The Atharva Veda

The word veda literally means knowledge. The root word is vid, meaning to know. The Vedas are thus texts that provide knowledge. You may be aware that they are held to be most sacred. There are four Vedas, known as the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda. Many years ago, the Vedas were referred to as trayi, meaning three. There must have been some point of time when there were only three Vedas. These are acknowledged to have been the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Sama Veda. The Atharva Veda is believed to have been a later addition to the sacred canon. Presented herewith, the fourth part.