Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)

From Dharmawiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
ToBeEdited.png
This article needs editing.

Add and improvise the content from reliable sources.

The Atharvaveda (Samskrit: अथर्ववेदः)

अथर्ववेद का परिचय एवं वैशिष्ट्य

व्युत्पत्तिः नामाभिधानं च ॥ Etymology and nomenclature

शाखाः ॥ Recensions

The Caraṇavyuha, a later era Sanskrit text, states that the Atharvaveda had nine shakhas, or schools: paippalāda, stauda, mauda, śaunakīya, jājala ,jalada ,brahmavada, devadarśa and cāraṇavaidyā.[1]

Organization

The Srautasutra texts Vaitāna Sūtra and the Kauśika Sūtra are attached to the Atharvaveda Shaunaka edition, as are a supplement of Atharvan Prayascitthas, two Pratishakhyas, and a collection of Parisisthas.[2]

Contents

The contents of the Atharvaveda contrasts with the other Vedas.

Samhita

Surgical and medical speculations

Atharvaveda 4.15

Charms against fever, jaundice and diseases

Atharvaveda 5.21

Remedy from medicinal herbs

Atharvaveda 8.7

Spells and prayers to gain a lover, husband

The contents of Atharvaveda have been studied to glean information about the social and cultural mores in Vedic era of India.[3]

Atharvaveda 2.36

Speculations on the nature of man, life, good and evil

Atharvaveda 10.2.4 - 10.2.14

Prayer for peace

Some hymns are prayer qua prayer, desiring harmony and peace. For example,

Atharvaveda 7.52

Brahmana

Upanishads

Mundaka Upanishad

Mandukya Upanishad

Prashna Upanishad

Manuscripts and translations

Influence

Medicine and health care

Khare and Katiyar state that the Bharat's tradition directly links Ayurveda to Atharvaveda.[4]

Literature

The verse 11.7.24 of Atharvaveda contains the oldest known mention of the Indic literary genre the Puranas.

References

  1. BR Modak (1993), The Ancillary Literature of the Atharva-Veda, Rashtriya Veda Vidya Pratishthan, ISBN 9788121506076, pages 15 (footnote 8), 393-394
  2. SS Bahulkar (2003), Samskararatnamala: An Atharvanic Prayoga, in Pramodasindhu (Editors: Kalyan Kale et al, Professor Pramod Ganesh Lalye’s 75th Birthday Felicitation Volume), Mansanman Prakashan, pages 28–35
  3. Rajbali Pandey (1969), Hindu Saṁskāras: Socio-religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120803961, pages 162-163, Chapter 8
  4. CP Khare and CK Katiyar (2012), The Modern Ayurveda, CRC Press, ISBN 978-1439896327, page 8