Yajurveda
Introduction
The Yajurveda is one of the four canonical texts of Hinduism, known as the Vedas. It is a compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said by a priest while an individual performed ritual actions such as those before the yajna fire. Yajurveda is a compound Sanskrit word, where yajus means "ritual formula", and veda means "knowledge". It is thus a text of procedural knowledge about ritual, in contrast to the Rigveda, which is a text of hymns.
Composition
The Yajurveda is broadly grouped into two – the "Black" (Krishna) Yajurveda and the "White" (Shukla) Yajurveda. The term "black" implies "the un-arranged, unclear, motley collection" of verses in Yajurveda, in contrast to the "white" which implies the "well arranged, clear" Yajurveda. The black Yajurveda has survived in four recensions, while two recensions of white Yajurveda have survived into the modern times.
The earliest and most ancient layer of Yajurveda samhita includes about 1,875 verses, that are distinct yet borrow and build upon the foundation of verses in Rigveda. The middle layer includes the Satapatha Brahmana, one of the largest Brahmana texts in the Vedic collection. The youngest layer of Yajurveda text includes the largest collection of primary Upanishads, influential to various schools of Hindu philosophy.
Content
The Yajurveda includes the liturgy (mantras) needed to perform the sacrifices of the Veda, and the explanation of the procedures. The Yajurveda is also important for its presentation of philosophical doctrines. It presents the nature of the Atman, the importance of knowledge, the character of Dharma, and the path and goals of a spiritual life.
Influence
The Yajurveda has been influential to various schools of Hindu philosophy. The text has been a source of laws for the dharmaśāstra legal code, and the social and personal ethics in Hinduism. The Yajurveda has been cited in many Hindu texts, and its manuscripts are found in numerous Indic scripts.