Yajurveda
Also called: Yajur Veda · Topic: The Vedic Age · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 7 "India's Cultural Roots"; Class 9, Ch 5 "State and Society up to 1000 CE"
Meaning
The Yajurveda is the Veda of sacrificial formulas. It explains how yajñas (sacrifices) are to be performed. It covers the ritual actions linked to the hymns of the Ṛigveda. Unlike the other Vedas, it includes prose explanations alongside its verses. It has two main branches: the Shukla (White) and the Krishna (Black) Yajurveda. It shows how rituals grew more complex during the later Vedic period.
Example
The Yajurveda contains a coronation oath for a new king. In it, the king promises to judge the strong and the weak impartially and fairly. He also promises to protect the country from all calamities and to do good to the people. This shows that the Vedic king's power came with duties.
Don't confuse with
- Ṛigveda: mainly hymns of praise to the gods. The Yajurveda deals with how those hymns are used in the actual performance of rituals.
Related concepts
- Vedas
- Rigveda
- Rig Veda family books
- Samaveda
- Atharvaveda
- Brahmana texts
- Aranyakas
- Upavedas
- Vedangas
- Kalpa sutras