The Vedas are considered the greatest and most ancient texts of Hinduism, and the Yajurveda is the second part of the Vedas. It comes after the Rigveda, and therefore contains many hymns and knowledge related to the Rigveda. Specifically, the Rigveda comprises 663 mantras. However, despite this overlap, the Rigveda and Yajurveda are distinct because the Yajurveda is primarily a prose Veda, containing all the prose mantras known as Yajus, while the number of verse mantras in it is very limited.
The Sanskrit words “yajus” and “Veda,” which translate to “sacrificial formula” and “knowledge,” respectively, are where the phrase “Yajurveda” originates. This text is primarily a collection of hymns and mantras that were recited during various sacrificial rituals.
The Yajurveda offers a glimpse into the religious and social life of the Aryans, and reveals that they had moved beyond the primitive nature worship of the Sapt-Sindhu people. The mantras of the Yajurveda were recited by a priest called an “adhvaryu” during the performance of a sacrifice.
The Yajurveda describes the various methods of performing different types of sacrifices. It is written in both prose and poetry, with the prose portion called “Yajus.” The final chapter of the Yajurveda is the Ishavasya Upanishad, which focuses on spiritual contemplation. It is considered a minor Upanishad as it is not a part of any of the major Upanishads.
The text sheds light on the social and religious life of the Aryans. The caste system and the stages of life are also described in detail. The Yajurveda Samhita is a collection of mantras that were used for conducting sacrificial rituals during the Vedic period. It includes detailed descriptions of various yajnas or sacrifices.
The Vedas contain detailed descriptions of various yajnas or sacrificial rituals of the karma-kanda. These include Agnihotra, Ashvamedha, Vajapeya, Somayajna, Rajasuya, and Agnicayana.
The Shukla Yajurveda and the Krishna Yajurveda are the Yajurveda’s two principal divisions.
The Shukla Yajurveda comprises a compilation of only those mantras that are necessary for performing the “darshapournamasi” and other rituals.
The Krishna Yajurveda includes not only mantras but also the integration of “Tantriyojak Brahmanas.” In fact, the combination of mantras and Brahmanas is the reason for the Krishna-ness of the Krishna Yajurveda, while the pure and unmixed form of mantras is the reason for the Shukla-ness of the Shukla Yajurveda.
The main branches of the Shukla Yajurveda are Madhyandina and Kanva.
The main branches of the Krishna Yajurveda are Taittiriya, Maitrayani, Katha, Kapisthal and Vajasaneyi.