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 2a - The nature of the Parisistas (of the Atharvaveda)
169 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Kaus. (39.7) of the following mantras: AV II.11.1; IV.40.1,
17.1, 18.1, 19.1; V.14.1; 31.1; VIII.5.1 and X.1.1. To this
list the Ganam盲l盲 (32.2) adds AV VII.65.1 and 2 in its proper
52 place.
The mantras from this gana are used, as the name
suggests, for counteracting the witchcraft made by the enemy.
This gana and the following catana gana are said to make
symbolically the hips of the Chrtakambala and are used in
that ceremony for offering oblations (33.1.9, 5.5, 6.1). The
krtyagana is used in the pacificatory ceremony (SK 2.23.1),
for sprinkling the horses (17.2.2) and for making offerings
in the Hastinirajana ceremony (18.1.14).
3) catana-gana: This gana includes according to the
Kaus. (8.25) the following mantras: AV I.7.1, 8.1; II.14.1,
18.3, 25.1; IV.20.2, 36.1, 37.1; V.29.1 and VIII.3.1. The
Ganam盲l盲 (32.3) adds in their proper order the hymns I.16.1,
28.1; V.32.1 and 34.1. This gana is employed in the Sk
(2.23.1) for preparing s盲ntyudaka (21.6.8), for offering
oblations in the Brahmayaga (19.4.2) and in the Chrtakambala
(33.1.9, 5.6, 6.2).
4) matrn膩m膩-gana: This gana derives its name from
the seer of the hymns which it contains. According to the
Kau谩. (8.24) it consists of AV II.2.1, VI.111.1 and VIII.6.1.
The Ganamala (32.4) adds to this list AV IV.20.1. The
52. In the AVP, the mantras are mostly mentioned in the due
order of the kangas to which they belong.
