Atharva veda is also known as BraHma Veda, Atharva Agneerasa Veda, Angeerasa Veda, Kshatra Veda. It is wrongly commented that the Atharva Veda is inferior (or forbidden) to other three Vedas. Some of the cinemas / movies / serials strengthen this mis - understanding about atharva Veda. It is wrong, the quality and all other parameters of Atharva veda are similar to other Vedas. Veda thrayee only means three qualities of each Vedas which are samhita, chandas and sruti. Atharva Veda has all these three. Hence no way Atharva veda is inferior to other Vedas. Atharva Veda mantras generally connected with common man’s problems and prayers which are sociology, agriculture, medicine, success and failures and so on in the life.
It is said that Atharva Veda has 50 recensions/ sakhas. Only nine sakhas are known, now. Their names are Pippalada sakha, thouda sakha, mouda sakha, sounakeeya sakha, jaajala sakha, jalada sakha, brahmavada sakha, devadarsa sakha, and charana vaidya sakha. Now only two sakhas are available in the complete form. They are sounaka sakha and pippalada sakha. Unfortunately due to the wrong understanding (mis understanding / superstition that Atharva Veda is inferior to other Vedas) there are only few students to learn and few teachers to teach this Veda. Thus Atharva Vedic scholars are very few in number. In Keralam there may be two or three scholars who know the veda with sruti . Even the original sruthi of this Veda is also said to be almost lost (?).
A few that Atharva veda has all black magic in that. It is wrong. There are some mantras which are falling under satru nasana, rashtra vijaya, roga nasana, raja vijaya, and so on. There are so many mantras which are chanted during ratha arohana, entering in palace, simhasana arohana, and for prosperity – health – long life – freedom from health problems – medicines for variety of diseases etc. These mantras are chanted exclusively for the benefit as prayer.
The Sounakeeya sakha of Atharva Veda has 750 sukthas compiled in 20 Kandas (parts) having 5987 mantras of which 1200 mantras are from Rigveda. There are many Yajurveda mantras too. Each suktha has a purpose chanting. Hence this arrangement of the suktha by mentioning the purpose is unique to Atharva Veda. It is said that the learning procedure of Atharva Veda was not as rigid as observed in other Vedas. Hence it is said that variations in chanting methodology, number of mantras etc are common. There can be variation when students from Kerala and Kashmir chant the same Atharva Veda sakha. This is not the case with other three Vedas. Now we shall discuss the subject matter of Atharva Veda as a continuation . As mentioned earlier, there are 5987 mantras in Atharva Veda and they are included in 750 suktas. Each sukta is a prayer / explanation for fulfilling the expectations or wishes. These prayers are for different purposes which reflect in the name of the suktha. Atharva vedic prayers focus for prosperity and peaceful life on earth with all spiritual and physical comforts. Atharva Veda manthras are classified under adhyatmikam, adhibouthikam and adhidaivatham. The adhyatmika subjects are included in adhyathmika prakaranam: aathma thathwam, brahmacharyam – gruhastha-vanaprastha-sanyasa dharmam, description on jeevathama, paramathma, health, pancha bhootha, pancha prana and so on. Prayer for good health, medicines, curative effect, long life, relief from diseases / health problems like leprosy / fever/ small pox/ infections, and so on are also included in adhythmika prakaranam .
More about Atharva veda principles, mantras, myths download free ebook here
It is said that Atharva Veda has 50 recensions/ sakhas. Only nine sakhas are known, now. Their names are Pippalada sakha, thouda sakha, mouda sakha, sounakeeya sakha, jaajala sakha, jalada sakha, brahmavada sakha, devadarsa sakha, and charana vaidya sakha. Now only two sakhas are available in the complete form. They are sounaka sakha and pippalada sakha. Unfortunately due to the wrong understanding (mis understanding / superstition that Atharva Veda is inferior to other Vedas) there are only few students to learn and few teachers to teach this Veda. Thus Atharva Vedic scholars are very few in number. In Keralam there may be two or three scholars who know the veda with sruti . Even the original sruthi of this Veda is also said to be almost lost (?).
A few that Atharva veda has all black magic in that. It is wrong. There are some mantras which are falling under satru nasana, rashtra vijaya, roga nasana, raja vijaya, and so on. There are so many mantras which are chanted during ratha arohana, entering in palace, simhasana arohana, and for prosperity – health – long life – freedom from health problems – medicines for variety of diseases etc. These mantras are chanted exclusively for the benefit as prayer.
The Sounakeeya sakha of Atharva Veda has 750 sukthas compiled in 20 Kandas (parts) having 5987 mantras of which 1200 mantras are from Rigveda. There are many Yajurveda mantras too. Each suktha has a purpose chanting. Hence this arrangement of the suktha by mentioning the purpose is unique to Atharva Veda. It is said that the learning procedure of Atharva Veda was not as rigid as observed in other Vedas. Hence it is said that variations in chanting methodology, number of mantras etc are common. There can be variation when students from Kerala and Kashmir chant the same Atharva Veda sakha. This is not the case with other three Vedas. Now we shall discuss the subject matter of Atharva Veda as a continuation . As mentioned earlier, there are 5987 mantras in Atharva Veda and they are included in 750 suktas. Each sukta is a prayer / explanation for fulfilling the expectations or wishes. These prayers are for different purposes which reflect in the name of the suktha. Atharva vedic prayers focus for prosperity and peaceful life on earth with all spiritual and physical comforts. Atharva Veda manthras are classified under adhyatmikam, adhibouthikam and adhidaivatham. The adhyatmika subjects are included in adhyathmika prakaranam: aathma thathwam, brahmacharyam – gruhastha-vanaprastha-sanyasa dharmam, description on jeevathama, paramathma, health, pancha bhootha, pancha prana and so on. Prayer for good health, medicines, curative effect, long life, relief from diseases / health problems like leprosy / fever/ small pox/ infections, and so on are also included in adhythmika prakaranam .
More about Atharva veda principles, mantras, myths download free ebook here
