(Atharva Veda)
Atharva Veda has various popular names Brahma Veda, Angiro Veda, Artharvangiro Veda, Bhaishajya Veda. Kalidasa has praised sage Vashistha as ‘Atharva Nidhi’ (the treasure Chest of Atharva Knowledge). As a result of his earning such high renown, Vashistha was installed as Rajaguru (Royal Preceptor) and could claim mastery over all the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva) and the authority to supervise ritual sacrifices and perform scriptural rites and ceremonies. The mantras in Atharva Veda are celebrated as Siddha Mantras, that is to say, Mantras that guarantee the promised effects. The presiding deity of the Gayatri Mantra, known as Gayatri Devi, is adored as having the Rig, Yajur, Sama Veda as feet, the Mimamsa Shastra (Science of Interpretation and Inquiry) as the passive; steady aspect and the Atharva Veda as Activity.
The Atharva Veda is a huge tree, of which the Rg, Yajur and Sama Vedas are the trunk and branches and the Smritis and Puranas, the leaves. One Sun (Aditya) is worshipped in the Yajur Veda as Yajuh, in the Sama Veda a Sama, in the Rg Veda as Urdhva and in the Atharva Veda as Yaathu.
Atharva means, a steady, unmoved person, one who is of stable nature. Atharva is also widely identified the Veda as Prana-atma (the super consciousness that activities the vital airs) and Prajapati (the ruler of all beings born). As the former, it is also denoted as Prana-Pati. This Prajapati is credited with the achievement of first churning sparks of the fire and making fire manifest. Of the Vedas, each of the three is at some time or the other recognised as the first but, so far as the last is concerned, the Atharva is always uttered as such. (LKV, pp. 24-26)
The Rishis (sages) Atharva and Agniras who visualised the mantras of this Veda have recognised this twin nature of both God and Creation. They appear mild and terrible in accordance with the credentials of the experience. But, in total effect and in a deeper sense, these mantras are intended to reveal the Atma and promote the peace and prosperity in humanity. (LKV, p. 27)
The fourth is the Atharvan or Atharva Veda. Many have described it in many diverse ways. Some have even denied it the status of a Veda. Others say that it is made up of what remained after the collation of the rest. In the other Vedas, the might and mystery of the Gods are described. But in this Veda, the possibility of man acquiring certain powers and mysteries by his own effort and exercises are mentioned. This is its specialty. Hatha Yoga, Tiraskaarani Vidya, Ashta Yoga—these are made available for man only in this Veda. Of course, by winning the Grace of God, man can acquire even skills that are otherwise impossible of attainment. (SSVahini, p. 91)
Atharva Veda has been called by other names like Kshatra Veda, Brahma Veda, Angarva Veda and so on. The Atharva Veda which has these alternative names has acquired and incorporated into itself some changes which are important. According to tradition, for Gayatri Parameswari, there are three feet namely Yajur, Rig and Sama Vedas. Mimamsa stood as her body and Atharva stood as the head of Gayatri Parameswari. Thus, while Atharva Veda had acquired such a prominent place over time, we are still giving prominence only to the other three Vedas. Amongst all the Vedas the Adharva Veda has the distinction of the oldest and most important. The Atharva Veda has also been telling us that one aspect of Parabrahman is not simply the words in the Veda but Veda itself. It was proclaiming the aspect of the world and in addition to this it has been giving us mantras which are directly responsible for creation, maintenance and dissolution. In Atharva Veda these aspects are represented by two words ‘Ghora’ and ‘Aghora’. (SSB 1974, p. 101)
For all the mantras in the Vedas, there is a beginning and an end. The sound that is uttered in the beginning and in the end is called Pranava. That this Pranava is the same as Adharva has been said in the Adharva Veda. (SSB 1974, p. 99)
Bharatiyas in ancient times lived a life of morality and integrity and enjoyed peace and happiness. Students today, disregarding morality and their obligations to society, go astray and ruin their lives. Bharatiyas have forgotten the essentials of culture, based on morality and integrity. They cast away their great scriptural texts as trash. Western nations took these, learnt the profound truths contained in them and developed their technical and military skills and sought to give them back to Bharatiyas. The weapons developed in Germany were based on the texts of the Atharvana Veda. (SSS Vol.27, p. 56)