Stands to mean ‘Worship Knowledge’, Yajurveda dates back to 1100-800 BCE; corresponding with Samaveda. It compiles ritual-offering mantras/chants. These chants were offered by the priest alongside a person who used to perform a ritual (in most cases yajna fire.) The key features of Yajurveda are given below:
| Features of Yajurveda |
| It has two types – Krishna (Black/Dark) & Shukla (White/Bright) |
| Krishna Yajurveda has an un-arranged, unclear, motley collection of verses |
| Shukla Yajurveda has arranged and clear verses |
| The oldest layer of Yajurveda has 1875 verses mostly taken up from Rigveda |
| The middle layer of the Veda has Satapatha Brahmana which is a commentary of Shukla Yajurveda |
| The youngest layer of Yajurveda consists of various Upanishads – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the Isha Upanishad, the Taittiriya Upanishad, the Katha Upanishad, the Shvetashvatara Upanishad and the Maitri Upanishad |
| Vajasaneyi Samhita is the Samhita in the Shukla Yajurveda |
| There are four surviving recensions of the Krishna Yajurveda – Taittiriya saṃhita, Maitrayani saṃhita, Kaṭha saṃhita, and Kapisthala saṃhita |