A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s4.9

v1.c8.s4.9

² Aitareya-Āraṇyaka, III, 2, 3, 6. Śatapatha-Brāhmaṇa XI, 5, 8, 7. Only at a later period was the Brahman brought into relationship with the *Atharvaveda*, so that the Atharvaveda was sometimes actually called "Brahmaveda" or "the Veda of the Brahman" and the adherents of the Atharvaveda declared that the Brahman must be a knower of the Atharvaveda-Saṃhitā. In reality the office of the Brahman at the Śrauta-sacrifice has nothing to do with the Atharvaveda. However, we can understand that the two were connected with each other. For, if the Brahman, as remarked above, officiated as the only priest at Gṛhya-sacrifices, he certainly had to be familiar with the benedictions which occur, for the most part, in the Atharvaveda.