The four Vedas consists of Rig, Yajur. Sama and Atharvan. Yajut Veda has two branches the Black and the White. This book presents the White Yajurveda of Yajnavalkya translated by the celebrated Sanskrit Professor RALPH T. H. GRIFFITH in 1899. Professor M.M.Ninan presents this Veda with introduction, commentary and necessary helps collected from various sources to give it a meaning and presents it in its historical perspective.
There are two primary versions or Samhitas of the Yajurveda: Shukla (white) and Krishna (black). Both contain the verses necessary for rituals, but the Krishna Yajurveda includes the Brahmana prose discussions mixed within the Samhita, while the Shukla Yajurveda has separately a Brahmana text, the Shatapatha Brahmana. Shukla Yajurveda The Shukla Yajurveda is represented by the Vajasaneyi Samhita. The name Vajasaneyi is derived from Vajasaneya, patronymic of sage Yajnavalkya, an authority and according to tradition, founder of the Vajasaneyi branch. The Vajasaneyi Samhita has forty chapters or adhyayas, containing the formulas used with the following rituals: 1.-2.: New and Full Moon sacrifices 3.: Agnihotra 4.-8.: Somayajna 9.-10.: Vajapeya and Rajasuya, two modifications of the Soma sacrifice 11.-18.: construction of altars and hearths, especially the Agnicayana 19.-21.: Sautramani, a ritual originally counteracting the effects of excessive Soma-drinking 22.-25.: Ashvamedha 26.-29.: supplementary formulas for various rituals 30.-31.: Purushamedha 32.-34.: Sarvamedha 35.: Pitriyajna 36.-39.: Pravargya 40.: the final adhyaya is the famous Isha Upanishad -wikipedia
Krishna Yajurveda There are two primary versions or Samhitas of the Yajurveda Shukla white and Krishna black. Both contain the verses necessary for rituals but the Krishna Yajurveda includes the Brahmana prose discussions mixed within the Samhita, while the Shukla Yajurveda has separately a Brahmana text, the Shatapatha Brahmana.
The echoes of ancient Indian wisdom can be heard from the oldest of scriptures that existed many years ago. Even thousands of years before they were written down on palm leaves, the teachings were passed on from generations to generations, from the teachers to the disciples in their oral form. These works are amongst the oldest of humanity. They laid the foundation of one of the most tolerant and diverse religions in the world, the Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism, which is marked by a wide range of ethos and philosophical approaches. Covering the vastness and immensity of the ancient Indian scriptures is akin to capturing a gigantic ocean in a small pitcher. Thus, in this book, the author has tried to catch a few 'echoes' resonating with age-old wisdom and has presented them to the readers. the book unravels the knowledge hidden inside the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads of the Shruti that form the Vedas, and in the Smriti like Agamas, Dharma Shastras and so on. In short, it provides a glimpse, or rather a macro view of the ancient treasure of India.
