Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita

by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words

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Summary: This essay studies the various aspects of women in the Vedic society reflecting the Atharva-veda Samhita in English. The study includes discussions on social aspects of women, education, descriptions of female deities, salient features of womanhood, customs of marriage, practices of polygamy and polyandry and various rites and rituals pertaining to women.

The contents of the Atharvaveda are analyzed against the interpretation of Sayana Acharya (an esteemed commentator on the Vedas), bearing original Sanskrit text with references.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Acknowledgement

+ Chapter 1 - The Atharvaveda and its importance in the Vedic Literature

. 1. Derivation and Meaning of the Term Veda

. 2. The Atharvaveda, an Introduction

. 3. Different Names of the Atharvaveda

. 4. Recensions of the Atharvaveda

. 5. Contents of the Atharvaveda

. 6. Importance of the Atharvaveda in the Vedic Literature

. 7. Review of Literature

. 8. Methodology, Scope and Aim of the Study:

+ Chapter 2 - The Strīkarmāṇi Hymns of the Atharvaveda

. 1. List of Hymns pertaining to Women

. 2. Hymns to Obtain a Husband

. 3. Hymn to Obtain a Wife

. 4. Hymns Dealing with the Mutual Love of a Couple

. 5a. Prayer for Successful Pregnancy

. 5b. Hymns to Obtain a Son

. 5c. Hymn to Sterilize a Rival Woman

. 5d. Hymn for Fruitful Conception

. 5e. Hymn to Guard a Pregnant Woman from Demoniac Forces

. 5f. Hymn for Easy Parturition

. 6a. Hymns to Secure the Love of a Woman

. 6b. Hymn to Win the Love of a Husband

. 6c. Hymns to Arouse the Passionate Love of a Woman

. 6d. Hymn to Put a Woman to Sleep

. 6e. Hymn to Cause to Return of a Truant Woman

. 6f. Hymns to Allay Jealousy

. 6g. Hymn to Imprecate Misfortune on a Woman

. 6h. Hymn against a Rival Woman

. 6i. Hymn to Deprive a Man of his Virility

. 7a. Hymn to Remove Evil Signs from a Man and a Woman

. 7b. Hymn for a Son, Born at an Unlucky Star

. 7c. Hymn to Expiate the Irregular Appearance

+ Chapter 3 - The Familial and Social Life of Women in the Atharvaveda

. 1. Woman in the Family and as a Daughter

. 2. Woman as a Wife

. 3. Woman as a Mother

. 4. Woman as a Sister

. 5. Women in the Atharvavedic Society (a): Marriage

. 5b. Freedom of Women in Choosing a Life Partner

. 5c. The Concept of Pāṇigrahaṇa (= holding of the hands of the bride)

. 5d. Gifts to the Bride

. 5e. Practice of Polygamy and Polyandry

. 5f. Separation of the Couple

. 5g. Occupation

. 5h. Dress and Ornaments

. 5i. Female Education

. 5j. Position of Widow

. 5k. Remarriage of a Woman

. 6. Women’s right to Property

+ Chapter 4 - Female Deities and the Glorification of Women in the Atharvaveda

. Introduction (worship of female deities)

. 1. Goddess Aditi

. 2. Goddess Apsarases

. 3. Goddess Asunīti

. 4. Goddess Ākūti

. 5. Goddess Āpaḥ (Āpas)

. 6. Goddess Āsurī

. 7. Goddess Devapatnī

. 8. Goddess Ekāṣṭakā

. 9. Goddess Grāhi

. 10. Goddess Iḍā

. 11. Goddess Kṛtyā

. 12. Goddess Lakṣmī

. 13. Goddess Medhā

. 14. Goddess Mekhalā

. 15. Goddess Nirṛti

. 16. Goddess Oṣadhayaḥ (Oṣadhayas)

. 17. Goddess Pṛśni

. 18. Goddess Pṛthivī

. 19. Goddess Rātri

. 20. Goddess Sarasvatī

. 21. Goddessess Sinīvālī, Kuhū, Anumati and Rākā

. 22. Goddess Sītā

. 23. Goddess Śraddhā

. 24. Goddess Sūryā

. 25. Goddess Uṣas

. 26. Goddess Vasupatnī

. 27. Goddess Vāk

. 28. Goddess Vedamātā

. 29. Goddess Yaminī

. 30. Goddess Yātudhānī

. 31. Some Other Female Deities

. 32. Glorification of Women through the Eulogy of the Female Deities

+ Chapter 5 - Women in the Rites and Rituals of the Atharvaveda

. 1. Rites Related to Marriage

. 2. Rites Related to Birth (a): Svāpana

. 2. Rites Related to Birth (b): Garbhādhāna

. 2. Rites Related to Birth (c): Puṃsavana

. 2. Rites Related to Birth (d): Garbhadṛṃhaṇa

. 2. Rites Related to Birth (e): Sīmantonnayana

. 2. Rites Related to Birth (f): Prasūtikaraṇa

. 2. Rites Related to Birth (g): Vandhyāprajananakaraṇa

. 3(a). Rites to Appease the Anger of a Husband or a Wife

. 3(b). Charm to Allay Jealousy

. 3(c). Charm to Win the Love of a Woman

. 3(d). Charm to Subjugate a Wicked Woman

. 3(e). Charm to Secure Good Fortune to a Woman

. 3(f). Charm to Remove Unlucky Marks of a Woman

. 3(g). Charm to Cause Misfortune to One’s Rivals

. 3(h). Charm to Deprive One from Getting a Male Child

. 3(i). Charm to Deprive a Man from His Virility

. 3(j). Charm to Cause the Return of a Truant Woman

. 3(k). Charm to Obtain a Husband or a Wife

Chapter 6 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 09 October, 2022

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