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Vedic Mythology c6.s2: § 52. Atharvan

Vedic Mythology c6.s2

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§ 52. Atharvan

c6.s2.1

The name of Atharvan occurs fourteen times in the RV., thrice in the plural, and is also several times found in the AV. Atharvan generally appears in the character of an ancient priest. He rubbed Agni forth (6, 16¹³) and priests rub Agni as Atharvan did (6, 15¹⁷). Agni produced by Atharvan became the messenger of Vivasvat (10, 21⁵). Atharvan first established (order) by sacrifices, while the Bhṛgus showed themselves gods by their skill (10, 92¹⁰). By sacrifices Atharvan first extended the paths; then the sun was produced (1, 83⁵). Atharvan along with Father Manu and Dadhyañc practised devotion (1, 80¹⁶). Indra is the helper of Atharvan as well as of Trita, Dadhyañc and Mātariśvan (10, 48²). The goblin-destroying Agni is invoked to burn down the fool with divine flame like Atharvan (10, 87¹²). The AV. adds some further traits. Atharvan brought a cup of Soma to Indra (AV. 18, 3⁵⁴). A miraculous cow was given to him by Varuṇa (AV. 5, 11; 7, 104). Atharvan is a companion of the gods, is related to them, and dwells in heaven (AV. 4, 1⁷, &c.). In the SB. Atharvan is spoken of as an ancient teacher (14, 5, 5²². 7, 3²⁸).

c6.s2.2

In the plural the Atharvans are enumerated as Fathers along with the Aṅgirases, Navagvas, and Bhṛgus (10, 14⁶). They dwell in heaven and are called gods (AV. 11, 6¹³). They destroy goblins with a magical herb (AV. 4, 37⁷).

c6.s2.3

In a few passages of the RV. the word *atharvan* appears to have the appellative meaning of 'priest'. Thus it is an attribute of Bṛhaddiva, the composer of a hymn (10, 120⁹ cp. ⁸). In this sense it seems to be an epithet of Agni, when a seer is described as pouring the libation on the Atharvan (8, 9⁷). The word also means priest when it is said that the Atharvans mix Soma (9, 4²) or that they receive a hundred cows from a patron (6, 47²⁴). That this is the original sense is borne out by the fact that the cognate Avestan word *āthravan* signifies 'fire-priest', which is also the etymological sense; for *ātar* (for *āthar*), fire, is the same as the Vedic *athar-*¹, which also occurs in *athar-yú*, flaming (said of Agni, 7, 1¹). This old name must then have been mythologically applied to designate an ancient priestly race of a semi-divine character, generally represented in the singular by their chief.

c6.s2.4

¹ BRUGMANN, Grundriss 2, 360; cp. BLOOMFIELD, SBE. 42, XXIII, n. 2; BARTHOLOMAE, IF. 5, 221, rejects the connexion of *ātar* with *atharvan*. — Cp. also LASSEN, Indische Alterthumskunde 1, 523; KHF. 10; IS. 1, 289 ff.; OST. 1, 160; BRV. 1, 49; HRI. 160, n. 1.

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