RAS question
The Atharvaveda is associated with which priest in the Vedic sacrificial system?
Correct answer: (B) Brahman.
In the Vedic sacrificial system, the Atharvaveda is associated with the Brahman priest, who supervises the sacrifice.
Explanation
The Atharvaveda is linked with the Brahman priest in the specialised priestly structure of Vedic sacrifice. The standard fourfold association is Rigveda with the Hotr, Samaveda with the Udgatr, Yajurveda with the Adhvaryu, and Atharvaveda with the Brahman. National Journal of Hindi & Sanskrit Research supports this mapping while explaining that priestly functions became divided into four classes as sacrifice grew more technical and hierarchical. This matters because the Brahman was not the chant-singer, reciter, or ritual performer in this scheme; he was the supervising priest connected with the Atharvaveda. Therefore, option B fits the role assigned to the Atharvaveda in the Vedic sacrificial system.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Adhvaryu is wrong because the priestly mapping associates Adhvaryu with the Yajurveda, not with the Atharvaveda.
- (C) Udgatr is wrong because the Udgatr is the priest associated with the Samaveda and its sung element, not with the Atharvaveda.
- (D) Hotr is wrong because the Hotr is linked with the Rigveda as the reciting priest, while the Atharvaveda is linked with the Brahman.
Concept
This tests the Ancient Indian History concept of Vedic literature and the ritual specialisation of priests. It recurs in RAS because questions often check precise Veda-priest pairings rather than broad familiarity with the Vedas.