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)
162 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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189
and wine - all these things are offered, placing them in
new winnowing baskets, seperately for each of the four
Vinayakas. Then the Vinayakas are prayed to. At day-
break, the lustrous Sun is prayed to for destroying mis-
fortune and granting prosperity. The Brahmanas are honoured
and a cow and a bull, gold and garment are given to the
priest by way of daksin盲.
The fire for the Mah盲s盲nti is now to be churned out.
The priest wears white garments while churning out the fire,
uttering amso r膩j膩...5.
An offering of clarified butter is
made with samas tv盲
6 and other prescribed mantras. It
is stated that a pakayaina is to be offered to God Is膩na at
the beginning of all ceremonies.
Then follows the worship of the Grahas (i.e. the
8 planets including the Sun, the Moon, Rahu and Ketu ). To
the east of the sacred fire, a place is got ready by smear-
ing it with cow-dung for invoking the Grahas. It is spread
over with a new piece of cloth with its trails pointing
towards the north. The parasols, seats, foot-wear and
foot-stools made of gold are properly arranged for all the
Grahas. Then the nine Grahas are invoked by reciting the
prescribed formulas. The images of the Grahas are to be
(5) Kaus. 71.1.
(6) AV II.6.1.
(7) They are AV IX.1.1; XIX. 4.2; IX.2.6; XIX.5.1.
(8) Rahu and Ketu represent the ascending and the descend-
ing nodes of the Moon resp.
