DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0020
8 Vedism.
These Mantras or hymns were arranged in three principal
collections or continuous texts (Samhitds). The first and
earliest was called the Hymn-veda (Rig-veda). It was a
collection of 1017 hymns, arranged for mere reading or re-
citing. This was the first bible of the Hindu religion, and
the special bible of Vedism. We might imagine it possible
to have collected the most ancient hymns and psalms of our
own Sacred Scriptures in the same manner.
The second, or Sacrificial veda (Yajtir), belongs to a later
phase of the Hindu system. It was a liturgical arrangement
of part of the same collection of hymns, with additions1 for
intoning in a peculiar low tone at sacrificial ceremonies. Be
it noted, however, that some of the hymns of the Rig-veda
(for example, the horse-sacrifice hymn, I. 162) presuppose a
ritual already definite and systematized.
The third, or Chant-veda (Sdma), was another liturgical
arrangement of some of the same hymns for chanting at par-
ticular sacrifices in which the juice of the Soma plant was the
principal offering.
A fourth collection—which might suitably be called the
Spell-veda—was added at a later period. It was a collection
of hymns—some of them similar to those of the Rig-veda, but
the greater part original—by a particular class of priests called
Atharvans*. Many of the texts and formularies of this
Atharva-veda were ultimately used as charms and spells, and
are still so used in various parts of India.
By some of the earliest hymn-composers the gods continued
to be regarded as one family—children of the old pre-Vedic
heavenly father (Dyu or Dyaus), while Earth (Prithivl) was
fabled as a divine mother. To other sacred poets the pre-
1 Certain passages in prose were added, which were especially called
Yajus.
2 This was a generic name for a class of priests, descended from a man
named Atharvan, who appears to have been the first to institute the
worship of fire, before the Indians and Iranians separated. It is certain
that particular priests both in India and Persia were called Atharvans.
These Mantras or hymns were arranged in three principal
collections or continuous texts (Samhitds). The first and
earliest was called the Hymn-veda (Rig-veda). It was a
collection of 1017 hymns, arranged for mere reading or re-
citing. This was the first bible of the Hindu religion, and
the special bible of Vedism. We might imagine it possible
to have collected the most ancient hymns and psalms of our
own Sacred Scriptures in the same manner.
The second, or Sacrificial veda (Yajtir), belongs to a later
phase of the Hindu system. It was a liturgical arrangement
of part of the same collection of hymns, with additions1 for
intoning in a peculiar low tone at sacrificial ceremonies. Be
it noted, however, that some of the hymns of the Rig-veda
(for example, the horse-sacrifice hymn, I. 162) presuppose a
ritual already definite and systematized.
The third, or Chant-veda (Sdma), was another liturgical
arrangement of some of the same hymns for chanting at par-
ticular sacrifices in which the juice of the Soma plant was the
principal offering.
A fourth collection—which might suitably be called the
Spell-veda—was added at a later period. It was a collection
of hymns—some of them similar to those of the Rig-veda, but
the greater part original—by a particular class of priests called
Atharvans*. Many of the texts and formularies of this
Atharva-veda were ultimately used as charms and spells, and
are still so used in various parts of India.
By some of the earliest hymn-composers the gods continued
to be regarded as one family—children of the old pre-Vedic
heavenly father (Dyu or Dyaus), while Earth (Prithivl) was
fabled as a divine mother. To other sacred poets the pre-
1 Certain passages in prose were added, which were especially called
Yajus.
2 This was a generic name for a class of priests, descended from a man
named Atharvan, who appears to have been the first to institute the
worship of fire, before the Indians and Iranians separated. It is certain
that particular priests both in India and Persia were called Atharvans.