NotaBene е електронно списание за философски и политически науки. Повече за нас
Abstract: The present study traces back the meanings of the word prana – “breath”, “breathing”, “life force” in the context of Atharvaveda. In Atharvaveda prana is often associated with life and longevity, with breathing and breath, with the maintenance of life, with seeing, hearing, power and offspring. prana is the master of all living and non-living and controls the whole universe. He is the observer of everything. By wind or air, the breath prana is connected to the whole universe. The disappearance of pranas leads to death, and on this conception are based some of the spells for eliminating enemies by drawing their breath away.
On the basis of the meanings of the word prana in the studied excerpts from Atharvaveda, a semantic map of the word was created. For comparison with the Bulgarian language, a semantic map of the word дишам – “to breath”, was also created.
Key words: prana, veda, Atharvaveda