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)
113 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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140
the full-moon-day of Caitra the pratyavarohaniya yaga is to
be offered; on the full-moon-day of Vaisakha the vyusti yaga
is to be offered for two days, on the full-moon-day of
Jye峁ａ弓ha the k峁tradh峁泃i yaga is to be performed and on the
full-moon-day of Agadha the Pavitra yaga is to be offered
again. Thus the Rajasuya continues for eighteen months and
includes seven Somay膩gas and one Caturm盲sya.
144 Then the Asvamedha is described. On the full-moon-
day of Phalguna Brahmaudana' is offered to four priests.
A boon is to be offered to the Brahman by way of dak峁峁嚹�.
The istis to Agni and Pu峁n are performed and then the horse
is let loose with the mantra: asanam as盲p盲lebhyah...145
Three istis are offered to Savity and then all participants
in the sacrifice sit down to the south of the yedi for
listening to the P盲riplava akhyana. At the end of one year
the king is initiated. On the first day the rites are
performed as on the first day of the Pariplava. On the
second day the rites are performed as on the fourth day of
the Prathya. The horse that has, by now, come back is
immolated. The queen is made to sit beside the horse and
they are covered. The king looks at them reciting the
verses svargena lokena.... etc. Then a brahmodya takes
place. On the third day two savanas are offered as in the
(144) Brahmaudana is a rite in which boiled rice is given
to the Brahma峁嘺s for being eaten. Cf. S膩ya峁嘺 on AV
IV.35.7.
(145) AV I.31.
DEN
