Kavi And Kavya in the Atharvaveda (An Old and Rare Book)

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Some years ago, I had an opportunity to study the Bargvahgiras element in the Mahabharata, under the inspiring guidance of the Late Professor H. D. Velankar. That work led me to the study of the Atharvaveda, the Veda of the Bhrgvahgirases. I brought out two books on the Atharvaveda, namely, The Foundations of the Atharvanic Religion and Religion and Philosophy of the Atharvaveda, Since then, I had planned to study the literary aspect of the Atharvaveda. The present monograph represents the result of my work in that direction.

I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Dr.R.N. Dandekar, Director of the Centre of Advanced Study in Sanskrit, for the valuable suggestions which he made from time to time and the keen interest which he took in the progress of my work.

The Atharvaveda is the earliest document of the yatuvidya of the Aryans. The AV is also the Kavya of the Kavis, such as Atharvan, Angiras, Bhrgu and others. Of these poets, Atharvan is a friend and relation of Varuna, the great Asura (5.11.1). It may be that Varuna inspired the Kavi, Atharvan.

The AV is similar to the RV in many respects. The period of the composition of the earliest hymns of the AV is as old as that of the RV. There is a good deal of the contents that is common between the AV and the RV. The language and metre are essentially the same as those in the RV. Thus the AV and the RV are the two aspects of one and the same Aryan life, religion and culture.

So poetically also they may be similar; but it has been pointed out that the songs of magic are certainly popular and ancient and that their popular character was almost lost as they were thoroughly brahmanised. It is suggested here that the poets of the AV, who were the Brahmanas, reproduced the old charms in a second-hand poetry for their own purpose.

There is no doubt that the poets of the AV are the Reis (Brahmanas) like those of the RV; but excepting in some hymns such as 15.17-19; 12.4-5, there does not appear to be any attempt at wholesale brahmanisation. Even in these hymns there is a particular reason for such treatment of these hymns (5.19.1-2). In fact, the AV has an appeal for all-Arya or Dasa, Brahmana or Sudra, king or subject, man or woman.

Thus it is worthwhile to examine the main characteristics of the Kavi and Kavya in the AV.

The Atbarvanic Kavis are dominating, egoistic, and extremely confident about their own ability. By the flash of their refulgent medha, which may be called prajna or pratibha, they dive deep into the mysteries of the various forces in the universe. To win them over, they praise them. Thus various myths come into existence.