Yajurveda

Yajurveda (Sanskrit: यजुर्वेदः yajurveda, a tatpurusha compound of yajus "sacrificial formula" and veda "knowledge") is one of the four canonical texts of Hinduism, the Vedas. By some, it is estimated to have been composed between c. 1400–1000 BCE, the Yajurveda 'Samhita', or 'compilation', contains the liturgy (mantras) needed to perform the sacrifices of the Veda, and the added Brahmana and Shrautasutra add information on the interpretation and on the details of their performance. Quotes The four and thirty ribs of the strong steed, Kin of the gods, the axe meeteth; Skilfully do ye make the joints faultless; Declaring each part, do ye cut it asunder. Taittiriya Sanhita (c. 4th–5th century BCE), IV, 6, 9g, as translated by A. B. Keith, The Veda of the Black Yajus School, Part II (1914), p. 379 The birthplace of the horse, indeed, is the sea, its kindred is the sea. The Yajur Veda, Kanda VII, vii. 5. 25. From the Yajurveda, as translated by A. B. Keith, The Veda of the Black Yajus School, Part II (1914), p. 637 Om, you for vigor, you for energy, you are breaths, may the God Savitar propel you to the most glorious action (SYV I.1). May you purify my speech. May you purify my breath. May you purify my eye. May you purify my ear ... May your mind be abundant. May your speech be abundant. May your breath be abundant (SYV Ill. 14-5). May your mind unite with the mind, your breath with the breath ... May the ruling Prana be placed in all your faculties. May the ruling Udana (upward moving breath) be placed in all your faculties (SYV III.18-9). The Vajasaneyi Samhita also has miscellaneous historically significant references. Some sort of barter is implied by VS. Book III which is addressed to Indra: ìTo me present thy merchandize, and I to thee will give my wares ... O Satakratu, let us twain barter, like goods, our food and strength.î Book X (VS) prays for the bestowal of kingship to Varuna and Mitra, and XI (VS) prefers to put the burglars, thieves and robbers and criminals in the mouth of Agni or fire. Remarkably charming is the following description of the ploughing operation (Book XII, VS): Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, happily go the ploughers with the oxen! / ... The keen-shared plough that bringeth bliss, good for the Soma-drinkerís need/ Shear out for me a cow, a sheep, a rapid drawer of the car, a blooming woman, plump and strong. Book XXIX (VS) has an evocative and graphic allusion to battles (also TS IV.6.6): ... She whispers like a womanóthis bow-string that preserves us in the combat/... slung on the back, pouring his brood, the quiver vanishes all opposing ... armies. Upstanding in the car the skilful charioteer guides his strong horses on whithersoíer he will. See and admire the strength of those controlling rains ... horses whose hoofs rain dust are neighing loudly, yoked to the chariots, showing forth their vigour. With their forefeet descending on the foemen, they, never flinching, trample and destroy them. quoted in India of the Vedic Texts by Dilip K Chakrabarti About About this time I also received a copy of the Yajur Veda from India, which I found, to my surprise since even Aurobindo hadn’t talked of it, to be as inspiring as the Rig Veda. The power of the mantras continued to unfold and new Vedic vistas arose. David Frawley, How I Became A Hindu - My Discovery Of Vedic Dharma , 2000 External links Category:Hindu texts Category:Poetry