Atharvan

Atharvan is a figure in Vedic literature traditionally associated with the Atharva-Veda, one of the four Vedas. In many accounts, Atharvan is the seer or founder linked to the creation or transmission of the hymns and rites of this text. The term is also used to denote a class of priests or ritual practitioners connected with the Atharva tradition, often contrasted with other Vedic priestly orders.

In Hindu tradition, the Atharva-Veda is said to have been revealed to the sage Atharvan, sometimes together with Angiras, and, in other versions, to Atharvan alone. The text contains hymns, charms, spells, and rituals aimed at daily life, including healing, protection, exorcism, and domestic rites. Unlike the more liturgical collections of the Rigveda, Sama, and Yajurveda, the Atharva-Veda is noted for its practical and sometimes magical content, reflecting folk beliefs and popular practices of the Vedic milieu.

Dating and composition are matters of scholarly debate. The Atharva-Veda likely accumulated over a long period, with material spanning from the early to late Vedic era. Most scholars place its final form somewhere in the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age, though the exact timeline remains uncertain. The text preserves a variety of meters and an array of ritual and magical material that sheds light on the religious and social concerns of ancient Indian communities.

Today, the Atharva-Veda and the figure of Atharvan are studied for their linguistic, ritualistic, and cultural significance. In practice, the term also designates the tradition of household rites and magical incantations associated with this Veda.