ATHARVA-VEDA SAMHITA (Compete in 2 Volumes)

Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2011. Reprint. Hardcovers (2 volume set). Octavo. clxi + 470, 471 - 1046pp. Bound in red boards with gilt spine titles. A very good set of books in near fine, pictorial dust jackets. Classic work of Indian folk magic. Atharva-Veda means the Veda of the Atharvan or the Knowledge of Magic Formulas. The great importance of the Atharva-Veda Samhita lies in the fact that it is an invaluable source of knowledge of popular belief as yet uninfluenced by ancient Indian priestly religion, of the faith in numberless spirits, imps, ghosts and demons of every kind, and of the witchcraft so eminently important to ethnology and for the history of religion. It is a collection of 731 hymns, which contain about 6000 verses, in the recension which is best preserved. Many of the hymns contain charms, magic spells and incantations meant to be pronounced by the person who seeks some benefit, or more often by a sorcerer who would say it on his or her behalf. The most frequent goal of these hymns charms and spells were long life of a loved one or recovery from some illness. In these cases, the affected would be given substances such as a plant (leaf, seed, root) and an amulet. Some magic spells were for soldiers going to war with the goal of defeating the enemy, others for anxious lovers seeking to remove rivals or to attract the lover who is less than interested, some for success at a sporting event, in economic activity, for bounty of cattle and crops, or removal of petty pests bothering a household.