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)
49 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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330
Under the Punarvasu, a king should start fighting with
the enemy (1.9.8). One should eat the food fit for a house-
holder (grhapati-bhakta) and proceed in the eastern direction
for success. (1.28.2). A person desirous of cows should
bring the best earth from the path of cows and by adding it
to the water, he should take bath with it in the cow-stall.
Thereby he will be possessed of cows (1.43.5). It is stated
that one should offer best honey and cakes under this
constellation (1.48.3).
111 Weber suggests that the word Punarvasu indicates
the return of good weather. He refers to a myth in the TB
(III.1.4.5) which says that the Earth was dry and bald and
wanted sprouts. Hence she performed a sacrifice to Aditi
and then the Punarvasu fulfilled the wish.
The Pusya (& Cancri)
112 The Puá¹£ya, otherwise known as Tisya is the sixth
113. It is
constellation and consists of only one star
114 stated in the MBh
that Kṛṣṇa started to go to the Kauravas
(111) op. cit. p. 370-1.
(112) TS IV.4.10; TB I.5.1.2; III.1.4.5.
(113) However, in fact, it consists of a group of (three)
stars in the form of an arrow. Cf. Colebrooke
Miscellaneous Essays II, p. 322; Whitney, op. cit.,
p. 403, f.n. 1.
(114) V.6.17.
