Page:Atharva-Veda samhita volume 2.djvu/357



⌊Funeral ceremonies.—This eighteenth book is the sixth and last book of the third grand division (books xiii.–xviii.) of the Atharvan collection, and shows very clearly that general unity of subject which is the distinguishing characteristic of the books of that division. In particular, however, the verses of the book do not show an orderliness of arrangement corresponding with that unity of subject. In large part, the verses of this book appear also in the Rigveda and in book vi. of the Tāittirīya Āraṇyaka, and the readings of these two texts are wont to agree together rather than with those of the Atharvaveda. As appears from the excerpts below, p. 814, the Pañcapaṭalikā seems to have a special name for this book, 'The Yamas' or 'Yama-hymns.' The book has been translated by Weber in the Sitzungsberichte der königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin (cited below as "Sb.") for 1895 and 1896. The bhāṣya is not wanting.⌋

The funeral ceremonies of the ancient Hindus (like their nuptial ceremonies—see p. 738) have been often treated: thus, as early as 1801, by Colebrooke, in vol. vii. of the Asiatic Researches (the paper is reprinted by Cowell in his edition of H. T. Colebrooke's Essays, vol. i.: see pages 172-206); by H. H. Wilson, Works, ii. 270 f.; by R. Roth, ZDMG. viii. 467-475; by Max Müller, ZDMG. ix., appendix, pages i-lxxxii; by Monier-Williams in his Religious Thought and Life in India, chapter xi.; and by H. Oldenberg, Religion des Veda, pages 570-591. Closely akin in subject is Whitney's essay on The Vedic doctrine of a future life, reprinted in his Oriental and Linguistic Studies, i. 46-63.—See also my notes upon the customs and ritual of cremation and burial (AGS. iv. 1-6) in my Sanskrit Reader, pages 401-405, and my notes on RV. x. 18 etc., Reader, pages 382-386: in both places I have given many pertinent bibliographical references.—The sixth prapāṭhaka of the Tāittiriya Āraṇyaka is devoted to the funeral rites, and contains much of the material of this book of the AV. Rājendralāla Mitra's analysis of the prapāṭhaka (pages 41-48 of the "Contents" prefixed to his text-edition) may well be consulted, and also pages 33-58 of his Introduction.—The most comprehensive treatment of the subject has been given by Dr. W. Caland, under the title Die Altindischen Todten- und Bestattungsgebräuche mit Benutzung handschriftlicher Quellen dargestellt, Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen te Amsterdam, Afdeeling Letterkunde, Deel 1. N° 6, Amsterdam, 1896, pages xiv + 193.⌋

⌊Hymns (or anuvākas) 1 and 2 are treated by Weber (as above) in the Sitzungsberichte for 1895, pages 815-866; and hymns (or anuvākas) 3 and 4, in the Sitzungsberichte for 1896, pages 253-294.—Weber's essays give first a general introduction for