Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita
by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words
This page relates ‘The Atharvaveda, an Introduction’ of the study on women in the Vedic society reflecting the Atharva-veda Samhita in English. These pages discusses the social aspects of women, education, customs of marriage, practices of polyandry and polygamy, descriptions of female deities and various rites and rituals. It is shown how women earned much praise in ancient Indian society. Included are Sanskrit text and references of the Atharvaveda and commentary by Sayana-Acharya.
2. The Atharvaveda, an Introduction
The Vedic literature, which is enormous in size, comprises the four Vedas, viz. the Ṛgveda, the Yajurveda, the Sāmaveda and the Atharvaveda. All these four Vedas have been arranged in a chronological sequence in some Upaniṣadic references.[1] In such references, the Atharvaveda has been reckoned at the fourth position.
But, the recognition to the Atharvaveda as a Veda proper, is also controversial since an earlier period. In the words of Tilak,[2]
“The Vedic religion is very often called the Trayī Dharma. The Atharvaveda finds no place amongst three Vedas and there is an old tradition that in the point of importance and authority the Atharvaveda does not stand on par with the Ṛgveda, Yajurveda and Sāmaveda.”
The views of different ancient scriptures, from the Vedas to the Vedāṅgas, toward the Atharvaveda, however will be discussed under another head in this chapter itself. But, the point here is to mark that as to why, the Atharvaveda has been looked upon in a different way.
In this regard, Karambelkar[3] states,
“The Atharvaveda unlike the other three Vedas is essentially the Veda of spells, charms and incantations. It was promised to fulfil all worldly desires of human mind. And this worldly nature of the Atharvaveda was sufficient to cause suspicions in the minds of the ancient people. The Brāhmaṇas, the Śrauta, Gṛhya and Dharmasūtras and the epics have all given recognition to the Atharvaveda with a wavering mind.”
Thus, it is clear that the main themes of the Atharvaveda, which is entirely of a different nature, breathing the spirit of the masses, is responsible for the exceptional treatment towards the Atharvaveda.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
ṛgvedo yajurvedaḥ sāmavedo’tharvāṅgirasa itihāsa … / Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad, 11.5.6.7 ṛgvedaṃ bhagavo’dhyemi yajurvedaṃ sāmavedamātharvaṇaṃ caturthamiti / Chāndogya-upaniṣad, 7.1
[2]:
As quoted by Karambelkar, V. W., The Atharvan Civilization, Its Place in Indo-Aryan Culture, Introduction, p.10
[3]:
Vide, Karambelkar, V. W., Op.cit., Introduction, p.9