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)
174 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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enemies, death, poverty etc. by offering oblations with the
mantras of the aparajita-gana. This gana is used in
Vedarambha (Kaus. 139.7), for averting evil effects of omens
(APray. 6.9 end), in the Aparajit盲 s盲nti (SK 2.18.5), in the
Pusy膩bhiseka (5.3.5), HastyasvadIkea (17.2.8), Chrtakambala
(33.1.9, 6.1) for an expiatory rite (37.8.2) and in the
Veda-Vrata (46.2.1).
14) sarmavarma-gana: This gana consists of the
following mantras: AV I.19.4, 20.3, 21.4, 26.3, 28.5, V.3.7,
8, 6.12-13; VI.7.3, 59.1, 92.3, VII.6.4, 49.1; VIII.2.7, 3.1,
5.7, 18; VIII.5.19; X.6.2; XIX.19.1 and 16.2. It may be
noted that all the mantras in this gana contain the word
garma or varma or both the words. The gana is used in the
Pusyabhiseka (5.3.5), Chrtakambala (33.1.9,6.2), in an
expiatory rite (37.8.2) and in the Veda-Vrata (46.2.1).
15)
devapuriya-gana: This gana, also called devapura
(SK 2.24.1) consists of the mantras: IV.40.1; V.6.1,3; XIX.
17.1, 18.1, 19.1, 20.1 and XVI.8,9.1. Curiously enough, this
gana is not specially employed in any particular rite by the
Atharvanic texts.
16) rudra-gana: This gana consists of only two
mantras, namely, AV III.26.1 and 27.1. These are called
digyukte in the Kaus. (14.25). The rudra-gana and the follow-
ing raudra-gana are said to be symbolically the eyes of the
