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)
304 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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586
and Sv膩ti, and is presided over by Vayu; the third circle
consists of the Ardra, Aslega, Mula, Purva Asadha, Satabhisak,
Revati and Uttara Prosthapada, and is presided over by
Varuna; and the fourth circle consists of the Jyestha,
Anuradha, Sravana, Sravistha, Punarvasu, Rohini as well as
Uttara Asadha and is presided over by Mahendra. The various
portents like earth-quake, whirl-wind, falling of meteors,
sounds in space, trembling of images, and eclipses of the Sun
and the Moon, which occur under any one of these different
circles of constellations, are ascribed to the particular god
who presides over that circle, and the effects of these
portents on the future differ according to the different
gods.
The AVP, thus, points out that the portents occurring
under the constellations belonging to Agni forebode famine
and disease. Cows yield little milk; fire breaks out in the
cities and villages; the people who live by the use of fire
(such as smiths, etc.) and the sacrificers are tormented;
diseases like jaundice-fever (pitta-jvara), asthma and eyesores
trouble the people, especially men; the rivers dry up; crop
does not grow; the earth is heated, and there is no rain; the
trees do not yield fruit; and there is famine, epidemic,
diseases and the fear of enemy's attack. The portents
occurring under the constellations belonging to Vayu betoken
