atharvan
|a-thar-van|
🇺🇸
/əˈθɑːrvən/
🇬🇧
/əˈθɑːvən/
Vedic / Zoroastrian priest
Etymology
'atharvan' originates from Proto-Indo-Iranian (reflected in both Avestan and Vedic Sanskrit), specifically the Avestan word 'athravan' and the Vedic Sanskrit word 'atharvan', where the root 'athar-' is associated with 'ritual formula/charms' and the suffix '-van' meant 'possessing' (one who has).
'atharvan' changed from Avestan 'athravan' and Vedic Sanskrit 'atharvan' and was carried into later Indic and comparative scholarship as a term for a class of priests and for an eponymous legendary seer (the sage associated with the Atharva Veda); through academic and religious texts it entered English usage as the name/term 'atharvan'.
Initially, it meant 'a priest skilled in ritual formulas and charms'; over time it became both a technical term for a class of priests and a proper name applied to legendary sages associated with the Atharva Veda, and was extended in comparative studies to the Avestan 'athravan' priest.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a Vedic priest or rishi traditionally associated with the Atharva Veda; a sacerdotal figure in ancient Indian ritual practice, often credited in tradition with composing or preserving charms, spells, and ritual formulas.
The ancient atharvan recited rites and charms intended to heal the sick and protect the household.
Synonyms
Noun 2
in the Iranian (Avestan/Zoroastrian) tradition, a priest (Avestan athravan) — a member of the priestly class responsible for sacred formulas and ritual functions.
The role of the atharvan in the texts mirrors that of the athravan described in Avestan sources.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/10 12:52