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)
117 (of 255)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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AEDIEN the end of a ka峁囜笉ika and is further explained in the next. 153 It is said that the Vait. is not the product of practices in Vedic ceremonies which have slowly and gradually developed into a certain school but probably a somewhat conscious product made at a time when Atharvavedins in the course of their polemics with the priests of the other Vedas began to feel the need of a manual for Vedic practices which should 154 be distinctly Atharvanic. However, such does not appear
to be the case. There is nothing in the Vait. which shows
that it was a 'conscious product' but the fact is evident
that the Vait. depends upon the Kaus. and this has been noted
above.
The Vait. does not supply us with any information
regarding its author. However, in the Mahabhasya of
Patanjali the Kalpas of Kausika and Kasyapa are often mentioned
together. 155 The Bh膩gavata Purana
The Bh膩gavata Purana
156 also mentions Kasyapa
as one of the authors of the Kalpas. Thus it appears that
Ka艣yapa was the author of the Vait.
157 AE
(153) Vait.3-4, 5-6, 11-12, 23-24 etc.
(154) Cf. Bloomfield, JAOS XI, p.379.
(155) Cf. IS XIII, pp.417,419,436,445, 455.
(156) XII.7.1 nak峁trakalpo santis ca kasyapangirasadaya岣�.
(157) Bloomfield (op. cit., p.377) asks: "can there be any
nexus between him and the otherwise authorless Vait.?"
