Which one of the four Vedas is especially known for containing hymns dealing with magical charms, spells and everyday rituals for protection and healing?

Introduction / Context:
The four Vedas form the core of early Vedic literature and each has its own special focus. While some Vedas concentrate on hymns of praise or musical chants for sacrifices, one of them stands out for its association with spells, charms and practical rituals meant to address everyday concerns like disease, evil forces and misfortune. Exam questions frequently ask you to identify this Veda in order to test your understanding of the distinct character of each Vedic collection.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The topic is the four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. - The key clue is “magical charms and spells” along with practical rituals for healing and protection. - We assume the standard classification used in introductory texts on Vedic literature. - Only one Veda is strongly linked to this specific description.

Concept / Approach:
The Atharvaveda is best known for containing hymns, incantations and rituals dealing with daily life issues such as illness, calamities, sorcery and protection against malevolent forces. It includes what are often called “magical” rites from the perspective of ritual practice. By contrast, the Rigveda focuses on hymns of praise to various deities, the Samaveda on musical chants derived mainly from Rigvedic hymns for use in soma sacrifices, and the Yajurveda on prose and verse formulae guiding sacrificial rituals. Thus, when a question mentions spells and charms, Atharvaveda is the clear answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the primary focus of the Rigveda: it is the oldest Veda and contains hymns addressed to gods like Indra, Agni and Varuna. Step 2: Identify the Samaveda as the Veda of melodies and chants, used by priests for singing during rituals. Step 3: Recognise the Yajurveda as the Veda that provides prose and verse formulae guiding the sequence of sacrificial actions. Step 4: Remember that the Atharvaveda stands apart for including many hymns and incantations connected with healing, curses, blessings, fertility and everyday problems. Step 5: Note that terms like “magical charms” and “spells” are almost always used in exam books when describing the Atharvaveda. Step 6: Therefore, the Veda associated with magical charms and spells is the Atharvaveda.

Verification / Alternative check:
When you read summaries of each Veda in NCERT or other exam guides, you will find that the Atharvaveda is often described as containing “popular” and “domestic” rituals dealing with both auspicious and inauspicious situations. Some historians call it a repository of folk beliefs incorporated into Vedic tradition. Rigveda, Samaveda and Yajurveda are mainly linked to formal sacrificial rituals and deities, not to spells for everyday protection. This consistent description across sources confirms that Atharvaveda is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rigveda is wrong because it primarily consists of hymns of praise to deities in a more formal sacrificial context, not focused on magical spells.

Samaveda is wrong as its speciality is musical chanting; it recycles Rigvedic verses for singing, rather than introducing a large body of charms and incantations.

Yajurveda is wrong because it provides formulae for rituals and sacrifices but is not characterised mainly by magical spells and everyday protective charms.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes learn the names of the four Vedas but forget their distinct functions, leading to random guessing. Another pitfall is to associate any kind of ritual automatically with the Yajurveda, overlooking the specific clue about magical charms. To avoid this, memorise one or two key words for each Veda: Rigveda – hymns; Samaveda – melodies; Yajurveda – sacrificial formulae; Atharvaveda – spells and everyday rituals. This simple four word map will help you answer many Veda related questions confidently.

Final Answer:
The Veda that contains hymns dealing with magical charms, spells and everyday protective rituals is the Atharvaveda.