MIND BORN, PRAJAPATI ANGIRASA ETC SYMBOLIC
Rajaram Krishnamurthy
AANGIRASA AND Atharva vedam
The Atharvaveda (or Atharvāṅgirasah) is unique among the four Vedas for focusing on the practical, daily, and often mundane aspects of human life, contrasting with the primarily ritualistic, liturgical focus of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas. It is traditionally divided into two, with the Atharvan portion focusing on auspicious, healing practices (bhaiṣajyāṇi) and the Angirasa portion specializing in defensive, protective, and sometimes imprecatory magical rites (ābhicārikāṇi).
Unique Subjects and Themes of the Atharvaveda
Foundation of Ayurveda & Medicine: The Atharvaveda is the oldest literary monument of Indian medicine, containing extensive hymns on curing diseases (like fever/takman), using medicinal plants (oṣadhi), and herbal remedies. It is often referred to as Bhaisajyaveda.
Magical Formulas & Charms: It is known for its collection of spells and charms, which include both white magic (protective, for long life or prosperity) and, less frequently, black magic (offensive, to defeat enemies).
Social & Domestic Life: It provides a comprehensive view of daily life in the late Vedic period, including hymns for marriage (Vivāha Sūktas), household, and village life.
Statecraft & Political Science: The text includes Rājakarmāṇi (hymns for kings) dealing with governance, royalty, and victory in battle, sometimes called Kshattraveda.
Ecological Consciousness: It features the Prithvi Sukta (Book 12), a 63-verse hymn to Mother Earth, highlighting environmental stewardship.
Metaphysical & Philosophical Thought: Despite its practical nature, it contains deep philosophical content, particularly regarding the concept of Brahman (ultimate reality), Skambha (the cosmic pillar), and Prāṇa (life force).
Important Upanishads: It is the source of three major Upanishads: the Mundaka, Mandukya, and Prashna.
Unique Aspects of the Angirasa Lineage
The Angirasa tradition (often associated with Agni and radiant energy) is specifically credited with the more aggressive or powerful aspects of this Veda.
Offensive/Defensive Sorcery: They are associated with rituals to counter hostile forces and malevolent spirits.
Counter-Sorcery: Specialized in Kṛtyā-pratiharaṇāni (rituals to reverse spells cast by enemies).
Fire Worship: Linked to the introduction of specific fire-worship practices alongside the Bhrigus.
The Atharvaveda is also known as Brahmaveda, as it was considered the domain of the Brahma priest who oversaw the entire sacrifice to ensure its perfection.
2 Atharva Veda - The Brahmaveda
The Atharvaveda with over 6000 mantras comprises a variety of subjects like cure for diseases, construction, trade and commerce, statecraft, penances and propitiatory rites.
High philosophical ideas like those in the Upanishads are also found. This Veda designates God as the Absolute Brahman and uses other interesting names like Skambha, Ucchista and Vraatya to worship Him.
It give us a glimpse of the society of those times. This land then extended from Gandhaara (Afghanistan) to Magadha (Bihar) and Vanga (Bengal). The cow was highly revered and godaana (gifting a cow) was considered meritorious. {{ KR WHEN VEDAS WERE IN THE BEGINNING MODE OF EACH YUGA POPUAR PLACE WAS GANDHARA (PRESENT AFGANISTAN TILL MAHABHARATHA BEGINNING OF KALIYUGA; AS ONE MEMBER KEPT ON REPEATING KASHMIR AS KASHYAPA ALSO A MIND BORN, WERE ALL IN GANDHAARA DESAM WHERE LATER DROUPATI WAS FOUND. }}
Three of the principal Upanishads - the Prasna, the Mundaka and the Mandukya - belong to the Atharva-Veda.
