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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)

Page:

181 (of 255)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Warning! Page nr. 181 has not been proofread.

5
. The Lakṣaṇagranthas
The Laksanagranthas of the AV, as mentioned in the
Caranavyuha (AVP 49.4.8), are five in number. They are
1) Caturädhyayika (CA) 2) Prätisakhya (APrät.) 3)
Panca patalika 4) Dantyosthavidhi and 5) Brhatsarvanukramanī
(BA). These texts have been written from a practical point
of view. It is their purpose to teach and not to edify; to
explain, not to discuss. The CA and the APrāt. are
linguistic-grammatical by nature while as the Pancapatalika,
the Dantyosthavidhi and the Brhatsarvanukramaṇ� may be
characterised as text-historical.
It is well-known that special efforts were made to
preserve the Vedic texts against being in any way corrupted.
The pada the krama and similar other vikṛtis show how the
Vedic Aryans sought scrupulously to preserve the pristine
character of every single syllable and its accent in the
Vedas. A verse by Patanjali² states: "A word which is
deficient in accent or syllable, or which is employed
wrongly, does not give the correct meaning. It becomes
(1) Cf. Max Muller, A History of Ancient Sanskrit
Literature, p. 116.
(2) Mahabhasya 1:
शब्द� हीनः स्वरता वर्णता वा
मिथ्या प्रयुक्त� � तमर्थमाह �
� वाग्वा यजमानं हिनस्त�
यथेन्द्राः स्वरता पराधात्।�
[śabdā hīna� svaratā varṇatā vā
mithyā prayuktā na tamarthamāha |
sa vāgvā yajamāna� hinasti
yathendrā� svaratā parādhāt||
]

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