Essay name: Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study)
Author:
B. R. Modak
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages
The essay studies the ancillary literature of the Atharva-Veda with special reference to the Parisistas. It does so by understanding the socio-cultural and philosophical aspects of ancient Indian life. The Atharvaveda addresses encompasses all practical aspects of life from health and prosperity to rituals and sorcery.
Chapter 1 - Ancillary Literature of the Atharvaveda (other than the Parisistas)
161 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
188
on milk for one night. Then on an auspicious day he should
be given a bath at the cross roads, standing on a bull's
skin and to the accompaniment of the formulas which are
given in full鲁. Misfortune (alak峁i) is thereby driven away
and purification obtained from all quarters and their
presiding divinities". The mantras AV VII.115.1-4 are also
to be employed at the time of the bath
P*
The Vinayakas are four in number. Their names are
S盲lakatanka峁璦, K奴sm膩峁囜笉a-rajaputra, Utsmrta and Devayajana.
They are worshipped at midnight by offering into the fire
fresh white-mustard oil or fresh clarified butter. White and
red flowers, husked and unhusked rice, flour, boiled and raw
flesh, boiled and raw grains of corn, fish, various kinds of
cakes, beans, different roots, scented drinks (marica-pana)
(3) Some of the formulas given here are similar to the
mantras in AV IV.40 and are referred to by Saya峁嘺 in his
comm. on AV VII.113 (SPP's ed. p. 542)
(4) Among the quarters that are mentioned here is vyadhv盲
(= 'the middle' or 'the atmospheric') in addition to the
usual urdhva (the upper) and dhruva (the lower) quarters.
It may be pointed out that the presiding divinity of the
North is here mentioned as Soma, of the upper quarter,
B峁沨aspati; and of the lower quarter, Vis峁噓. The normal
divinities of the various quarters, such as, for instance,
are referred to in the usual twilight-worship
(sandhyopasana) are Kubera for the North, Brahma for the
upper quarter and Ananta for the lower quarter. (cr.
Amarakosa, I.3.4) Vyadhva is not usually referred to.
At AV III.27 also vvadhva is not mentioned; though the
presiding divinities of the remaining quarters mentioned
there correspond to those mentioned in the SK.
