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)
104 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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131
W
of by the Agnidhra, seated on the lap of the Nestr or near
90 Then the Brahman asks the Hotr to chant the
agnistoma sama. When Soma is taken in the dhruva vessel,
the dhisnya.
91 The
the Brahman recites the mantra: dhruvan dhruvena..
Soma is then offered to Agni-Marut. When the h盲riyojana homa
is being performed, the Brahman recites the mantra:
mandrair....
92 Thereafter the prayascitta homa is offered.
The vessels containing Soma are washed in the c盲tv盲la (pit).
All priests partake of the curds and then the samsthita-
homas are offered. The avabh峁泃ha isti is performed, standing
in the waters with the ida or the anuyaja offerings.
The 24th kandika quotes in full the hymn yat te
gr膩v膩....93 The Vait. refers here to Kaus. 7.14 94
95 .96
and
6.11-13. An offering is made on the ahavaniya fire and
the udayaniya isti which is the last isti in the Agnistoma
is performed. Oblations are offered to Agni, Soma, Savitr,
Pathya and Svasti. A barren cow is immolated and offered,
and a goat is released in the name of Tvastr. The avadana
homa is performed and the fire is consigned into the kindling
(90) Cf. GB II.4.5.
(91) AV VII.91.
(92) AV VII.117.
(93) AVPaipp. II.39.
(94) Vait.24.3: apam suktair ityady upasparsanantam. Cf.
Kaus. 140.17.
(95) Vait.24.7: vimuncami 'ty盲di m盲rjanantam.
(96) The udayaniya isti is similar to the prayaniya which is
the first isti in an agnistoma. The divinities worshipped
are the same in both of them. The scrapings of the offerings
in the first isti are offered into the fire in this last
i峁i and thus a sort of symmetry is maintained.
