Satapatha Bramhana Part 03

SR No.: 007679
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Julius Eggeling
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2382
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 485

xviii
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
The name átharvan, with a great variety of derivatives,
is employed growingly as the designation of Meaning of each of the the Veda; the name angiras by itself is so terms atharvan rare as to arrest attention when it is met. and angiras.
B*** At TS: VII, 5, 11, 2 = Kathaka Asvamedhagrantha, V, 2, occurs the formula angirobhyah svâhâ, preceded by rigbhyah, &c. svâhâ : it is, as far as is known, the solitary occurrence of this designation of the Atharvaveda in a Vedic text. Quite frequently, however, the members of the compound atharvangirasah are separated so that each is mentioned by itself, but always in more or less close conjunction with one another. This shows that the compound is not a congealed formula, but that the texts are conscious of the fact that each has a distinct individuality, and a right to separate existence. In other words, the AV. actually consists of atharvan and angiras matter, and the question arises what elements in the makeup of this Veda these terms refer to. The answer, I believe, may now be given with a considerable degree of certainty : the term atharvan refers to the auspicious practices of the Veda, the bheshagani (AV. XI, 6, 14), those parts of the Veda which are recognised by the Atharvan ritual and the orthodox Brahmanical writings, as sânta, "holy,' and paushtika, 'conferring prosperity ;' the term angiras refers to the hostile sorcery practices of the Veda, the yâtu (Sat. Br. X, 5, 2, 20), or abhikåra', which is terrible (ghora).
In an article entitled, 'On the position of the Vaitanasætra in the literature of the Atharva-veda,' Journ. Amer. Or. Soc. XI, 387 ff., I pointed out that the above-mentioned distinction is clearly made at Vait. Sû. 5, 10, where two lists of plants are differentiated, one as atharvanyah, the other as angirasyah. The same distinction is maintained at Gop. Br. I, 2, 18. The former refers to the list of plants
' In texts not Vedic the term angirasah occurs occasionally as an abbreviated form of atharvangirasah. Thus in the first superscription of the AV. Práti. såkhya, the Saunakfya Katuradhyâyika, and in Panini V, 2, 37. Cf. also Gop. Br. I, 1, 8.
For the distinction between santa and abhikârika see Kaus. 3, 19, and note 5 on p. It of our edition.
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