In the traditional classification of the Vedas, which Veda is most closely associated with early knowledge of medicine and healing practices?

Introduction / Context:
The four Vedas form the core of ancient Indian sacred literature. Each Veda has its own emphasis and traditional association, such as hymns, rituals, chants and practical knowledge. When exam questions ask which Veda deals with medicine, they refer to the texts that contain early references to healing practices, herbs and magical or ritual cures. This question checks whether you can correctly associate Atharva Veda with early Indian medical knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are considering the four main Vedas.
• The focus is on their association with medicine and healing.
• Options include Atharva, Yajur, Sama and Rig Veda as well as a distractor option.
• We assume the standard traditional classification used in Indian cultural studies.

Concept / Approach:
Atharva Veda contains many hymns and verses related to everyday life, popular beliefs and folk practices. It includes charms and incantations for warding off diseases, evil spirits and misfortune, as well as references to medicinal herbs. Because of this content, it is traditionally associated with the early development of Indian medical thought. Rig Veda mainly contains hymns to deities, Yajur Veda focuses on sacrificial formulas and Sama Veda is linked with musical chanting. Therefore, the correct approach is to recall Atharva Veda as the Veda dealing most directly with medicine and healing in the early period.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the broad themes of each Veda: Rig for hymns, Yajur for rituals, Sama for chants and Atharva for spells and practical life issues. Step 2: Note that Atharva Veda contains many references to diseases, cures and medicinal plants. Step 3: Understand that while other Vedas may mention health indirectly, Atharva Veda has the strongest association with early medicine. Step 4: Compare the options and identify Atharva Veda as matching this description. Step 5: Select Atharva Veda as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks that summarise the contents of the four Vedas often explicitly state that Atharva Veda is sometimes called the Veda of spells and healing. Some scholars regard it as the foundation from which later Ayurvedic traditions drew many concepts. Exam preparation books routinely ask the same question with the same answer, making Atharva Veda a well established choice. This repetition across reliable sources verifies that Atharva Veda is indeed associated with early medicine in the Vedic corpus.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B: Yajur Veda focuses on prose formulas used in sacrificial rituals rather than on medical knowledge.
• Option C: Sama Veda is essentially the musical rendering of Rigvedic hymns for chanting purposes.
• Option D: Rig Veda concentrates on praise hymns to deities and does not specialise in medicine, although it may mention herbs in passing.
• Option E: None of these is incorrect because Atharva Veda clearly fits the description.

Common Pitfalls:
Because students memorise all four Vedas together, they sometimes mix up which one is linked with which theme. A useful memory aid is to remember a simple key phrase: Atharva equals everyday life and healing. You can also visualise Atharva Veda as closer to the people, dealing with their daily fears and illnesses, while the other Vedas remain more focused on grand rituals and hymns. Such associations make it easier to answer similar questions quickly in competitive exams.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Atharva Veda.