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 2a - The nature of the Parisistas (of the Atharvaveda)
410 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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of prodigies (70掳.32.36). The pranava, the vy盲hrtis and the
Gayatri mantra were believed to be great purifiers and were
used for muttering (japa) and also while offering oblations!
Great importance was attached to temples and to the trees
20 21
19 growing around them. Caityas and caitya-vrksas are often
mentioned in the Parisistas, especially in connection with the
portents. The following eight auspicious objects are said to
be created by Brhaspati: 1) Brahmanas, 2) cows, 3) fire,
4) earth, 5) mustard, 6) clarified butter, 7) sami, and
8) rice and barley (4.1.22-23). The following ten objects
are said to be specially fit for being used for gifts
(mah膩d膩nas): 1) gold, 2) sesame, 3) cow, 4) female slave,
5) house, 6) land, 7) chariot, 8) daughter, 9) elephant
and 10) learning (14.1.8). It will be noticed that cows play-
ed an important role among the beliefs of the people. Just
the touch of the cow is said to remove the effects of evil
dreams (68.2.61-62).
22 The importance of silence (mauna) seems to have been
fully recognised 23: Silence was prescribed at the time of
19. AVP 26.5.8; 30.3.1; 31.1.5, 3.1; 34.1.4,7; 38.2.6; 41.2.
6, 4.5; 42.1.9; 46.7.3; 67.8.2.
20. AVP 1.32.4; 64.8.4; 70b.21.1; 70掳.3.2; 71.16.3.
21.
22.
AVP 58b.4.3; 64.8.5; 70掳.7.10,15; 70掳.32.19,24; 71.1.4,
10.1,3,11.3, 16.3; 72.3.9
See under 'The Gosanti' in the section "Ritual and
Religious Observances" above (pp. 513-4).
23. In this connection, reference may be made to Renou
"La valeur du silence dans le culte v茅dique", JAOS LXIX,
pp. 11-17.