Atharva Veda - The BrahmavedaThe Atharvaveda with over 6000 mantras comprises a variety of subjects like cure for diseases, construction, trade and commerce, statecraft, penances and propitiatory rites. High philosophical ideas like those in the Upanishads are also found. This Veda designates God as the Absolute Brahman and uses other interesting names like Skambha, Ucchista and Vraatya to worship Him. It give us a glimpse of the society of those times. This land then extended from Gandhaara (Afghanistan) to Magadha (Bihar) and Vanga (Bengal). The cow was highly revered and godaana (gifting a cow) was considered meritorious. Three of the principal Upanishads - the Prasna, the Mundaka and the Mandukya - belong to the Atharva-veda
Sage Atharvan
In spite of this, the authorship of Atharva Veda is sometimes attributed to a certain sage named Atharvan, much like the authorship of Mahabharata is attributed to sage Vyasa. Mahabharata of 100,000 verses was not completely authored by Vyasa (he authored only its core called Jaya with 8000 verses). Similarly Atharva Veda was not completely authored by the sage Atharvan. He authored only some core hymns and created a tradition which made it to grow.
Sage Atharvan is mentioned in Rig Veda as an ancient figure. He is mentioned as a bringer of fire or the one who knows how to create or ignite fire. Creation and preservation of fire is among the ancient technologies of the pre-historic people. Atharvan is mentioned to be as old as, if not older than Bhrgu and Angirasa. Rig Veda also indicates that 'Atharvan' is a surname and it can be applied to many people who lived at different times.
Atharvan also appear in Arabian polytheist pantheon as Athar, a (male) personification of the planet Venus, much like Usana / Usanas / Sukra, a (male) personification of the planet Venus, in Indian tradition
Sage Angiras
Sage Angiras too is credited with the authorship of Atharva Veda. Angiras / Angirasa / Angirasas, apart from being the name of its founder sage, is also as a surname / tribal-name / gotra-name and there were many sages who used that surname. Angirasa too is often associated with fire along with Atharvans and Bhrigus. The dual compound Atharvangirasa (Atharva-Angirasa) is used as an alternate name for Atharva Veda. In later periods of pre-history, the name 'Atharvangirasa' reduced to 'Atharva'. It is possible that the Angirasa sages dissociated themselves with Atharva Veda during the later periods of prehistory. Consequently it was maintained by the Bhrigu sages during its later part of development.
There is also a speculation that the name 'Atharvangirasa' indicated a single person who belonged to the Angirasa branch of the Atharvan sages. It is possible that the two branches viz. that of the Bhrigus and that of the Angirasas, originated from the single tribe of the Atharvans. Hence it is possible that an Atharvan of Angirasa branch initiated the tradition of Atharva Veda, which was later abandoned by the Angirasa sages and took over by the Brighu sages.
Sage Bhrigu
As per the Gopatha Brahmana text (a later-Vedic text) Atharva Veda's authorship is attributed to Bhrigu and Angirasa. Thus here we see Bhrigu standing for Atharvan. This too indicates that the ancestry of both the Bhrigus and the Angirasas, the two major ascetic lineages of ancient India, was derived from the much ancient Atharvan sages. Thus the ancient Bhrigus and ancient Angirasas were both Atharvans. In later stages we see the Angirasas distancing themselves from their Atharvan ancestry while the Bhrigus continuing with their ancestral Atharvan traditions such as Atharva Veda.
Structure
Atharva Veda (Samhita, Saunaka recension) contains 20 books or volumes. Each book contains several hymns. Each hymn contains several verses. Total number of hymns is 731 and total number of verses is 5987. Its structure resembles Rig Veda, with its 10 books, 1028 hymns and 10552 verses.
Medicine
Atharva Veda describes several diseases, disease causing agents and the cures for these diseases. Cure includes herbal medicines / drugs used along with the specific mantras or incantations. The medicine system described in Atharva Veda is older than that found in Ayur Veda. Atharva-Vedic system of medicine is based on the theory of external disease causing agents and discusses little about the internal body mechanisms that works against diseases. In Ayurveda, on the other hand, we finds the emergence of a trihumoral theory, which describe the imbalance of three humors in the body leading to diseases, and seeks to restore this balance. However Ayurveda acknowldges that one of the several causes for humoral imbalances are the external agents which is described extensively in Atharva Veda. Thus there is no doubt Ayur Veda is developed on top of the Atharva Vedic system of medicine.
