Atharva Veda is the fourth and last of all the Vedas .It is completely different from the other three Vedas and is next in importance to the Rig-Veda with regard to history and sociology. It is derived from the Indo-Aryan term `Atharvan`, meaning a fire priest in Vedic Sanskrit. According to the legendary tradition, two clans of fire priest known as the Bhrigus (also called Atharvans) and Angirasas had composed Atharva Veda.

Atharva Veda has hymns that are common with the Rig Veda. The Paippalada and Saunaka are the two recensions it is preserved in. Atharvaveda is significant from the point of view of knowing the history of science in India. It contains 6000 Mantras. It is a compilation of popular spells and incantations, which were admired among the people and also suggests the faith of the people in such matters.

Additionally, it also includes composition of certain other Indo-Aryan clans such as the Kaushikas, Vasishthas and Kashyapas. A different spirit pervades this Veda. Its hymns are of a more diverse character than the Rig Veda and are also less complex in terms of language. In fact, many scholars do not consider it part of the Vedas at all. Atharva Veda consists of spells and charms prevalent at its time, and portrays a clearer picture of the Vedic society. Atharva Veda is however less predominant than other Vedas and also the Gayatri mantra used in Atharva Veda is different from other three Vedas. Atharvaveda is considered by many to be a dark and mystic science, pertaining to the spirits and the afterlife.

The modernity of Atharva Veda again cannot be denied as it is the very first Indic (Indo-Aryan) text dealing with medicine. It identifies the causes of the disease that is the causative agent such as the yatudhanya, the kimidi, the krimi and the durnama. The Atharvans seek to kill them with a variety of drugs in order to counter the disease. This approach of treating the disease is sufficiently advanced and therefore Atharva Veda is regarded as one of the earliest texts to record uses of the antibiotic agents .The Atharva Veda also informs about warfare. A variety of devices such as the arrow with a duct for poison (apaskambha) and castor bean poison, poisoned net and hook traps, use of disease spreading bugs and smoke screens find a place in the Atharva Veda samhita .This reference to military practices and associated Kshatriya rites were what gave the Atharva veda its recognition. Several regular and special rituals of the Aryans are a major concern of the AV, just as in the three other vedas. The major rituals covered by the Atharva Veda are marriage in kamda - XIV and the funeral in kamda - XVIII. Along with these there are some rituals aimed at the destruction of the enemies (Abhicharika hymns and rites) particularly using the closing mantras of the XVIth kamda. It also provided the ritual for the worship of late evolving popular deities like Kumara and Ganapati to capture the mainstream Hindu ritual. They are also hymns specific to the rituals of the bhrigu agnirasas. There fore undoubtedly it belongs to the core Vedic corpus.