02

The beauty and importance of the Fourth of the Vedas, i.e., the Atharvaveda, which is composed of five thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven (or more) Mantras in seven hundred and thirty-one Suktas of twenty Kandas (episodes), is in many forms. The Atharvaveda is known as the ‘Chhandaveda’. Chhanda means joy; in this way, the Atharvaveda paves the way to blissful knowledge and study. Due to the appearance of unique and most worthy dialogues related to Brahman (Paramatma), in the Mantras of the Atharvaveda, it is also called the ‘Brahmanveda’. Since Angiras or Angira is the Chief Rishi (the Sage) of the Atharvaveda, it is, therefore, called as the ‘Atharvaangirasaveda’ also.

Evidence regarding Bacteriology is available in the Atharvaveda. In this, information about human anatomy, medical treatment and medicines is obtained. The Atharvaveda is the basic source of the Ayurveda. It is due to the origin of the Ayurveda from the Atharvaveda that it is called as the ‘Bhaishajyaveda’ or the ‘Bhishagveda’.

Knowledge about the Supreme (Brahman) is, as mentioned already, a superior aspect of the Atharvaveda. With this, ‘Ananda’ (Bliss), the final state of which is the ‘Parmananda’ (the Highest Bliss), the form of Paramatma (God) Himself, is a main subject of study and knowledge in the Atharvaveda.

In short, the Atharvaveda holds a distinct place among the Vedas. The knowledge revealed through the welfaristic Mantras of the Atharvaveda is very important, relevant and timeless for achieving the goal of human life, along with being proven to be the pathway to the smooth continuity of life and its prosperity in the cosmic world (Jagat), especially on the basis of appropriate and orderly equilibrium desirable fortification and practical commitment to the principle of peaceful coexistence. 

II

The First Sukta of the Twelfth Kanda of the Atharvaveda is dedicated to ‘Mother Earth’. That is why this Sukta is also called the ‘Bhumisukta’ or the ‘Prithvisukta’. The Sixty-Three Mantras of this Sukta are the truth-based guidelines for the well-being of one and all, movable-immovable and visible-invisible in the entire world –Jagat, for the concerns in this regard and also their solutions while determining human duties thereof.

Through these Mantras of the Atharvaveda, the planet Earth has been declared as a God-gifted place, favourable and prosperous in all manners (Mantra: 1). ‘Mother Earth’ has been acknowledged as a ‘Tapobhumi’ (a holy place of worship) where sages, scholars, Rishis and Maharshis reach the state of the Satya, truth, followed by Paramasatya (the absolute truth) on the strength of their penances. Further, through them an unprecedented call appears clearly fixing inevitable human responsibilities towards ‘Prithivi Mata’ itself that is replete with sustentive forms of cosmic abundance including hills and lands, and seas and rivers for the survival and continuity of life on it, prosperity and all-round development of human beings at all levels in all walks. Along with this, there is an unprecedented urge for the conservation of Nature and environmental equilibrium as the both essentially play the pivotal role in survival and continuity of life on the planet Earth.

Nature is life giver. It provides a protective cover to life. Nature, with its elements including vegetation, water etc. preserves life. In its pure form, Nature ensures sustenance of life. It also makes a decisive contribution to the cleanliness and adaptability of the environment, which has a direct role in the continuity of life. Breathing, which is essential for the existence of life, is a subject related to the environment. The importance of this subject for life does not require any special analysis. We all are aware of its all-time importance, relevance, necessity and inevitability. But, even then, I can say with certainty, it is a matter of clean and favourable climate and environment on which the existence of life and the secret of health depend. Therefore, thousands of years ago, the ‘Prithvisukta’ of the Atharvaveda was devoted to nature-preservation, environmental-equilibrium, clean-pure, prosperous and healthy climate for the purpose of greater welfare of living beings on the planet Earth. The importance of the Mantras of this Sukta is timeless; from the existence and continuity of life on the planet Earth viewpoint, their relevance, therefore, remains intact.

