YAJURVEDA Skt.; the Veda (Vedas) of sacrificial formulas to be chanted during the performance of the sacred rite by the adhvaryu, one of the four chief priests at the sacrifice. A distinction is made between the archaic Black Yajurveda, compiled from 1,000 B.C.E. by four schools in five books with varying versions (Samhitās), and the later and more unified White Yajurveda, said to derive extensively from the sage Yājñavalkya.
The Black Yajurveda is also called “unordered” or “mixed,” because in it mantric formulas for use in rites alternate with prose sections containing theological interpretations (Brāhmanas), whereas the “ordered” White Yajurveda consists of mantras alone. Only partial translations into English exist.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on Hinduism
Books on Hinduism
External links: Vedas / Rig-Veda / Sama-Veda / Yajur-Veda / Atharva-Veda