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 1 - Ancillary Literature of the Atharvaveda (other than the Parisistas)
103 (of 255)
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130
chant the prayers to the respective gods. The niskevalya
astra belongs to Mahendra, and the prasastras (chanted by
the Maitr盲varuna, the Brahman盲cchansi and the Acch盲v盲ka)
belong to Indra. The Udg盲tr chants the stotra and the lotr
recites the sastra. It is stated that the mantra: udu tye
madhumattama
86 is a samaprog盲tha and belongs to Sarasvati.
The Brahman offers the oblation in the aditya graha with the
87 Then
two verses beginning with yad deva devahe岣峚nam.....
the third savana begins. When the asira (churned curds) is
being poured into the vessel that contains Soma, the Brahman
follows it with the mantra: asirna 眉rjam.
and gives
88 the adesa for singing pavamana. Then the avadana homa is
performed which consists of the offerings of the organs of
the immolated animal. Eleven animals are then immolated and
are offered to Agni, Soma, Vis峁噓, Sarasvati, Pu峁n, Brhaspati,
Visve Devas, Indra, Indra-Agni, Savity and Varuna. Three
pindas made from the purodasa are offered to the manes.
(kandika 22)
The prescriptions in regard to the third savana are
continued in kandikas 23 and 24. An offering is made with
the s盲vitra graha on burning darbhas. Then the offering is
89 and the residue is partaken
made from the p盲tnivata graha
(86) AV XX.10.
(87) AV VI.114.1-2.
(88) AV II.93.3.
and patnivata
(89) The s盲vitra grahas are wooden vessels (like sukra and
manthi) with which offerings are made to Savity and
patniv盲n Indra resp.
