A special initiation of the Gayatri is required to learn the Atharva Veda. The Gayatri mantra used in Atharva Veda is different from other three Vedas. It was not found in South India during the Middle Ages, and until very recently. Though an early text, its status has been ambiguous, due to its magical character. The largely silent Brahmán priest observes the procedures of the ritual and 'heals' it with two mantras and pouring of ghee when a mistake occurs. The Atharva Veda is less predominant than other Vedas as it is little used in solemn (Shrauta) ritual. There are striking parallels with Hittite and Germanic sorcery stanzas. It incorporates much of early traditions of healing and magic that are paralleled in other Indo-European literatures. The Atharvaveda, while undoubtedly belonging to the core Vedic corpus, in some ways represents an independent parallel tradition to that of the Rigveda and Yajurveda.
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