Krishna Yajurveda
कृष्ण यजुर्वेद
Taittiriya Samhita
The Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya Samhita) — 7 kandas of sacrificial mantras interwoven with ritual commentary (Brahmana), forming the foundation of Vedic yajna and the liturgical tradition of the Taittiriya school.
Start ReadingAbout This Text
The Krishna Yajurveda preserves the older form of the Yajurveda tradition, where sacrificial mantras (yajus) are intimately interwoven with their Brahmana explanations. The Taittiriya Samhita, its most important recension, is named after the sage Tittiri and covers the full range of Vedic ritual — from the Darsha-Purnamasa (new and full moon rites) to the elaborate Soma sacrifices and the Ashvamedha.
How This Text Is Organised
The Krishna Yajurveda follows a five-level hierarchy of kandas, prapathakas, anuvakas, and mantras.
Kandas
Major divisions (books)
Prapathakas
Chapters within each kanda
Anuvakas
Sections within each prapathaka
Mantras
Individual verses
Available Reading Features
This edition of the Krishna Yajurveda on Vedapath includes:
Samhita Patha (accented Devanagari)
IAST Transliteration
Padapatha (word analysis)
Translations in 30 languages
Ritual context, Vedic cosmology, and philosophical enrichments
Kandas of the Krishna Yajurveda
The Taittiriya Samhita is divided into seven Kandas covering the full spectrum of Vedic ritual.
Each Kanda is further divided into Prapathakas and Anuvakas.
Kanda 1
Darsha-Purnamasa & Agnihotra
The foundational kanda covering the new and full moon sacrifices (Darsha-Purnamasa), Agnihotra, and the basic liturgy of the Vedic altar.
Kanda 2
Somayaga Preliminaries
Preliminary rites for the Soma sacrifice, including the purchase of Soma, construction of the Soma altar, and consecration of the sacrificer.
Kanda 3
Soma Pressing & Offering
The Soma pressing rituals, morning, midday, and evening pressings, and the offering formulas for the primary Soma sacrifice.
Kanda 4
Agnicayana & Fire Altar
The elaborate Agnicayana (fire-altar building) ritual, mantras for laying bricks, and the cosmic symbolism of the fire altar.
Kanda 5
Sautramani & Supplementary Rites
Supplementary sacrificial rites including the Sautramani, Varunapraghasa, and other seasonal offerings.
Kanda 6
Pravargya & Ashvamedha
The Pravargya rite (heating of the Gharma vessel), Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) mantras, and related royal rituals.
Kanda 7
Supplementary Formulas
Additional sacrificial formulas, expiatory rites (prayaschitta), and concluding mantras of the Taittiriya Samhita.