Warfare
It seems, some of the practitioners of Atharva Vedic medicine also became experts in making poisons that were used in warfare. It was a practice to apply snake poisons and poisons derived from some plants on arrows which are then used in battles. Such arrows were often called Nagastras (snake arrows), or poisonous arrows. Such arrows occupied the collection of different types of arrows in the quiver of an accomplished archer.
Glimpses of Atharva Vedic Geography
From the preliminary analysis of the text, it is revealed that Atharva Veda was centered around the northern Saraswati region and later became the text of the shamans in the Kuru kingdom which got established to the east of Saraswati (in Hariyana). The Kuru city named Varanavati is mentioned in Atharva Veda. Most of its adherents belonged to the Brhigu line though it was originated when the Bhrigus and Angirasas were one family viz. the Atharvan family. Many verses describing about the curing of diseases end up in asking the disease causing germs to depart from the patient and infect people in the east (Magadhas, Angas) and in the west (Gandharis, Mujavans, Bahlikas). The Magadhas and Angas were found to be in Bihar in the east and the Gandharis (north-western Pakistan), Mujavans (Punjab and subsequently Afganistan) and Bahlikas (Punjab and subsequently Balkh, Afganistan) in the west. This clearly gives away the geography of the Atharva Veda (at least its middle and late period) as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Atharva Veda and Shamanism
Many of the hymns in Atharva Veda containing invocations to cure diseases or to ward of diseases and magical incantations to defend against evils done by enemies or to proactively attack evil-doers indicates a religion and philosophy which has its parallels in the Shamanic traditions in the whole world. Since Atharva Veda is the oldest text describing these practices and since it is still preserved without much modification, it is possible that Shamanic traditions worldwide have their origins in the Atharva Vedic religion. This could mean that the Shamaic traditions in Europe such as those in Ireland, Belgium etc could have its origins in the Atharva Vedic-homeland in Saraswati-Ganga basins. Similar traditions are also found in the southern India and in various pockets of central and eastern India.
This situation however can also be explained without a migration scenario. It is possible that the Shamanic traditions well preserved in Atharva Veda was one important part of the global Shamanic traditions that had already spread through out Asia, Africa and Europe during the early days of awakening of the human civilization.
Atharva Veda and Rig Veda
Comparing Atharva Veda and Rig Veda we find that the Rig Vedic religion was an advancement or a diversion from the Atharva Vedic religion and that its foundation was the Shamanic traditions described in Atharva Veda. Though initially part of the Atharva Vedic traditions, the Angirasa sages like the Bharadwajas and the Gautamas later focused more on Rig Veda and distanced themselves from Atharva Veda, while the Bhrigu sages continued their Atharva Vedic traditions. In a period of pre-history, when the Angirasas were dominant Vedic scholars, they positioned Atharva Veda as the fourth Veda, behind Rig Veda and its two associates viz the Yajur Veda and the Sama Veda.
Whether Gopala is right? And what does he mean by gouthama angirsa like combinations?
Common Surnames: Families with surnames like Joshi, Shahi, and Prajapati often trace their roots to the Angiras lineage.
Major Branches: The lineage has three distinct primary branches that remain prominent in Hindu society: Kevala-Angirasa, Gautama-Angirasa, and Bharadwaja-Angirasa.
Manabharatha said only as under but Gopala said erroneously
Mbh.12.296.18482 Originally only four Gotras races arose, O monarch, viz, Angiras, Kasyapa, Vasishtha, and Bhrigu.
Mbh.12.334.21394 Brahman, Sthanu, Manu, Daksha, Bhrigu, Dharma, Yama, Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasishtha, Parameshthi, Vivaswat, Shoma, he that has been called Karddama, Krodha, Avak, and Krita, these one and twenty persons, called Prajapatis, were first born.
