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)
8 (of 255)
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the AV was looked upon as impure 29 and was, at first, not
included in the hierarchical Vedic Trilogy.
The AV is sometimes called the Veda of the Pancakalpin
as five kalpas, namely, Naksatra-kalpa, Santi-kalpa,
Angirasa-kalpa, Vaitana-kalpa and Samhita-kalpa, are
associated with it.
GB32
The
The name Atharvaveda is explained variously, 31
states that V盲ta advised the sage Bhrgu to look (atha
arvan) into the waters to seek for Brahman. Hence he was
called Atharvan. The same Brahmana elsewhere 33 explains the
word as 'one who makes an offering into oneself'. The name
Atharvaveda can also be explained on the basis of the fact
that out of the sages Atharvan, Angiras and Brahman, who are
the main seers of the AV, a majority of hymns are ascribed
(29) Ap.DS 1.9.26.7; Boudh.DS 2.1.2.16; Gout.DS 25.7;
Vi峁�.Sm. 37.26; Mamu Sm. 9.290; Yajn.Sm.3.289.
It was for this reason that even the practice of
medicine was supposed to be impure. Cf. Bloomfield,
SBE XLII, pp.xxxix ff.
(30) Cf. H.W.Maroun, "On the Asuri-kalpa", JAOS XIV, p.xiv.
The word occurs in the colophon of a Kaus. MS. where
it is used of the writer of a Kaus. MS. Cf. also
Weber, Verz. II, p.96 where Pancakalpin is mentioned
as the author of Atharvavedoktam Jyotisam.
(31) Cf. Rama Gopal Shastri, Brhats arvanukramanik膩, intro.
p.23.
(32) GB I.1.4.
(33) GB I.3.19: yad atmany eva juhvati na parasmin. Here
the word Angirasa is explained as 'one who does not,
call others by their names': yad 盲tmanas ca pare莽am
ca namani na grhn盲ti.
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