File:Atharvaveda Hymns of Charms.PNG

Atharvaveda Hymns of Charm
The Atharva Veda was mainly composed by two groups of rishis known as the Atharvanas and the Angirasa. Additionally, tradition ascribes parts to other rishis, such as Kausika, Vasishta and Kasyapa.Two main post-Samhita texts associated with the Atharva Veda are the Vaitāna Sūtra and theKauśika Sūtra. The Vaitanasutra deals with the participation of the Atharva Veda priest (brahmán) in the Shrauta ritual while the Kauśikasūtra contains many applications of Atharvaveda mantras in healing and magic. This serves the same purpose as the vidhāna of the Rig Veda and is of great value in studying the application of the Atharva Veda text in Vedic times. Several Upanishads also are associated with the Atharva Veda, but appear to be relatively late additions to the tradition. The most important of these are the mundaka and the prasna Upanishads. The former contains an important reference to Saunaka, the founder of the Shaunakiya shakha, while the latter is associated with the Paippalāda shakha.The Atharvaveda is considered by many to be as dark and secret knowledge, pertaining to the spirits and the afterlife...Sivkishen Ji