Mbh.12.335.21478 The seven celebrated Rishis, viz, Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasishta of great energy, who came to be known by the name of Chitra-sikhandins, uniting together on the breast of that foremost of mountains, viz, Meru, promulgated an excellent treatise on duties and observances that was consistent with the four Vedas.
Mbh.12.335.21494 In complete accordance with the four Vedas, viz, the Yajushes, the Samans, and the Atharvans of Angiras, the treatise of yours will be an authority in all the worlds in respect of both Pravritti and Nivritti
Mbh.12.336.21515 SECTION CCCXXXVII Bhishma said, Then upon the expiration of the great Kalpa, when the celestial Purohita Vrihaspati was born in the race of Angiras, all the deities became very happy.
Mbh.12.340.22060 Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, the high-souled Vasishtha, and the Self-born Mann, these should be known as the eight Prakritis.
Mbh.12.340.22119 Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasishtha, these seven Rishis have been created by a fiat of the will.
Mbh.12.342.22408 On the occasion of churning the Ocean for raising the amrita, Vrihaspati of Angiras race sat on the shores of the Ocean for performing the rite of Puruscharana.
Mbh.13.14.1513 Sanatkumara, the Vedas, the Histories, Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, the seven Manus, Soma, the Atharvans, and Vrihaspati, Bhrigu, Daksha, Kasyapa, Vasishtha, Kasya, the Schandas, Diksha, the Sacrifices, Dakshina, the Sacrificial Fires, the Havis clarified butter poured in sacrifices, and all the requisites of the sacrifices, were beheld by me, O Yudhishthira, standing there in their embodied forms.
Mbh.13.25.3418 Bhishma said, O thou of great splendour, the following enumeration of the sacred waters on the Earth was made by Angiras.
Mbh.13.25.3420 Once on a time, Gautama of rigid vows, approaching the great and learned Rishi Angiras endued with tranquillity of soul, while he was dwelling in a forest, questioned him, saying, O illustrious one, I have some doubts regarding the merits attaching to sacred waters and shrines.
Mbh.13.25.3425 Angiras said, A person by bathing for seven days in succession in the Chandrabhaga or the Vitasta whose waters are always seen to dance in waves, observing a fast the while, is sure to become cleansed of all his sins and endued with the merit of an ascetic
Mbh.13.25.3499 Angiras possessed of great ascetic merit, had imparted this discourse to Gautama.
Mbh.13.25.3500 Angiras himself had obtained it from Kasyapa of great intelligence.
Mbh.13.25.3504 One who listens to this discourse recited in his hearing, this discourse, viz, of Angiras, that is regarded as a mystery, is sure to attain in one's next life to be born in a good family and, what is more, one would become endued with the memory of one's previous existence Mbh.13.26.3510 There were also Angiras and Gotama and Agastya and Sumati of well-restrained soul, and Viswamitra and Sthulasiras and Samvarta and Pramati and Dama.
Mbh.13.34.4114 The son of Angiras conquered the Nipas.
Mbh.13.62.6078 Bhishma continued, Hearing these words from the son of Angiras, Vasava made a gift unto him of the whole earth with all her jewels and gems and all her wealth of diverse kinds.
Mbh.13.85.7786 A second came from the burning charcoals called Angara and hence he came to be called by the name of Angiras.
Mbh.13.85.7791 It has been already said that from the burning charcoals sprang Angiras.
Mbh.13.85.7829 The Grandsire then intended that Angiras should become the son of Agni.
Mbh.13.85.7832 Endued with every prosperity, Angiras came to be called the offspring of Agni, and the celebrated Kavi came to be known as the child of Brahman himself.
Mbh.13.85.7833 Bhrigu and Angiras who had sprung from the flame and the charcoals of Agni respectively, became the procreators of extensive races and tribes in the world.
Mbh.13.85.7834 Verily, these three, viz, Bhrigu and Angiras and Kavi, regarded as Prajapati, are the progenitors of many races and tribes.
K RAJARAM IRS 10326
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