Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita
by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words
This page relates ‘Goddess Shraddha’ of the study on women in the Vedic society reflecting the Atharva-veda Samhita in English. These pages discusses the social aspects of women, education, customs of marriage, practices of polyandry and polygamy, descriptions of female deities and various rites and rituals. It is shown how women earned much praise in ancient Indian society. Included are Sanskrit text and references of the Atharvaveda and commentary by Sayana-Acharya.
23. Goddess Śraddhā
Like Ākuti and Medhā, Śraddhā is also a deity, representing certain state of mind. Sāyaṇācārya[1] has understood Śraddhā as āstikyabuddhiḥ, i.e. positive state of mind. Whitney[2] has translated Śraddhā as faith. It is the fact that faith is too much important for the fruitful commencement of any performance or for the acquisition of any knowledge. In the Vājasaneyīsaṃhitā,[3] it is stated that unless Śraddhā has been first acquired, no one can grasp the knowledge of the truth. In the Śatapathabrāhmaṇa,[4] Śraddhā has been coupled up with satya and is likened with the couple of Agni and ājya. The Atharvaveda[5] has advised a sacrificer and his wife to perform Agnihotra and other daily rites with Śraddhā. In the Ṛgveda[6] also, it is stated that it is Śraddhā by means of which Agni is kindled and oblations are offered. Again, once in the Atharvaveda,[7] approaching Agni with sacrificial fuel, the seer implores Jātavedas to extend him both Śraddhā and Medhā.
Skambha, the Almighty Being as presented in the Atharvaveda, is spoken of as possessing Śraddhā, along with tapas, ṛta, vrata and satya in himself.[8] The question that by whom Śraddhā and Yajña are put in one’s mind is raised in the Atharvaveda[9] and is answered that that is the Brahman.[10] Śraddhā also belongs to the almighty Ucchiṣṭa.[11] Śraddhā enters into one when he is born.[12] About Śraddhā, it is said that she along with Prajāpati, the father, the grandfather, water and Parameṣṭhī, the most exalted one formed rain[13] and who knows thus, is obtained by Śraddhā.[14]
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Vide, Whitney, W. D. (ed. & trans.), Op.cit., Vols. I & II, pp.229, 381, 536, 574, 586, 589, 591, 702, etc.
[3]:
Vājasaneyī-saṃhitā, 19.30
[4]:
Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa, 11.3.1.1
[5]:
Sāyaṇa on Atharvaveda, 6.122.3
[6]:
Ṛgveda, 11.151.1
[8]:
[10]:
Ibid., 10.2.21
[11]:
Ibid., 11.7.9
[13]:
[14]:
Ibid., 15.7.3-5