Its traditional date goes back between 1200 and 800 BCE. Yajur Veda: The Yajur Veda (“Worship Knowledge” or “Ritual Knowledge”) consists of recitations, ritual worship formulas, mantras, and chants directly involved in worship services.
The Yajur Veda is a Samhita, which is one of four sections of the Hindu holy scriptures which has the highest influence upon the lives of the Hindus. A Samhita is a collection of mantras, or hymns, most of which sing the praises of one or another personal god . Its origins are speculated to go as far back as 2000 B.C. when the Vedas were orally kept. It was not until a millennium later around 1000 B.C. when the Yajur Veda was compiled . In the Rigveda itself the Yajurveda and the Samaveda are mentioned in a number of passages , leading to the assumption that these three Samhitas were around at the same time.
The key features of Yajurveda are given below:
- It has two types – Krishna (Black/Dark) & Shukla (White/Bright)
- Krishna Yajurveda has an un-arranged, unclear, motley collection of verses
- Shukla Yajurveda has arranged and clear verses
- The oldest layer of Yajurveda has 1875 verses mostly taken up from Rigveda
- The middle layer of the Veda has Satapatha Brahmana which is a commentary of Shukla Yajurveda
- The youngest layer of Yajurveda consists of various Upanishads – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the Isha Upanishad, the Taittiriya Upanishad, the Katha Upanishad, the Shvetashvatara Upanishad and the Maitri Upanishad
- Vajasaneyi Samhita is the Samhita in the Shukla Yajurveda
- There are four surviving recensions of the Krishna Yajurveda – Taittiriya saṃhita, Maitrayani saṃhita, Kaṭha saṃhita, and Kapisthala saṃhita
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