The
Atharvaveda is a
Hindu sacred text. It was the last of the
Vedas to be composed. The Atharvaveda is a collection of magical formulae, some of which were apparently used in
shamanistic rituals. There are verses to cure
diseases, avert the wrath of
demons, love-spells, spells obtain victory in battle and so on. There are also a range of hymns to various vedic-age deities and their manifestations, including mother earth, fire, prana (breath).