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INTRODUCTION.
xxvii
125, 2.) The term also occurs in Vait. Sû. 1, 5; Gop. Br. I, 1, 39; 2, 18 (end); 3, 1. 2. 4, and it is common in the Parisishtas (see Weber, Omina und Portenta, p. 346 ff. ; Verzeichniss der Sanskrit und Prakrit Handschriften, II, 89 ff.), and the Anukramani. No valid reason appears why the term bhrigu has succeeded in encroaching so far upon the term atharvan. The following may, however, be remarked. The three words atharvan, angiras, and bhrigu are in general equivalent, or closely related mythic names in connection with the production or the service of fire. Occasionally in the mantras (RV. X, 14, 6) they are found all together ', or bhrigu is found in company with atharvan (RV. X, 92, 10), or with angiras (RV. VIII, 43, 13). This interrelation of the three names continues in the Yagus and Brâhmana-texts, but in such a way that the juxtaposition of bhrigu and angiras becomes exceedingly frequent , broaching in fact on complete synonymy. The latter is reached in Sat. Br. IV, 1, 5, 1, where the sage Kyavana is designated either as a Bhargava or as an Ångirasa 8. It is conceivable that the frequency of this collocation suggested to the Atharvavedins a mode of freshening up the more trite combination atharvângirasah ; of any reason for a conscious preference of the word bhrigu the texts show no trace.
The term brahma-veda whose origin is discussed below (p. Ixv) likewise belongs to the sphere of the Atharvan ritual. Outside of the Atharvan there is to be noted only a single, but indubitable occurrence, Sankh. Grih. I, 16, 3.
Cf. Weber, Verzeichniss, II, 46.
Eg. Tait. S. I, 1, 7, 2; Maitr. S. I, 1, 8; Vâg. S. I, 18; Tait. Br. 1, 1, 4,8; III, 2, 7, 6; Sat. Br. I, 2, 1, 13; Kâty. Sr. II, 4, 38; A past. Sr. I, 12, 3; 33,6 ; Yaska's Nigh.V, 5; Nir. XI, 18. The juxtaposition of bhrigu and atharvan is decidedly rarer in this class of texts (e. g. A past. Sr. IV, 12, 10); that of bhriga and angiras continues in the Mabábbårata, and later; see Pet. Lex. s.v. (col. 364, top).
Cf. similarly Dadhyank Atharvana, Tait. S. V, 1, 4, 4, with DachyaAlk Angirasa, Pank. Br. XII, 8, 6.
* A statement like that of the late Kalika Upanishad 10, that the Bhrigu are foremost among the Atharvans (atharvano bhrigûttamah), if it is taken seriously at all, reflects rather the result than the cause of the substitution of the Dame bhriga for atharvan.
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