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)
217 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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image of the god should be consigned into the waters of a
river, lake etc. with the mantra: navo navo bhavasi...198.
This vrata is said to lead to Pasupati-s盲vujva (becoming one
with Pasupati).
It can be easily noticed that this is a vrata which
belongs to the Rudra-Siva cult. Siva is described here in
glorious terms as dev膩nam Isvaram param (the greatest lord of
gods) and as having lions and tigers yoked to his chariot.
His terrible aspect is referred to also by saying that his
face is angry and appearing like a thunderbolt. His complexion
is white and tawny (40.2.1). His face is said to be terrible
199 like a vanara but is at the same time blameless. Siva
wields his p膩艣a in which he ensnares the beings. It is
expressed at the end of the Parisista that the men who observe
the Pasupata-Vrata are freed from those snaresand they reach
the god Sadasiva.
8. The Veda-Vrata
The 46th Parisista, called Uttama-patala, describes
certain vratas, especially the Veda-Vrata, in which the first
and the last verses of the three Vedas and certain specified
verses of the AV are to be recited. The Veda-Vrata is to be
198. AV VII.81.2 (= XIV.1.24).
199. The word may be derived from vana-nara (forest-man).
It is a patent fact that Rudra is the lord of forests
and of forest-tribes. Cf. VS XVI.17,20,46; TS IV.
5.2.1, 6.1.
