Samhitas

Atharvaveda Samhitas

A Nature and Importance The Veda of the Atharvanis the Atharvaveda Atharvan denotes directions and mantras especially in connection to ward off evil and hardship and also contains philosophical thoughts 8216Atharvan8216 originally means 8216priest8217 and the Mantras in the AtharvavedaSamhita were brought to light by Rishi Atharva According to the etymology of the Nirukta Atharvan is the name given to a stableminded person who is immovably firm ie Yogi The oldest name however by which this Veda is known in Indian literature is 8216AtharvangirasaVeda8217 that is the 8216Veda of the Atharvans and the Angiras8217 Angiras too were a group of schools and priests According to Patanjali Atharvaveda had nine Shakhas but the Samhita of the Atharvaveda is today available only in two rescensions 8211 the Shaunaka and the Paippalada It is the ShaunakaSamhita that is frequently meant when the Atharvaveda is mentioned in ancient and modern literature It is a collection of 730 hymns containing 5987 Mantras divided into 20 books Kandas Some 1200 verses are derived from the Rigveda About one sixth of the text of the Atharvaveda including two entire books 15 and 16 is written in prose similar in style and language to the Brahmanas the rest of the text is in poetic verses Some traditions prescribe that this Veda should be known as Brahma Ritvik who used to supervise the process of Yaga or sacrifice In sacrificial ceremonies he was supposed to know all the three Vedas but usually he used to represent the Atharvaveda Due to his association the Atharvaveda is also named 8216Brahmaveda8216 the Veda of Brahma priest The Atharvaveda is the oldest literary monument of Indian medicine It is believed to be the origin of Ayurveda the Indian science of medicine There are a series of Mantras related to cure various physical and mental diseases Another class of hymns includes prayers for protection from the bite of snakes or injurious insects We find mention and application of medicines and medicinal herbs This feature distinguishes the Atharvaveda from the rest of the Vedas Philosophical portions of this Samhita present a fairly high development of metaphysical thought The chief ideas of the Upanishads the conception of a highest god as creator and preserver of the world Prajapati and even the ideas of an impersonal creative principle besides a number of philosophical terms such as Brahman Tapas Asat Prana Manas must have been the common property of large circles 8211 at the time when these hymns originated Therefore the study of the philosophical ideas revealed in the Atharvaveda is important to understand the development of Indian Philosophical thought Atharvaveda is the only Veda which is related to both worldly happiness and spiritual knowledge Vedic commentator Sayana has praised this for fulfilling both ends 8211 this world and the other world Thus it appears to be an interesting text for a general reader of the Vedic literature B Contents The Atharvaveda is looked upon as the Veda of varied knowledge It contains numerous Mantras which according to their subjectmatter can be broadly divided into three categories 1 Related to the cure of diseases and destruction of adverse forces 2 Related to establish peace protection health wealth friendship and long life 3 Related to the nature of Supreme Reality time death and immortality Bloomfield has divided the subject of Atharvaveda into many categories such as Bhashijya Paushtika Prayashctta Rajakarma StrikarmaDarshana Kuntapa etc Here some Important and famous Suktas of Atharvaveda are listed to have a general view its subject BhumiSukta 121 BrahmacaryaSukta 115 KalaSuktas 1153 54 VivahaSukta 14th Kanda MadhuvidyaSukta 91 SamanasyaSukta 330 RohitaSukta 1319 SkambhaSukla 107 So the Atharvaveda is an encyclopedia of many subjects It reflects the life of the Vedic people Their thoughts related to philosophical social educational political agricultural scientific and medical matters are found in this Samhita