Atharva veda
Atharva Veda, also known as Atharvana Veda, is one of the four Vedas. It is essential to mention that the Atharvana Veda is referred to as the Brahma Veda. In Hindu mythology, Brahma is the primordial Godhead. So It is not appropriate to claim that the Atharvana Veda was created by non-Aryans while the Rigveda was created by Aryans, because Brahma is a Hindu God. It is therefore also inappropriate to rank Atharvana Veda in fourth place among the four Vedas.
Atharva Veda comprises 5987 hymns divided into 73 Suktas. The Rig Veda and Atharva Veda have 30 percent of their slokas in common. This indicates that 30 percent of the slokas in both Vedas are identical.
Another bias is that the Atharva Veda includes magical incantations and remedies for healing ailments. However, it also includes Riks that extol the Deities. It includes hymns that are both secular and theological. (The texts below are excerpts from Chapter 2, Vedic Literature, in the author’s BOOK: “A Tribute to the Ancient World of India“)
And some say that this word Atharvana is an amalgamation of names of the two sages, Athvaryu and Angiras. Athvaryu + Angiras = Athvaryangiras = Atharvana. And let us consider the following proposition also,
AthaH + Vana = Atharvana. AthaH means ‘this’, and Vana means ‘forests’. So meaning of Atharvana Veda should be understood as product of the toil of Rushis living in Forests, the hermits.
The contents of the Atharvana Veda are diverse and extensive. It’s simply a compendium of knowledge of the ancient world of India. Reading the Atharvana Veda reveals that it is not merely a collection of charms, magic spells, and incantations, as it is commonly thought. It encompasses every area of study, ranging from Theology to Sociology, Astrology or Astronomy, Political Science, Warfare, and much more.
Another point is that some people do not regard the Atharvana Veda as a Veda. They would justify the notion that Atharva Veda hymns are not chanted during performance of Yajnas. Nonetheless, it is also true that 30% of the hymns in the Rig Veda and Atharva Veda are identical.
It should be noted that Ancient Physicians Sushruta and Charaka both asserted that they acquired their medical knowledge from the Atharvana Veda. Not only that, I have discovered that the Atharvana Veda contains abundant content related to Statecraft, societal norms, martial arts, and more…..
I hereby quore some of them.
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TIME AND ASTRONOMY:
Time and astronomy are examined in AV in a lively and detailed way,
संवत्सरॊ रथः परिवत्सरॊ रथॊपस्थॊ विराडीषाग्नी
रधमुखम । इन्द्रः सव्तष्टाश्चंद्रमाः सारधिः
saMvatsarO rathaH parivatsarO rathOpasthO viraaDIShaagnI
radhamukham | indraH savtaShTaaScaMdramaaH saaradhiH
(SlOka 2229, sUkta -8, kaaMDa 8, bhRugvaMgiraa RuShi)
Meaning: “Fire god represents the chariot of a solar Year while the moon acts as the Charioteer.” This clearly suggests that during the composition of the Vedas, the significant unification of Solar and Lunar calendar elements occurred in India.
षडाहु शीतान षडु मास उष्णानृतुं नॊ ब्रूत यतमॊ तिरिक्तः
सप्त सुपर्णाः कवयॊ नि षॆधुः सप्त च्छन्दांस्यनु सप्त दीक्षाः
ShaDAhu SItAn ShaDu mAsa uShNAnRutuM nO brUta yatamO tiriktaH
sapta suparNAH kavayO ni ShEdhuH sapta chChandAMsyanu sapta dIkShAH
(SlOka 2247 sUkta -9, kaaMDa 8, atharvaa kaSyapa)
Meaning: “Winter lasts for 6 months, while Summer occupies another 6 months.” What more? There are seven herbs, seven sages, seven units of measurement, and seven types of austerity. “What more?”
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पंचपादं पितरं द्वादशाकृतिं दिव आहुः परॆ अर्धॆ पुरीषिणम
अथॆमॆ अस्य उपरॆ विचक्षणॆ सप्त चक्रॆ षडर आहुरर्पितम
paMcapaadaM pitaraM dvaadaSaakRutiM diva aahuH parE ardhE purIShiNam
athEmE asya uparE vicakShaNE sapta cakrE ShaDara aahurarpitam
(SlOka 2598, sUktamu-9, kaaMDa 9, ,brahma RuShi)
The aforementioned sloka states, “a year is made up of twelve months and the Cosmic realm/Zodiac is segmented into twelve sections.”
द्वादशारं नहि तज्जराय वर्वर्ति चक्रं परि द्यामृतस्य
आ पुत्रा अग्नॆ मिथुनासॊ अत्र शतानि विंशतिश्च तस्थु
dvAdaSAraM nahi tajjarAya varvarti chakraM pari dyAmRutasya
A putrA agnE mithunAsO atra SatAni viMSatiScha tasthu
(SlOka sl 2599, sUktamu-9, kaaMDa 9, brahma RuShi)
“These twelve months include 360 nights and 360 days, adding up to 720 segments.” Additionally, there are mentions of Nakshatras related to Lunar movements.
………..
A sloka in Atharvana veda in praise of Indra:
स्वस्तिदा विशां पतिर्वृत्रहा विमृधॊ वशी
वृषॆन्द्र: पुर ऎतु न: सॊमपा अभयंकर:
svastidaa viSaaM patirvRutrahaa vimRudhO vaSI
vRuShEndra: pura Etu na: sOmapaa abhayaMkara:
(sloka 91)
“Indra, you are the slayer of Vrutra and you are the ruler of Vis.” After consuming Soma, you would gain ultimate power. “Kindly protect us from our foes and bring us joy.”
Magic Spells and Chasms
The references mentioned from Atharvana Veda serve as examples demonstrating that Atharvana Veda is the Encyclopedia of Vedic Knowledge. Exploring this Veda allows us to understand Vedic Society more deeply. Reading the Atharvana Veda reveals that Vedic Society encompasses more than just conducting Yajnas. The Atharvana Veda does not simply pertain to magical incantations and abysses. A V provides diverse insights into the ancient society regarding their politics, economy, theology, and more. Atharvana Veda is referred to as Brahma Veda. So how can we claim that it was authored by Rakshasas or Dasyus
Rakshasas are described as deceitful and malevolent individuals (while Dasyus are identified as bandits); if this is true, how were they able to write a scripture like the Atharvana Veda and create hymns from it? Thus, it is entirely misconceptions and biases circulated regarding Atharvana Veda. The essence of the Atharvana Veda lies in its treatment of both Laukika and Alaukika aspects without favoring one over the other.