Atharva Veda - The Fourth Division of Vedic Knowledge
In the pursuit of absolute truth, the Vedic literatures stand as the ultimate authority for human society. Among these vast records of transcendental science, the Atharva Veda holds a highly significant position. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the divine origins of this scripture, its historical division by the great sage Vyāsadeva, and its ultimate philosophical conclusion, which points directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
The Divine Emanation of the Vedas
The scriptures of the Vedic tradition are not the products of mundane human research; they are the supreme laws given by God Himself. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Atharva Veda, along with the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas, manifested directly from the breathing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the pristine age of Satya-yuga, the Atharva Veda served as the singular, undivided root of all transcendental knowledge.
- The four Vedas - namely the Rg-veda, Yajur-veda, Sama-veda and Atharva-veda - are all emanations from the breathing of the great Personality of Godhead.
- According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, it is mentioned in the Madhyandina-sruti that all the Vedas, namely the Sama, Atharva, Rg, Yajur, Puranas, Itihasas, Upanisads, etc., are emanations from the breathing of the Supreme Being.
- We understand that with the breathing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead there issued forth the four Vedas, namely the Rg Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda, and also the histories like the Mahabharata and all the Puranas.
- In the Satya-yuga, the first millennium, all the Vedic mantras were included in one mantra-pranava, the root of all Vedic mantras. In other words, the Atharva Veda alone was the source of all Vedic knowledge.
The Division by Srila Vyāsadeva
As the cycle of ages progressed toward Kali-yuga, the lifespan, memory, and intelligence of human beings severely deteriorated. Recognizing this tragic decline, Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the monumental contribution of Śrīla Vyāsadeva. For the facility of human society, Vyāsadeva divided the original, unified Veda into four manageable sections and entrusted the Atharva Veda to his highly qualified disciple, Sumantu.
- As one of the authorities on the Vedas, he (Vyasadeva) divided the original Veda, for convenience, into four divisions - Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva.
- In Satya-yuga there was only one Veda, not four. Later, before the beginning of Kali-yuga, this one Veda, the Atharva Veda (or, some say, the Yajur Veda), was divided into four - Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva - for the facility of human society.
- Vyasadeva taught the Rg Veda, to Paila. To the sage Vaisampayana he spoke the collection of Yajur mantras. He taught the Sama Veda mantras, designated as the Chandoga-samhita, to Jaimini, and he spoke the Atharva Veda to his dear disciple Sumantu.
- The Sumantu Muni Angira, who was very devotedly engaged, was entrusted with the Atharva Veda. And my (Suta Gosvami's) father, Romaharsana, was entrusted with the Puranas and historical record.
Establishing the Supreme Personality of Godhead
The central aim of all Vedic literature is to guide the conditioned soul toward the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently quotes portions of the Atharva Veda to establish that Lord Nārāyaṇa, or Kṛṣṇa, is the absolute source of everything. The text clearly confirms that Kṛṣṇa existed before the demigods like Brahmā and Śiva, and it even specifies His intimate forms, such as Devakī-nandana.
- The Atharva Veda (Maha Upanisad 1) also states, "Only Narayana existed in the beginning, when neither Brahma, nor Siva, nor fire, nor water, nor stars, nor sun, nor moon existed. The Lord does not remain alone but creates as He desires."
- In the Atharva Veda (Gopala-tapani Upanisad 1.24) it is similarly said, "He who existed before the creation of Brahma and who enlightened Brahma with Vedic knowledge is Lord Sri Krsna."
- Devaki-nandana is also mentioned in the Atharva Veda. Krsna comes as Devaki-nandana, and His father is Nanda-gopa, Nanda Maharaja. Krsna likes to be related with His devotees who act as father and mother.
- The material nature works so nicely, and not blindly, because of the superintendence of the supreme powerful God. In the Vedic hymns (Atharva Veda) the same thing is confirmed.
The Perfection of Vedic Study
While the Atharva Veda is incredibly vast and complex, its ultimate goal is very simple. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches us that mastering the intricacies of the four Vedas is impossible in the modern age. However, because the entire objective of the Vedas is to know Kṛṣṇa, anyone who purely chants the holy names of the Lord automatically bypasses the academic study and attains the ultimate perfection of Vedic knowledge.
- Not only Vedanta-sutra, but also all the Vedas. Sama, Yajur, Atharva, Rk, the ultimate objective is Krsna, to know Krsna.
- Because in all the hymns of the four Vedas, Sama, Yajur, Rg and Atharva, the pranava or omkara is very prominent, it is understood to be Krsna.
- A person who chants the two syllables ha-ri has already studied the four Vedas - Sama, Rg, Yajur and Atharva.
- One who chants the two syllables Ha-ri must be considered to have studied all the Vedas: the Rg Veda, Atharva Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Atharva Veda represents an essential pillar of the supreme, infallible knowledge that emanated from the breathing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully illustrates that while Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided these texts to aid human society, the academic study of such vast literature is ultimately meant to direct the soul toward devotion. By simply understanding Kṛṣṇa's supremacy as outlined in the Atharva Veda and chanting His holy names, any sincere practitioner instantly reaps the full benefit and perfection of all Vedic study.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Atharva Veda. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.