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AtharvavedaNew
← The Four Vedas

Atharvaveda

Mystical Hymns and Ancient Wisdom Revealed

by Vedic Rishis
Sacred TextPoetryPhilosophyHymns

चतुर्वेद

Originally in Sanskrit950 BC
20 chapters630 pages11h read
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About This Book

Unlike the other three Vedas focused on public ritual, the Atharvaveda contains ~730 hymns addressing everyday concerns—healing spells, love charms, curses, marriage rites, and protection from disease. This collection also includes profound philosophical texts like the Prithivi Sukta (hymn to Earth) and Skambha Sukta (cosmic pillar). Named after sage Atharvan, it reveals the practical spiritual life of early India.

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About the Author

Vedic Rishis
Vedic Rishis

c. 1500–1200 BC

The Vedic Rishis were ancient sages and seers who lived in the Indian subcontinent during the early Vedic period, approximately between 1500 and 1200 BC. While their individual identities are often shrouded in legend, these figures are revered as the inspired composers of the earliest Sanskrit hymns and mantras. The Rishis hailed from various tribes and regions, and their oral compositions formed the foundation of Hindu spiritual and ritual life. Their teachings were transmitted orally across generations, eventually being codified into the four Vedas. This process spanned centuries, with no single author but rather a collective spiritual authorship.

Places and Terms in this Book

Nirriti— The goddess of dissolution, calamity, and destruction, from whose bonds one seeks rescue.

Angirases— A group of ancient sages or priestly families, often associated with Agni and fire rituals.

Svarga— The heavenly realm or paradise, attained by righteous deeds.

Virāj— A cosmic principle, universal ruler, or a specific Vedic meter, representing vastness and sovereignty.

Vritra— A serpent-demon, personification of drought, whose jaws Indra is asked to break.

Gāyatri— A sacred Vedic meter, often personified as a goddess, and a famous mantra.

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Vocabulary

Rishis— Seers or sages, inspired poets who composed the Vedic hymns.

Gods— Deities, divine beings worshipped in the Vedic tradition.

Asuras— A class of beings in Vedic mythology, often depicted as powerful, sometimes benevolent, but frequently as adversaries of the Devas (Gods).

Fathers— Ancestors or the spirits of the deceased, often invoked and offered oblations.

Brāhman— A member of the priestly class (varna) in Vedic society, responsible for performing rituals and preserving sacred knowledge.

Hotar— The chief priest who recites invocations during a sacrifice.

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