Atharvan: 11 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
Languages
1. Sanskrit
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Introduction:

Atharvan means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Atharvan (अथर्वन्).—Married Śānti, a daughter of Kardama. It was he who spread yajña in the world.¹ His son was Dadhyañca who had a horse's head.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 24. 24.
2) Ib. IV. 1. 42.

1b) A Brāhman priest invited by Yudhiṣṭhira to officiate in his rājasūya sacrifice.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 74. 9.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Atharvan (अथर्वन्).—m. [atha-ṛ-vanip śakandhvādi° Tv.; probably connected with some word like athar fire]

1) A priest who has to worship fire and Soma.

2) A Brāhmaṇa.

3) Name of the priest who is said to have first brought down fire from the heaven, offered Soma and recited prayers. [He is represented as the eldest son of Brahmā sprung from his mouth; as a Prajāpati appointed by Brahmā to create and protect subordinate beings, who first learnt from Brahmā and then taught the Brahmavidyā and is considered to be the author of the Veda called after him. His wife was Śānti, daughter of Kardama Prajāpati. He had also another wife called Chitti; he is also considered identical with Aṅgiras and father of Agni.]

4) Epithet of Śiva, Vasiṣṭha. वृतपदपङ्क्तिरथर्वणेव वेदः (vṛtapadapaṅktiratharvaṇeva vedaḥ) Kir. 1.1. -(pl.) Descendants of Atharvan; hymns of this Veda; जिष्णुं जैत्रैरथर्वभिः (jiṣṇuṃ jaitrairatharvabhiḥ) R.17.13.

-rvā-rva m. n., °वेदः (vedaḥ) The Atharvaveda, regarded as the fourth Veda. [It contains many forms of imprecations for the destruction of enemies and also contains a great number of prayers for safety and averting mishaps, evils, sins or calamities, and a number of hymns, as in the other Vedas, addressed to the gods with prayers to be used at religious and solemn rites; cf. Mv.2.24. मूर्तिमभिरामघोरां बिभ्रदिवाथर्वणो निगमः (mūrtimabhirāmaghorāṃ bibhradivātharvaṇo nigamaḥ). It has nine Śākhās and five Kalpas, and is comprised in 2 Kāṇḍas. The most important Brāhmaṇa belonging to this Veda is the Gopatha Brāhmaṇa, and the Upaniṣads pertaining to it are stated to be 52, or, according to another account 31.] [cf. Zend atharvan, Pers. áturbán.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Atharvan (अथर्वन्) or Atharvvan or Atharvvā or Atharvā.—1. A Brahman. 2. A name of Vasishtha. n. (rva) The name of the fourth Veda. E. atha an auspicious particle ṛ to go, and vanipa aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Atharvan (अथर्वन्).— (borrowed from the Zend. āthra-van, derived from ātar, ‘fire’), m. 1. A priest. 2. The name of a Ṛṣi, or saint. 3. The Atharvaveda.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Atharvan (अथर्वन्).—[masculine] fire-priest, [especially] the first fire-priest; [plural] his race or = seq. (then also sgl.).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Atharvan (अथर्वन्):—m. (said to be [from] an obsolete word athar, fire), a priest who has to do with fire and Soma

2) Name of the priest who is said to have been the first to institute the worship of fire and offer Soma and prayers (he is represented as a Prajāpati, as Brahmā’s eldest son, as the first learner and earliest teacher of the Brahma-vidyā, as the author of the Atharva-veda, as identical with Aṅgiras, as the father of Agni, etc.)

3) Name of Śiva, Vasiṣṭha ([Kirātārjunīya x, 10]), Soma, Prāṇa

4) mn. (ā, a) the fourth or Atharva-veda (said to have been composed by Atharvan, and consisting chiefly of formulas and spells intended to counteract diseases and calamities)

5) m. [plural] (atharvāṇas). descendants of Atharvan, often coupled with those of Aṅgiras and Bhṛgu

6) [plural] the hymns of the Atharva-veda.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Atharvan (अथर्वन्):—1. m.

(-rvā) 1) A Brāhmaṇa, a priest (probably one connected with offerings to fire or the attendance on the holy fire).

2) The proper name of a priest who is considered to have obtained the fire from heaven and who in the course of mythological personification appears as a Prajāpati or father of all beings, as the inspired author of the fourth or Atharvaveda, as the eldest son of Brahmā to whom Brahmā revealed the Brahmavidyā (q. v.) or knowledge of God (see also atharva) and, at a later period, as the same as Angiras (q. v.). Sons of his are Agni (see also aṅgiras), Dadhyanch, Bhishaj, Bṛhaddiva, Kabandha.

3) An epithet of [a.]) Vasiṣṭha q. v., [b.]) Soma q. v., [c.]) prāṇa q. v., [d.]) Śiva (the god being supposed to carry into effect the charms of the Atharvaveda). 2. m. n.

(-rvā-rva) The fourth or Atharvaveda q. v. (see also m. pl. atharvāṇaḥ). 3. m. pl.

(-rvāṇaḥ) 1) The descendants of Atharvan; they appear sometimes coupled with the descendants of Bhṛgu and of Angiras (see atharvāṅgirasaḥ).

2) The hymns of the fourth or Atharvaveda collectively (considered as the descendants of Atharvan); the Atharvaveda (see also atharvāṅgirasaḥ). E. From an obsolete theme athar, fire, with taddh. aff. vanip. See the E. of atharī. The oldest etym. which derives atharvan from a neg. and tharvan (from tharv ‘to go’), is without any probability. A similar etym. is given of atharvī q. v.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Atharvan (अथर्वन्):—(vvā) 5. m. A brāhman; n. the fourth or Atharva veda.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Atharvan (अथर्वन्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ahavvaṇa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Atharvan in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 57 books and stories containing Atharvan; (plurals include: Atharvans). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

3. Different Names of the Atharvaveda < [Chapter 1 - The Atharvaveda and its importance in the Vedic Literature]

1. List of Hymns pertaining to Women < [Chapter 2 - The Strīkarmāṇi Hymns of the Atharvaveda]

16. Goddess Oṣadhayaḥ (Oṣadhayas) < [Chapter 4 - Female Deities and the Glorification of Women in the Atharvaveda]

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Section CCXXI < [Markandeya-Samasya Parva]

Section XLVI < [Anusasanika Parva]

Section LXX < [Sambhava Parva]

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Adhyāya III, Kaṇḍikā 3

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Verse 2.301 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]

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