Yajur is derived from the word "yaj" which means worship and Yajur means the method of worship. The Yajur Ved and Sam Ved have emerged from Rig Ved. The Yajur Ved describes the procedure, rules and regulations for Yagna.

Existance of Shukla Yajur Ved :

Yajnavalkya was the student Vaishampayana. Once there was a quarrel between Vaishampayana and Yajnavalkya. Out of anger Vaishampayana ordered Yajnavalkya to give him back the knowledge which was given to him. On hearing this Yajnavalkya vomited out all the knowledge in the form of food. The other disciples ate that food in the form of the Tittiri bird because of this Yajur Ved had another branch known as Taittiriya Yajur Ved. It is also known as Krishna (black) Yajur Ved as it was in the form of vomit.

After this Yajnavalkya was determined not to have any human master and requested Sun God to give him true knowledge of Vedas. On being pleased with Yajnavalkya the sun God gave him the knowledge of all the Vedas and the knowledge of Yajur Ved was known as Shukla (white) Yajur Ved.

Shukla Yajur Ved is also known as Vajasaneya Yajur Ved, because it was give by Sun God. Yajnavalkya divided Vajasaneya Yajur Ved into fifteen branches; each branch contains hundreds of Yajna Mantras. Kanva, Madhyandina and others are branches of Shukla Yajur Ved.

 

Vedas :

 

No. of original Recensions (shakha) :

 

Rig Ved : 21

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : 85

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : 15

 

Sam Ved : 101

 

Atharv Ved : 9

 

Available Recensions (shakha) :

 

Rig Ved : Shakala Bashkal

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Taitiriya, Maitrayani, Katha, Kapisthal

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Kanva, Madyandina (Vajasanya)

 

Sam Ved : Kauthum, Ranayaniya, Jaimini, or Talavakar

 

Atharv Ved : Pippalad Shaunak

 

Taught to sages :

 

Rig Ved : Pail

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Vaishampayan

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Yajnavalkya

 

Sam Ved : Jaimini

 

Atharv Ved : Sumant

 

Number of Verses available :

 

Rig Ved : 10,552

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : 1975

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : 1975

 

Sam Ved : 1875

 

Atharv Ved : 5987

 

Brahman's :

 

Rig Ved : Aitaraya, Kaushitaki or Shankhyayan

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Taittiriya, Kathak

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Shatpath (two recensions)

 

Sam Ved : Vamsh, Tandya Panchvimsha, Chhandogya, Arsheya, Samavidhan, Jaimini Sadvimsa, Samhitopanishad and Daivatadhyaya.

 

Atharv Ved : Gopath

 

Aranyakas :

 

Rig Ved : Aitaraya, Sankhyayan

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Taitttiriya, Maitrayani

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Brihadaranyak (two recensions)

 

Sam Ved : Chhandogya, Jaimini

 

Atharv Ved : ---

 

Upanishads :

 

Rig Ved : Aitaraya, Kaushitiki, Bhashkal

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Mahanarayan, Maitrayani, Katakh, Swetaswetar, Taitiriya.

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Isavasya, Brihadaranyak

 

Sam Ved : Chandogya, Ken

 

Atharv Ved : Prashna, Mundak, Mandukya

 

Shrouta Sutras :

 

Rig Ved : Aswalayan, Shankhyayan

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Apasthamb, Baudhayan, Hiranyakesi, Bharadwaj, Vaikhanas, Vadhool, Manav, Varah

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Katyayan (Paraskar)

 

Sam Ved : Khadir, Latyayan, Drahyayan, Jaimini

 

Atharv Ved : Vikhans

 

Grihya Sutras :

 

Rig Ved : Ashwalayan, Sankyayan

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Manav, Apasthamb, Baudhayan, Hiranyakesi, Vaikhanas, Kath

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Katyayan (Paraskar)

 

Sam Ved : Khadir, Gobhil, Gautam, Jaimini

 

Atharv Ved : Kaushik

 

Dharma Sutras :

 

Rig Ved : Vashishth

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Apasthamb Baudhayan, Hiranyakesi

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Shankkhalikit

 

Sam Ved : Gautam

 

Atharv Ved : Pathinasi

 

Upved :

 

Rig Ved : Ayur ved (science of life and health)

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Dhanur ved (art of war)

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Dhanur ved (art of war)

 

Sam Ved : Gandharv ved (science of music)

 

Atharv Ved : Arth Shastra (art of polity)

 

Priests :

 

Rig Ved : Hotri

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Adhvaryu

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Adhvaryu

 

Sam Ved : Udgatri

 

Atharv Ved : Brahma

 

Priest's job during Yagna :

 

Rig Ved : Chanting of hymns

 

Krishna Yajur Ved : Supplementing the Rig Vedic mantra

 

Sukla Yajur Ved : Supplementing the Rig Vedic mantra

 

Sam Ved : Singing the Samagan

 

Atharv Ved : Overall supervision for correctness of mantra