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)
176 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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203
offered into the fire with the avapa-mantras. The Sauti
is then brought to a close, the Brahmanas are fed to their
satisfaction and are given the prescribed dak峁na.
It will be thus seen that the Maha-santi consists of
the following items: 1) Propitiation of the Vinayakas 2)
worship of the Grahas 3) worship of the Nak峁tras 4)
propitiation of Nir峁泃i 5) oblations to the deities with the
relevant mantras and 6) tying of the prescribed amulets. As
Bolling rightly observes, the ceremony is "characterised by
such a heaping up both of mantras and ceremonies asto
preclude the hope of finding much clear symbolism underlying
37 either."
The Atharvanic character of the SK is quite obvious.
At the outset it pays obeisance to the Brahma-veda and then
proceeds, as the Parisistas do, to describe the ceremony,
prescribing the use of the mantras from the first nineteen
k盲ndas of the saunaki ya recension of the AV. That the SK
belongs to the right atharvanic tradition is seen also from
the worship of the Vinayakas and the propitiation of
Nirrti which are included in it. The facts that both these
are performed at cross roads at night, and that uncanny
offerings are made in connection with them, are of particular
significance from that point of view.
The dependence of the SK on the Kaus. becomes clear
(37) op. cit. p. 89.
