Yajur Veda

The Yajur Veda contains hymns for ceremonial purposes which also deal with the art of living a successful and wholesome life. It was used by the adhvaryu, priests who recited the appropriate formulas from the Yajur-Veda while actually performing the sacrificial actions. There are six complete recessions of Yajur Veda - Madyandina, Kanva, Taittiriya, Kathaka, Maitrayani and Kapishthala.

There are two versions of the Yajur Veda. Veda Vyasa composed the Krishna Paksha Yajur Veda and the Pandits of South India follow only this. As for the Shukla Paksha Yajur Veda – according to the scriptures, Yagyavalkya, who was a disciple of Veda Vyasa committed an unpardonable sin and was cursed by Veda Vyasa to the effect that he would not be able to teach Vyasa’s Yajur Veda and was thrown out of the ashram. Yagyavalkya then worshipped the Sun God for a long time and pleased with his devotion, the Sun God taught him the Yajur Veda and this came to be known as Shukla Paksha Yajurveda. This is more popular in Northern India.

Shukla yajurveda (vaajasaaniiya) consists of 40 chapters in metrical form. Sukla Yajurveda follows the Aditya sampradaya or the schoolof Aditya - Sun God, and is more popular in the North India. Out of the 17 sakas in this school, only 2 are available now.

Krishna yajurveda (Taittiriiya) has some portions which are in metrical form and some protion in prose forms and some portions contains a mixure of both. Krishna Yajurveda follows the Brahma sampradaya (the school of Brahma) and is more popular in the South India. It was supposed to be having 82 branches or sakas out of which only 4 are available now.