Brahmä and communicated BRAHMA-
VIDYÄ; he is believed to have been the
first to bring fire down from heaven,
offer SOMAand recite MANTRAS(3).Atharvaveda
The fourth of the vedic SA§HITÄS(collec-
tions of hymns) and the last to be rec-
ognized as such. Besides hymns to Vedic
DEVATÄS it contains oracular sayings,
incantations and imprecations.Atiÿüdra
‘below the ŸÜDRA’, i.e. OUTCASTE,
untouchable.atithi (‘guest’)
Hospitality was a duty in Vedic India
and a guest had to be honoured.
Neglecting a guest brought misfortune.ätma(n) (‘self’)
One of the central notions of VEDÄNTA.
Assuming that ordinarily persons do
not have a correct and adequate notion
of the true self, but mistake external
attributes such as bodily appearance,
sensual experiences, relationships, activ-
ities etc. for the self, the UPANIÆADSteach
ways for self-finding, culminating in the
realization of the self as pure (object-
less) experience of consciousness. This
self- experience is then identified with
the experience of the ground of all
things (BRAHMAN) and considered the
very purpose of existence, identical with
eternal bliss. Vedänta systems variously
interpret the nature of the self as either
ontically identical with the supreme
being (ADVAITA), or as being in close
affinity with it, but ontically separate
(VIŸIÆfiÄDVAITA, DVAITA). (See alsoSELF.)Ätmabodha (‘self-knowledge’)
Title of a short Vedäntic treatise
ascribed to ŸA¢KARA(2), teaching how
to reach identity of self with BRAHMAN.ätmakufla (‘self-intention’)
A notion developed by the MÏMÄßSAKAS,
who assumed that scriptural injunctions
produce an impulse in a person to do
voluntarily what has been prescribed,
together with an insight into the appro-
priateness of the command.atonement
The consciousness of failure in the
observance of moral and ritual laws led
early on in Vedic India to the develop-
ment of a theory and practice of atone-
ment (PRÄYAŸCITTAS) through which rit-
ual and moral purity could be re-estab-
lished. The appropriate sections in the
lawbooks (DHARMA-ŸÄSTRAS) provide
detailed information on the kind of
atonement required for specific breach-
es, relating not only to the gravity of
offence but also to the status of offend-
er and offended. Some of the most fre-
quently practised atonements are ablu-
tions, repetition of MANTRAS(3), fasting
(seeUPAVÄSA), PILGRIMAGES, almsgiving
and donations to temples (seeDÄNA).
The most severe offences (MAHÄ-
PÄTAKAS) can only be atoned for by
death.Atri (‘devourer’)
Name of a famous Vedic sage, author of
many Vedic hymns as well as of a law-
book, the Atri-smøti. His wife was
Anasüyä. He is one of the SAPTARÆISand
represented in one of the stars in Ursa
major. He produced the MOON(Atrija)
from his eye during meditation.attachment (räga)
This is viewed as morally objectionable
and spiritually harmful. It is one of the
manifestations of AVIDYÄ (ignorance)
and one ought to give up attachment to
oneself, to one’s family and one’s pos-
sessions in order to gain freedom and
release.31 attachmentEncyclo - Letter A 10/2/03 9:37 am Page 31