Yajur Veda is another branch of Vedas, which is about the knowledge of sacrificial rituals. As the Sanskrit word Yajur means ideal way to invoke blessings of gods. Yajur Veda is of two types,one Krishna Yajur Veda or the Black Yajur Veda and the Shukla Yajur Veda or the White Yajur Veda. Now, each of these types is again categorized further which makes it easy to understand and grasp. The Shukla Yajur Veda is believed to have fifteen branches under it, however, now, only two exists. These two branches are Vajasaneyi Madyandina and Vajasaneyi Kanva Sakhas. The content found in both these branches is almost the same with some minor difference.
Under Krishna Yajur Veda, there are three branches but now only one is available. This branch is named as Taittriya Samhita and consists of seven volumes called as Kanda. Although, there isn’t much variation in both the Shukla and Krishna Yajur Vedas, there is a story behind their existence.
Sage Vaisampayana was the first guru for imparting the knowledge of Krishna Yajur Vedas. His pupil Sri Yogeeswara Yagnavalkya refused to learn from the sage as he was unintentionally responsible for a child’s death. Hence, he prayed to Sun God to impart him with the knowledge of Yajur Veda. After years of meditation and prayers Sun God passed on the wisdom of Yajur Veda to Yagnavalkya. This was then known as the Shukla Yajur Veda.
Yajur Veda shows one the true way of conducting the sacrificial rituals but it has a deeper meaning to it. One of the meanings could be, with sacrifice of the right things in a right way at a right time can make this world a better place to live.