Atharvan discovered the fire. Viswamitra Institutionalised it.
From my notes made at NIAS, from this book I think Veda Pratishthan Delhi Rk Veda Samhitas (Page 68) :
- Atharvan is the person (man) who discovered the fire.
- Viswamitra विश्वामित्र read about it and in the Rg Veda introduced this mechanism for quickly starting up the fire. Adhimantha (rubbing Arani sticks together).
- Western Legends (Greek, I think) talk of a chap who “stole the fire” our records talk of the man who discovered it…
- kaus’ikasUtra (vis’wAmitra) explains the Vidhana for the atharva veda.
Followup Research is required on this topic.
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From Wikipedia : “Atharvan (अथर्वन्, atharvan-; an n-stem with nominative singular अथर्वा atharvā) was a legendary Vedic sage (rishi) of Hinduism who along with Angiras is supposed to have authored (“heard“) the Atharvaveda. He is also said to have first instituted the fire-sacrifice or yagna. Sometimes he is also reckoned among the seven seers or Saptarishi. His clan is known as the Atharvanas. Atharvan married with chitti , daughter of kardam rishi. And had a great sage Dadhichi as a son. Atharvan means fire priest , and still a comman name in India & Iran. He was referred to of bhrigu clan many times.
According to mundaka upnisad and other texts, he was eldest son & (Manas putra) born from mind of the brahma. Vedic atharvan is cognate with Avestan athravan, “priest”, but the etymology of the term is not yet conclusively established. “
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satyask
May 21, 2010 at 5:11 pm
VEDAS ARE OUR SUPREME KNOWLDGE BY LEARN TO REAL TRUTH BRAHAMAN, ATHARVAVEDA IS A MORE USEFUL VEDA IN OUR CULTURE, THIS A MAIN SOURSE(SROT) OF OUR INDIAN CULTURE… BUT I WANT KNOW YOUR AIM AND THEME.. GIVE ME YOUR LINE THANKS..
DR. ASHOK KUMAR SHARMA Ph. D. VEDAS
August 31, 2010 at 5:36 am
I want to start unbiased and keep collecting and presenting the little truths that I find. This site is mainly for the curious who have some devotion and some respect for the vedas and for Indian culture.. basically ordinary people who are neither to the left nor right.. neither eastern nor western, just in the centre, normal people.
I find that our vedas contained both science and philosophy but except for very few people in recent times (eg Swami Dayananda Saraswati) not many have given importance to science. 99% of the people are only interested in the philosophy.
This is my own journey of self-discovery of my heritage and my culture. I generally do not debate with anyone and if anyone leaves me long philosophical lectures on my sites .. I delete those comments. I accept sincere questions. I don’t accept views and insights. I accept and value facts with citations.
Harih Om!
These are notes that I share with the curious people who know less than myself. I already have a Veda Guru and am not looking for another Guru.
I hope this is clear.
Regards,
Satya
satyask
August 31, 2010 at 7:23 am