III

May Mother Earth take proper care of one and all in the world ensuring nature-conservation, environmental-equilibrium and friendly climate; may Mother Earth, through its various elements become the basis of continuous all-round development of human society, generally it is the spirit of the ‘Prithvisukta’ of the Atharvaveda. For this, prayers have been offered to Parameshwara, the symbol of Indivisible Totality. Along with this, through the ‘Prithvisukta’ a call has been given to individual and collective conscientiousness of every person, man and woman, in this regard. In this context, a burning human longing manifesting in the Eleventh Mantra of the Prithvisukta’ is especially worth mentioning here:

“Girayaste Parvataa Himavanto Aranyam Te Prithivi Syonamastu/

Babhrum Krishnaam Rohiniim Vishwaruupaam Dhruvaam Bhuumim Prithiviimindraguptaam/

Ajiito Ahato Akshato Adhyashthaam Prithiviimaham//”

That is, “O (Mother) Earth, may your hills, snow mountains and regions, and forests be pleasing to us; may nourishing, plowable and fertile, graceful, influential and sheltering, vast and protected (Mother) Earth accord us prestige without decay.”

Very specifically, the Twentieth Mantra of the ‘Prithvisukta’ is dedicated to the longing that the Sun be auspicious as well as the Agni from within. May the fire have a proper effect on the planet Earth; the effect of the fire on the planet Earth from the Sun be bright so that life remains safe, beautiful and healthy, and disease-free, this is the basic spirit of this Mantra. Likewise, the Thirtieth Mantra of this Sukta is devoted to cleanliness and purity of water, the Thirty-Sixth Mantra to compatibility of seasons, the Forty-Third Mantra to the attainment of good crops, the Forty-Fourth Mantra to beneficence of mineral substances, the Fifty-First Mantra to the welfaristic air speed, the Sixty-First Mantra to get rid of various griefs and sorrows and the Sixty-Second Mantra to a burning desire for healthy body. The last, i.e., the Sixty-Third Mantra divulges man’s longing for the welfare of one and all:

“Bhuume Maatarni Dhehi Maa Bhadrayaa Supratishthitam/

Samvidaanaa Divaa Kave Shriyaam Maa Dhehi Bhuutyaam//”

It means, “O Mother Earth! May I live with wisdom in your auspicious, prosperous and welfaristic glory. O dynamic Mother Earth! May the goal, attainment of heaven be in your prosperity and majesty; could be achieved the best for the whole Jagat.”

The words especially appeared in the Mantras of the ‘Prithvisukta’ of the Atharvaveda, ‘Bibharti’ (nurturing Mother in the Mantra Fourth), ‘Niveshanii’ (happiness giver in the Mantra Sixth), ‘Vishwambharaa’ (help provider also in the Mantra Sixth), ‘Vishwadaaniim’ (support provider to all without distinction in the Mantra Seventh), ‘Bhuuridhaaraa’ (bearer of many powers in the Mantra Nineth), ‘Samagraah’ (all or everything in the Mantra Sixteenth), ‘Vishvasvam’ (the creator of all things in the Mantra Seventeenth), ‘Agnivaasaah’ (that lives with fire in the Mantra Twenty-First), ‘Pushkaram’ (provider of nutrients in the Mantra Twenty-Fourth), ‘Shuddha’ (pure spirit, i.e., benevolent in the Mantra Thirtieth), ‘Sadohavirdhaane’, (a place of assembly and food in the Mantra Thirty-Eighth), ‘Vyailabaah:’ (a place of diversities, an abode of people of many dialects in the Mantra Forty-First), ‘Dhruvaa’ (strong-willed in the Mantra Forty-Fifth), ‘Bahavah Panthaanah’ (a  place of followers of different paths in the Mantra Forty-Seventh), ‘Devi’ (possessor of noble qualities in the Mantra Fifty-Fifth), ‘Prathamaanaa’ (wide, i.e., spread also in the Mantra Fifty-Fifth), ‘Chaaru’ (beautiful and glorified in the Mantra Fifty-Sixth), ‘Gopaah’ (the protector in the Mantra Fifty-Seventh) and ‘Gribhih’ (the best place to live also in the Mantra Fifty-Seventh) ‘Surabhih’ (luxurious in the Mantra Fifty-Ninth), ‘Aditih’ (one with unbroken vow in the Mantra Sixty-First) and ‘Kaamadudhaa’ (all wishful also in the Mantra Sixty-First) are those mentions, which get humanity familiar with the unique characteristics like splendor, beauty, ability, prosperity and strength of Mother Earth. On the strength of these virtues of Mother Earth, there should be continuous welfare of mankind; may the whole of humanity flourish with the prosperity and strength of Mother Earth, this is the basic spirit of these words predominantly emerging in the Mantras of the ‘Prithvisukta’ of the Atharvaveda. The basic spirit of these Mantras remains in a clarion call to mankind to embrace Mother Earth’s splendor, beauty, capability, prosperity and potential; further, with the purpose of safe existence and continuity of life on the planet Earth, and welfare of humanity itself, all human beings remain awake towards nature-conservation and environmental-equilibrium, which play the vital role in this regard. These mentions urge humanity to a judicious use of resources of Mother Earth taking it as their prime duty.

