Essentials of Hinduism

Essentials of Hinduism

Sama Veda

The three (3) Paths to “Moksha” are believed to be those of: Jnyana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion) and Karma (Action). Sama Veda is identified with the Path of Bhakti (Devotion). To pass on the immense treasurable Knowledge of the Vedas from Generation to Generation, Vedavyasa trained four Rishis – Rig Veda to Paila Rishi, Yajur Veda to Vaisampayana Rishi, Sama Veda to Jaimini Rishi and Atharvana Veda to Sumantu Rishi.

The word “Sama” means sweet songs or Hymns. Since the Sama Veda consists of such Hymns, it is known as the Sama Veda. Perhaps a point needs to be mentioned about these Sama Hymns. These Hymns were sung so that the initial pitch or volume was high and was gradually reduced. Since the pitch never fluctuated between a high and a low, the listener’s Mind was gradually lulled (calmed) and drawn towards an inner peace. Sama Hymns were not pure Mantras, nor, were they pure songs. They were a mixture of the two. In order to make Sama Veda explicitly clear for a novice, a Chart of Sama Veda is given in this Chapter. The Sama Veda is broadly classified into the Karma Kanda (Rituals) and the Jnyana Kanda (Supreme Knowledge of the Brahman). The Karma Kanda have sub-parts of Samhitas and Brahmanas. The Samhita consist of Mantras and because these Mantras are quite difficult to interpret without commentaries, we have the second sub-part that are known as the Brahmanas.

Sama Veda Samhita:

The Sama Veda Samhita is composed entirely in the metrical (musical) form. It is about half as long as the Rig Veda Samhita and also borrows considerably from the Rig Veda Samhita.

This shows that the Sama Veda Samhita was composed after the Rig Veda Samhita. Of these, only two Shakas are now available. The others are lost. The two that are available are: Ranayaneeya (has eight sub-divisions, not named) and Goutama (with six sub-divisions, not named). What circulates by the name of the Sama Veda today is based on these two branches. The Sama Veda consists of 1875 Mantras with around 4000 Hymns that are derived from Rig, Yajur and Atharvana Vedas. These are divided into two broad groups. The first group is known as Purvachika and consists of 650 Mantras. The second group is the Uttararchika and consists of the remaining 1225 Mantras. The Sama Veda Mantras have a total of 55 Devatas (not listed here). The two Principal Upanishads under the Sama Veda are: Chandogya Upanishad and the Kena Upanishad. These two Upanishads are covered in detail in Chapter 31. There are eighteen (18) Sutras in Sama Veda (not listed here). Sama Veda has five (5) Chandas: Gayatri, Anushtup, Trishtup, Jagati and Pankti and the most widely used Chandas is Gayatri.

Gayatri Chandas is based after the Veda. The One who can withstand the Gayatri constituting the Physical, Mental, Surrounding strengths (Bala) alone will be capable of learning the Vedas.

Sama Gaana:

There are four (4) kinds: (1) Vayya Gaana – this is known by Prakriti (natural). One Sama will have one or more Gaanas; (2) Aranyay Kayya Gaana – this Gaana is suitable for being practiced in the forests. This is also called Arana Gaana and contains details to be learned in quieter surroundings; (3) Ooha Gaana – this Gaana is practiced in accordance with your mental imaginations; (4) Vina Gaana – this is known as secret Gaana to be practiced privately. The singing of Sama has great Spiritual effect.

Chandas is a format, with Grammar, adopted to chant the Veda Mantras. The Rishis of the Vedic times listened very carefully to the thunder sounds, the soft rain falling sounds, and other nature’s sounds and created Chandas, Swaras for these sounds. Not only these – the Rishis even made Sama Gaana Chandas and Swaras for wild animals’ roars, birds’ chirpings, waterfalls’ sounds and so on.

Normally, everyone will not be able to chant the Sama Gaana. We need the grace of a talented Guru. To state further, we need Guru-Kula-Vasa (live with the Guru and learn). Only by chanting the Sama Gaana routinely, we get the practice. The Sama Gaana Mantra Swaras consist of Sapta Swaras (seven Swaras) – Sadja, Rishaba, Gandara, Madhyama, Panchama, Daivata, Nishada in this order. These same Swaras are known by Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni in this order in the Today’s Classical Music World.

Sthoba:

Sthoba means a location to stop. Those who chant Sama Gaana strictly adopt this rule. There are different characters and each character has a meaning:

Ha Oo = World; Ha E = Vayu; Adha = Moon (chandra); Ida = Atma (Soul); Ee = Agni; Oo = Sun (Surya); Yay = Sound used to call; Ow Ho = Visvedevas; Hoom = Prajapati; Swara = Prana; Yaa = Swan; Vaga = Big Swan.

Diksha (Purification Process) is provided with Sama Gaana. After obtaining the Diksha, the Sama Gaana is practiced with an inner Peace and Happiness.

Sama secrets:

It is necessary to recapitulate (review again and again) the Sama, Veda, Mantra, Devata, Rishi, Chandas, Swara secrets. The Chandogya Upanishad emphasizes that whatever is simple and produces fame is Sama. He will obtain all comforts. Sa means comfort, Ama is Agni – these two together is one Sama. Veda is Satya and Strength. It is not easy to learn Sama Veda because it is as wide as Akasha.

The Gods of the Sama Veda:

The Veda cannot really be appreciated without some sort of an understanding of the Gods mentioned in the Veda. The three (3) Major Gods of the Veda are Agni, Indra or Vayu and Surya. Agni ruled over the Earth (Prithivi), Indra or Vayu ruled over the Atmosphere (Antariksha) and Surya ruled over the Heaven (Dyuloka). All other Gods are regarded as manifestations of these three Gods. To be more specific, all Gods on Earth were identified with Agni, all Gods in the Atmosphere were identified with Indra or Vayu, and all Gods in Heaven were identified with Surya. Many scholars have suggested that the Gods of the Veda are Nature Gods. To some extent this is true. Another thing – whenever a Hymn is addressed to a particular God, that God comes to be ascribed with all the Divine qualities. The chief Gods of the Heaven are Mitra, Varuna, Surya/Savita/Pusha, Vishnu, the two Ashvinis, Usha and Chandra. The Chief Gods of the Atmosphere are Indra, Vayu, Parjanya, Rudra and the Maruts. The Rudra of the Vedas is not the Rudra of the Puranas. In the Veda, Rudra is a God of the Wind. The Maruts are also Wind Gods and are regarded as the offspring of the Rudra. Purandara is another name for Indra. Parjanya rules over the Herbs, the Rains and is a personification of the Clouds. The chief Gods of the Earth are Agni, Brihaspati, Soma and Saraswati. Agni is the main God of the Earth, and He is the Fire God. In the Veda, Saraswati is not the Goddess of Learning, She is a River.

DETAILS

In the details, the Purvachika and the Uttararchika sections of the Sama Veda will be covered. There are 99 Kandas in the Sama Veda Samhita. Purvachika section covers Kandas 1 to 66; Uttararchika section covers Kandas 67 to 99. However, the details for Purvachika and Uttararchika will not address individual Kandas and will identify only the subjects selected at random in order to give a good overview of the Sama Veda.

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.