Atharvaveda: How many names are there in Atharva Veda and what topics are presented in it? Learn

Atharvaveda: Many scholars consider Atharva Veda to be ancient. But this is not completely true. It was Krishnadvaipayana Vyas who separated the four Vedas.

The name of Veda is pronounced in three ways –

• The mantra in which the foot-arrangement is fixed on the basis of meaning is called ‘Rik’ (Rigveda).
• The lyrical verses are in Saam.
• Apart from poetry and songs, all the mantras are in Yajurveda. But all three styles are found in Atharvaveda. In this, the name is not given according to the mantra’s symptoms but according to its prapadya.

Various names of Atharvaveda:-

Why did Atharvaveda not have the same name like other Vedas? What is the purpose in giving different names to Atharvaveda? Such curiosity is in everyone’s mind. To know the answer to this, some brief thoughts are being given-

Atharvaveda is known by many names, such as Atharvaveda, Atharvangiroveda, Brahmaveda, Bhishagveda and Kshatraveda etc.

Atharvaveda- The root ‘Tharva’ means to move, to be distracted. Its negative meaning is to remain still. Atharva Veda is the imperishable knowledge of the immovable, immutable God, which does not cause any violence and is called Atharva.

Atharvangiras Veda – ‘Chhand’ means joy, hence its study is enjoyable. That is why Atharvaveda is called Chhandaveda. It is also called Atharvangiras Veda because it was received by sage Angira.

The word ‘Atharvangiras’ is used in the form of dual compound in texts like Atharvaveda (10.7.20), Mahabharata (Vana Parva, 305.2), Manusmriti (11.33), Yajnavalkyasmriti (1.312) and Aushanasasmriti (3.44). There is a story in GopathBrahmin regarding this name-

‘In ancient times, the sand of Swayambhu Brahma, who was performing penance, spilled into the water. From him a great sage named Bhrigu was born. Those Bhrigu were desperate to see Brahma, the creator of the self. At the same time a voice from the sky said ‘O Atharva! Explore this water for the darshan of Tirobhoot Brahma. Since then Bhrigu’s name itself became ‘Atharva’.

Again, the words ‘Varun’, covered with water containing sand, caused the juices to evaporate from all the body parts of Brahma. From him a great sage named Angira was born. After that, Brahma, caused by Atharva and Angira, inspired both of them to do penance. One reason for this name ‘Brahmaveda’ could be due to the influence of penance of those people. That is, the mantra seers of two Richas, twenty Atharva and Angiras, were born.

The set of mantras which Swayambhu Brahma saw through those sages doing penance became the Atharvangiras Veda. Also, due to the widespread discussion of Brahma by the mantra-seeing sages of a Richa, it got the name of Brahmaveda. There are 20 Kandas, 731 Suktas and 5977 mantras in Atharvaveda.

Brahmaveda- Mainly three reasons are available in ‘Brahmaveda’ section of Atharvaveda –

• Pronunciation of Brahmatva in Yajnakarma,
• Philosophical thought-story on Brahma and
• There is a compilation of mantras seen from a sage named Brahma.

Thus, for the success of any Shrauta Yagya, the presiding deity of Brahma is necessary. Therefore, due to the presentation of Brahmatva in Yajnakarma, the second name of Atharvaveda ‘Brahmaveda’ is logical.

Bhishagveda :- Medicines have been mentioned extensively. Hence this name is appropriate.

Kshatraveda – There are many hymns available in Atharvaveda related to royal duties for the protection of self-rule. That’s why Atharvaveda has been named ‘Kshatraveda’.

branches of atharvaveda– There were nine branches of Atharvaveda, whose names are as follows-

(1) Pappalad,
(2) Taud,
(3) Maud,
(4) hobby,
(5) Jajal,
(6) fast,
(7) Brahmavad,
(8) Devdarsh, and
(9) Charanvaidya.

The code of Shaunak Shakha prevalent nowadays is completely available in these branches. Pappalada Samhita is still incompletely available. Apart from these, no codes of other branches are available.

Brief introduction of Shaunaka Samhita and compilation sequence of Atharva Veda mantras:-

Atharva Veda has 20 Kandas, 730 Suktas, 36 Prapathakas and 5987 Mantras. The sequence of division of mantras in this is of a specific style. There are small hymns from the first canto to the seventh canto. In the first Kanda there are hymns of mostly 4 mantras. In the second Kanda there are 5 mantras, in the third Kanda there are 6 mantras, in the fourth Kanda there are 7 or 8 mantras, in the fifth Kanda there are 8 or more mantras.

There are 142 Suktas in the sixth Kand and almost all the Suktas are of 3 mantras. There are 118 Suktas in the seventh Kand and each Sukta usually contains one or two mantras. From the 8th Kanda to the 12th Kanda, there are Suktas with more mantras, but the subject matter is uniform. For example, there is Prithvi Sukta in the twelfth Kanda, in which the spirit of political and geographical principles is visible. Similarly, the 13th, 14th and 19th kandas are spiritual related etc.

What has been propounded in Atharvaveda?

1) Philosophical theory about Brahma: – Brahma has been specifically described in this Veda. Brahma has been described in more detail and subtlety in this Veda than in any other Veda. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the developed form of Brahmavidya found in the Upanishads is the source of the Atharva Veda. Brahmatattva has been discussed in it from various viewpoints. What is Brahma? What is its nature? What are the means of achieving it? Is he one or many? What is his relation with other gods etc.

2) Pharmacy – The second category of propoundable subjects includes the Bhaishajya Suktas used for the treatment of various diseases. Through whose mantras the gods are invoked and prayers etc. are done. Along with this, the names of various diseases and the names of various types of medicines to cure them are also found in the said hymns. There is detailed description in this Veda on the subjects of hydrotherapy, sun ray therapy and mental therapy.

3) Peaceful and nutritious deeds :- Measures taken to be free from various types of harm, objection or unwanted activities have been explained.

4) Rajkarma [राजनीति ], There is ample mention of political topics in Atharvaveda. What should a king be like? Duties of the king and the people, types of governance, election and coronation of the king, rights and duties of the king, assembly and committee and their forms, justice and punishment, army and commander, types of soldiers and their functions, military education, weapons, war. Various subjects like nature of power, destruction of enemies, means of victory etc. come under it.

5) Samanajasya Karma:- In Atharvaveda, special importance has been given to national, social, family, political and religious harmony and to establish harmony among each other, a provision has been made to memorize various hymns.

6) Atonement [आत्मालोचना], Various types of atonements like apology, prayers to God, atonement home, atonement for defamation of character and atonement for children born under inauspicious constellations etc. are performed to remove the possible evils that may arise due to various wrong deeds done in known and unknown circumstances. There is a description.

Thus, from the discussion of the subject of Atharvaveda, it becomes clear that it describes all the parts of Purushartha Chatushtaya in the form of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. From the classical point of view, all the elements related to religious philosophy, spirituality and metaphysics are present in it. From the sociological point of view, it is a storehouse of politics, economics, theology and knowledge-science. From the literary point of view, the subjects like rasa, ornamentation, rhyme and emotion and beauty of language etc. are present in it.

From the point of view of practical utility, it has a huge storehouse of emotional inspiration, meditation, advice on duty, ethics and moral education. From the point of view of culture, it reflects the nature of all three levels – high, middle and low. Therefore, Atharvaveda is the crown of Vedic literature. The diversity of subjects, from gross to subtle elements, has been presented with classicism.

read this also: Samaveda: ‘Samaveda’ is the smallest of the Vedas and is based on songs and music, let’s look at its singing method.