद्यः ॥ Charanavaidya

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

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

# Pippalada (incomplete version)  

# पैप्पलादः ॥ Pippalada (incomplete version)  

# Saunaka

# शौनकः ॥ Shaunaka

=== देवताः छन्दसः ऋत्विक् च ॥ Devatas, Chandas and Rtvik ===

=== देवताः छन्दसः ऋत्विक् च ॥ Devatas, Chandas and Rtvik ===

Like Rigveda from where Atharvana veda takes a significant part, the chandas here include Anustuph, Tristup along with many other new chandas or metrical forms. Worship of many devatas is also seen along with the acceptance of the Supreme Being. The rtvik of Atharvaveda is '''[[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|ब्रह्मा || Brahma]]''' who supervises the conduct of the Yajnas.  

Like ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda from where अथर्वणवेदः ॥ Atharvanaveda takes a significant part, the छन्दस् ॥ chandas here include अनुष्टुप् ॥ Anustup, त्रिष्टुभप् ॥ Tristup along with many other new छन्दस् ॥ chandas or metrical forms. Worship of many देवताः ॥ devatas is also seen along with the acceptance of the Supreme Being. The ऋत्विक् ॥ rtvik of अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda is '''ब्रह्मा || Brahma''' who supervises the conduct of the यज्ञ-s ॥ Yajnas.  

=== विषयम् ॥ Content ===

=== विषयम् ॥ Content ===

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. Amidst mundane subjects high philosophical ideas are also found in this Veda.   

As the अथर्ववेदसंहिता ॥ Atharvaveda 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 यज्ञाः ॥ yajnas mentioned here are utilized as a means to them. Amidst mundane subjects high philosophical ideas are also found in this Veda.   

This Veda contains many types of mantras for the following worldly or materialistic purposes<ref>Introduction to Atharva Veda Samhita from [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/atharvaveda-samhitas/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref>

This Veda contains many types of mantras for the following worldly or materialistic purposes<ref>Introduction to Atharva Veda Samhita from [http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/atharvaveda-samhitas/ Vedic Heritage Portal]</ref>

* To ward off evils and hardship, snakes, and supernatural forces such as demons.

* To ward off evils and hardship, snakes, and supernatural forces such as demons.

* To destroy enemies  

* To destroy enemies  

* Marriage, cremation and other samskaras  

* Marriage, cremation and other संस्काराः ॥ [[Samskaras (संस्काराः)|samskaras]]

* Description of diseases,their cure and herbal remedies

* Description of diseases,their cure and herbal remedies

* For prolonging life

* For prolonging life

* For fulfilling one’s desires

* For fulfilling one’s desires

* For wealth, trade and commerce

* For wealth, trade and commerce

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

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

* Related to Supreme Reality, Immortality and other philosophical matters.

* Related to Supreme Reality, Immortality and other philosophical matters.

* Creation and emergence of the Universe. .

* Creation and emergence of the Universe. .

The Atharvaveda was not considered as a Veda in the Vedic era, and was accepted as a Veda during later ages though some schools do not consider it even in modern era.

The अथर्ववेदः ॥ Atharvaveda was not considered as a Veda in the Vedic era, and was accepted as a Veda during later ages; though some schools do not consider it even in modern era.

The Atharva veda has been a primary source for information about Vedic culture, their customs and beliefs, the social economic conditions, agricultural and scientific matters, the requirements of people in everyday life in Vedic era ranging from mantras for snakes to those associated with kings and governance.  

The Atharvaveda has been a primary source for information about Vedic culture, their customs and beliefs, the social economic conditions, agricultural and scientific matters, the requirements of people in everyday life in Vedic era ranging from मन्त्राः ॥ mantras for snakes to those associated with kings and governance.  

=== विशेष-विषयाः ॥ Famous Aspects ===

=== प्रसिद्धाः विषयाः ॥ Famous Aspects ===

* पृथ्वी सूक्तं || Prithvi Suktam

* पृथ्वीसूक्तम् || Prthvi Sukta

* Madhuvidya Suktam

* मधुविद्यासूक्तम् ॥ Madhuvidya Sukta

* Kanda 15 is called व्रात्यकाण्ड || Vratya kanda. It deals about people whose origin and nature is debated by many scholars, and they did not follow any kind of vaidika kriyas, nor had respect for any rituals.<ref name=":223222" />

* काण्ड ॥ Kanda 15 is called व्रात्यकाण्डः || Vratya kanda. It deals about people whose origin and nature is debated by many scholars, and they did not follow any kind of वैदिकक्रियाः ॥ vaidika kriyas, nor had respect for any rituals.<ref name=":223222" />

=== ब्राह्मणानि आरण्यकानि उपनिषदः च ॥ Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads ===

=== ब्राह्मणानि आरण्यकानि उपनिषदः च ॥ Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads ===

Only one Brahmana called Gopatha Brahmana has been discovered. No Aranyaka of this Veda has come to light so far.  

Only one ब्राह्मणम् ॥ Brahmana called गोपथब्राह्मणम् ॥ Gopatha Brahmana has been discovered. No आरण्यकम् ॥ Aranyaka of this वेदः ॥ Veda has come to light so far.  

There are a number of Upanishads which are associated with this Veda. The well known Upanishads belonging to this Veda are :

There are a number of Upanishads which are associated with this Veda. The well known Upanishads belonging to this Veda are :

# Prasna Upanishad  

# प्रश्न-उपनिषद् ॥ Prashna Upanishad  

# Mundaka Upanishad  

# मुण्डक-उपनिषद् ॥ Mundaka Upanishad  

# Mandukya Upanishad  

# माण्डूक्य-उपनिषद् ॥ Mandukya Upanishad  

== Sub Classification of Vedas ==

== Sub Classification of Vedas ==

Different texts of Vedic literature is further classified as follows<ref>Vettam, Mani. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>.

Different texts of Vedic literature is further classified as follows<ref>Vettam, Mani. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>.