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)
59 (of 459)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
340 133
oney star of a charming bluish tinge. The SB gives an
interesting story regarding the derivation of the name Citra.
It states that once upon a time there was a competition
between the Gods and the Asuras. The latter planned to
secure the heaven by performing a sacrifice. They began to
build the altar. Indra thought that if they completed the
sacrifice they would overcome the Gods. Hence he took the
form of a Br膩hma峁嘺 and, with a brick in his hand, went to
them. He got their permission to add the brick when the
altar was being built. When the sacrifice was about to
start, he demanded his brick back. He took it away and cast
it into the sky. Thereby the altar and consequently the
sacrifice perished.
bricks into vairas. The Gods assembled and said, "As we
Indra killed the Asuras by turning the
have killed the enemies we have become outstanding (citram)".
Hence the brick that was cast into the sky by Indra and which
had assumed the form of a star came to be called by the
name Citra
134.
(133) II.1.2.13.
(134) TB I.1.2.4-6 tells a similar story. It gives the name
of the demons as K盲lakanjas. When Indra removed his
brick called Citra, the demons, who were rising to the
heaven, fell down. They became spiders (who try to
ascend the heaven by spinning out webs). Two demons
rose up into the heaven. They became the two dogs
(Canis Major and Canis Minor). The Brahmana further
says that a person who has an enemy should enkindle the
sacred fire under the Citra. Thereby he overcomes
the enemy and becomes powerful and lustrous.
