Yajur Veda

The Yajur Veda is quite different from the Rigveda and Samaveda Samhitas. The definition of Yajur Veda says  'Gadyatmakam Yajuh' meaning it is in prose form 

Just as the Samaveda Samhita is a song book of Udgata Priest, so is the Yajurveda Samhitas are prayer books.

 for the Adhvaryu Priest. It is solely meant for the purpose of sacrificial rituals.

The Yajur Veda is divided into

1)White (or Pure) Yajurveda

2)Black (or dark) Yajurveda

The Krishna (Black) Yajurveda is a mixture of mantras and brahmana whereas the Shukla Yajurveda maintains a clear separation of the two.

The story is given by Mahidhara regarding the Shukla Yajurveda Samhita. Rishi Vaishampayana taught Yajurveda to Rishi Yajnavalkya and other pupils. Once Vaishampayana got angry with Yajnavalkya and asked him to give what he has learnt Vajnavalkya vomited the Veda by the power of Yoga while other pupils at the command of his teacher swallowed up the Yajush assuming the form of birds called Tittiri. Thus Yajush became dark and was named Krishna or Taittiriya.The Yajnavalkya prayed to the Sun who came in the form of horse and gave him back the Yajush. Hence this Yajurveda was named Shukla or Vajasneyi

Shukla Veda has two Samhitas.

1)Madhyandina Samhita

2)Kanva Samhita

Krishna Yajur Veda has four Samhitas.

1)Taittriya

2)Kathaka

3)Kapisthala

4)Maitrayani.