The SAMA VEDA ~ Part of the Four Vedas

SANATANA DHARMA
सनातन धर्म

Hinduism-part 4

SCRIPTURES -Part 2-B
(ग्रन्थ)

THE SAMA VEDA
साम वेद 

Among the four Vedas, the first and the most important Veda is the Rig-Veda. Although Yajur-Veda is the second listed Veda, I present the 'Sama-Veda' here as the second in the list. I do so because the Mantras and the hymns of the Sama-Veda are totally borrowed from the Rig-Veda. The Sama-Veda is also considered second in sanctity and liturgy in the list of Vedas.

The Sama-Veda, or Veda of Holy Songs, third in the usual order of enumeration of the three Vedas (The fourth, the ‘Atharva-Veda’ was compiled later, and dealt mainly with different fields of sciences), ranks next in sanctity and liturgical importance to the Rig Veda or Veda of Recited praise.

The Sama-Veda is a compilation of hymns taken from the ‘Rig-Veda’. The primary difference between the two is the manner/style of chanting/recitation of these hymns. The Sama-Veda is also called ‘The knowledge of Music’.

UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of Vedic chants as a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (November 7, 2003). Wayne Howard noted in the preface of his book, ‘Veda recitation in Varansi (Benaras)’, “The four Vedas (rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva_ are not books in usual sense, though within the past hundred years each Veda has appeared in several printed editions. They are comprised rather of tonally accented verses and hypnotic, abstruse melodies whose proper realization demand oral instead of visual transmission. They are robbed of their essence when transferred to papter, for without the human element the innumerable nuances and the fine intonations – inseperable and necessary components of all four compilations – are lost completely. The ultimate authority in Vedic matters is never the printed page but the few members... who are today keeping the centuries-old tradition alive.”

ADI SHANKAR-ACHARYA - आदि शंकराचार्य 
He revived. and re-established
the Sanatana Dharma when Buddhism was
in ascendance in India

The oral tradition of the Vedas (Shrauta-श्रौत) consist of several ‘pathas-पाठ’ (recitations) or ways of chanting the Vedic mantras or hymns. This tradition of chanting is the oldest continuing oral tradition in existence. This has also helped in preserving the Vedic texts (especially the Samhitas) in their original form.

Sama Veda contains two Parts. In each part there are Mandalas-मण्डल (sections). In each section has Adhyayas-अध्याय (chapters). This is the structure of Sama Veda. There are variations in the structure based on the different recensions or versions of Sama-Veda available today.

The Samhita-सम्हिता mainly consists of hymns to chanted by priests at the performance of important offerings (normally these are called ‘sacrifices’, which is an incorrect term because there were no animal sacrifices, instead the offerings-'Aahutis-आहुति' were made of fruits, flowers and leaves etc. along with the juices of the Soma* plant, clarified and mixed with milk and other ingredients, was offered) in libation to various deities.
* The 'soma' plant is considered to be an intoxicating plant, from which the 'Soma-ras-सोम-रस, (ras-juice) was extracted. It was called the drink of the Gods.

The Samhitas are a collection of hymns-(stuti-स्तुति), parts of hymns, and detached verses, taken mainly from the Rig Veda, transposed and re-arranged musically, without reference to their original order, to suit the religious ceremonies in which they were to be employed. Some of these hymns and mantras however, seem to be much older and more original than they are in the Rig-Veda.

This is best described by a quote by ALAIN DANIELOU: 

Godess SARASWATI
माता सरस्वती 
The Goddess of Knowledge

"Under the name of Gandharva Vedas, a general theory of sound with its metaphysics and physics appears to have been known to the ancient Hindus. From such summaries: The ancient Hindus were familiar with the theory of sound (Gandharva Veda), and its metaphysics and physics. The hymns of the Rig Veda contain the earliest examples of words set to music, and by the time of the Sama Veda a complicated system of chanting had been developed. By the time of the Yajur Veda, a variety of professional musicians had appeared, such as lute players, drummers*, flute** players, and conch*** blowers."

* Indian traditional percussion instruments include, the tabla, the mridangam, dholak, pakhawaj, etc.,
** The Indian flute is called 'Bansuri'
*** the conch is blown at the start of end of a religious ceremony. It was also blown at the start or end of any important event, even wars

The Mridangam
(मृदंग)

The Pakhawaj
(पखावज)

An important aspect of the Sama-Veda is that it is the first ever musical guides through the way in which the mantras/hymns are chanted, or from the verses therein. These are the first ever guides to music, in any form. The ‘ganas’ (the words ‘Gaan’ -singing, and ‘Gaana’, meaning ‘song’ has its origins here) is a section of this Veda which deals with various modulations, pauses and modifications of the verses which are altered by prolonging and inserting of various syllables.

The Sama-Veda typesetting

This Veda primarily describes and guides, in detail, towards ideal ways of preparation of offerings and ceremonial objects, ritual recitations, and libation of ‘Soma’, and attributes of each aspect of rituals. The best guide to offerings is found in the Shatapatha Brahmana - (one hundred paths towards Brahman).

The other important aspect of the Sama-Veda are the verses which search for the creation of the universe-(Brahmand-ब्रह्माण्ड) and all other creation of nature, including the primeval water. It also deals with light and darkness, differences between good and evil... and deals with the concept of ‘Time’.

The Sama-Veda has been instrumental in making the chanting of the Vedas more popular and engaging. For this, the section of 'SamaVeda-Samhita' deserves all the credit. There were numerous sections (books) in the  Samhita originally off which only three are extant, presently. If all sections of Samhita were available, the value of this Veda would have multiplied many folds.

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If there is more information available on this subject, kindly send me your comments and feeds.

Best Regards,
Siddharth S. Sinha
ssselan@yahoo.in