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JAIN JOURNAL
Atharvaveda,. It was after a good deal of struggle that the Atharvaveda came to be recognised as the fourth Veda. 90
The Non-Aryan gods Rudra-Siva, etc. were not accepted by the Vedic Aryans as the Vedic gods for a long period but with the passage of time the forces of racial and cultural synthesis between the Non-Aryans and the Vedic Aryans compelled the latter to admit them to the larger Vedic religious fold, as is evidenced in the 15th kāņdā of the Atharvaveda.
As already pointed out, one class of the Vratyas, viz. Garagira (poison swallower) may be associated with the Saivites directly,-as Siva is known as Nilakantha. According to the Puranic tradition, poison which emerged from the mouth of Vasuki in the course of churning of the sea by the gods and the asuras for nectar was swallowed by Siva to save the world from the poisonous effect as a result of which his throat became bluish.91 Thus it may be inferred that these Vratyas had inseparable relation with the Saiva paramparā
It seems that Saiva parampara and Sramanic paramparā of the Arhants of the Vratyas had mutually some similar features in the early stage of their culture because the spirit of both the paramparās appears to be one and the same. Both the sects are mainly based on the vows of austerity, non-violence, yoga, nudity, 92 etc.
According to my revered teacher, Dr. H. L. Jain there is possibility of the identification of Rsabhadeva, the first Tirthankara with Siva an they appear to be one and the same divine personality.93 Therefore, a close relationship of the Vratyas with the Sramanas is indicated on the basis of the culture of the Vratyas on the one hand and that of the Vedic Aryans on the other.
Dr. H. L. Jain94 holds the view that the Vratyas were the monks and householders of Sramanic tradition who became the object of wrath of
* Atharvaveda is called after particular priest.
(a) Atharvanangirasah-TB. III 12; 9.1 ; PB XVI 10-10, SB-XVI 1. 10.10 (b) Bhrgu angirasah Kausika 63.3 ; 94.2-4 ; 137, 25; 139, 6, Gopatha B, 1.1.39;
2-18 ; 3.1.2.4; AV. V. 19.1.2. (Bhrgum himsitva etc.) (c) Ksrtaveda-SB-XIV, 8-14, 1-4; Brh. Upn. V. 18.1.4 ; Parsnopanisad, II.6.
(d) Brahmadeva, Sgs-1.16.3., vide Vratyas in Ancient India, p. 32. 91 Siva Purana. » Bharatiya Samskrtimen Jainadharma ka Yogdan, pp. 16-17. 93 Ibid., pp. 16-17.
Ibid., p. 18.
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