Undoubtedly, in all the Sixty-Three Mantras of this Sukta of the Atharvaveda, on the one hand there is a reflection of an urge through human praises and prayers for the peaceful co-existence necessary for the long-term compatibility of the planet Earth and the continuity and security of

good life on it. On the other hand, through these Mantras, there is a call to man to discharge his inevitable individual and collective responsibilities towards Mother Earth, especially having a fair and friendly attitude towards nature, environment and natural resources while keeping in mind the present horrifying situation manifested due the misuse of natural resources and irresponsible attitude towards environment and nature for years.

In this regard, man’s irresponsibility can be clearly estimated from the fact that more than one crore hectares of forests are destroyed by him every year by cutting and burning them. Bio-diversity has suffered huge loss due to deforestation and burning. Thousands of animal species have become extinct; thousands of more are in a state of extinction. According to a recent report, forty percent of amphibians and thirty-three percent of aquatic mammals have become extinct or are about to become extinct. The dryness in the atmosphere has increased; there has been a huge and very harmful increase in global warming. Glaciers are melting continuously and rapidly. Especially, the ice melting from the Antarctic is causing an alarming rise in the sea water level. About one billion people of the world are going to be affected by it immediately. Nature has also been badly affected. Rivers, ponds and other ground water retainers have disappeared in countless number; this process is continued. A huge area of cultivable land has become barren. About seventy-five percent of the land and sixty-six percent of the marine environment has changed. Many problems related to life due to this situation are in our cognizance.

In such a situation, the high importance of the call to discharge the inevitable individual and collective responsibilities of the people towards the planet Earth is itself evident. It is only the discharge of inevitable responsibilities that can pave the way to the fulfillment of human desires, wishes, prayers and praises manifesting through the Mantras of the ‘Prithvisukta’ of the Atharvaveda. Through this way, life on Mother Earth can be secure, prosperous and joyful.

The holy Mantras of the ‘Prithvisukta’ of the Atharvaveda are currently, we can say it repeatedly, like diagnostic guidelines when there is a serious challenge before environmental-equilibrium and the nature-conservation at the global level; there is a question mark on the existence of life on the planet Earth, because of these serious concerns. Not only this, the call of these Mantras is from a wider perspective for the smooth functioning of the universal system; the planet Earth is itself under the universal system and man is the inhabitant of the planet Earth. 

— A Padma Shri and Sardar Patel National Awardee Indologist

Dr. Ravindra Kumar is a Former Vice Chancellor of CCS University, Meerut; he is, currently the Ombudsman of Swami Vivekananda Subharati University, Meerut (India).