atharva-veda
Proper noun A collection of mantras and formulas, being one of the four Vedas, the oldest sacred scriptures of Hinduism. It is distinct from the other three Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda) as it contains spells, incantations, charms, and hymns for domestic rituals, healing, and daily life, rather than being focused primarily on sacrificial liturgy.
The term is used as a proper noun to refer specifically to this canonical Hindu text. * Scholars study the Atharva-Veda to understand early Vedic concepts of medicine and magic. * The Atharva-Veda is sometimes called the "Veda of magical formulas."
- The is traditionally attributed to the legendary sage Atharvan, from whom it derives its name.
- In academic contexts, it is often discussed in contrast to the other three Vedas due to its more pragmatic and folkloric content.
- Atharvaveda: An alternative spelling without the hyphen.
- Atharvan (noun): The name of the mythical sage associated with the Veda.
- Veda (noun): The overarching term for the four canonical collections of sacred Hindu texts.
- The Fourth Veda
As a proper noun referring to a specific text, Atharva-Veda does not have multiple meanings in the same way a common noun would. Its meaning is fixed as the name of the fourth Veda.
- a collection of mantras and formulas