Essentials of Hinduism - Sama Veda

Essentials of Hinduism

Sama Veda – Uttarachika

Please observe this – those who wish to offer oblations to the Gods, first Pray to the pure soma juice. “O Soma! Bringer of Energy! May you be purified through the process of straining. The soma juice gives us Strength; it is praised through the chanting of Hymns. O Soma! You know all that there is to be known. You are the storehouse of all Wisdom. O Agni! We are praying to you. Come to our Sacrifice. We light you with kindlings (dry wood sticks) and Clarified Butter. Burn Gloriously. Carry these offerings to the Gods in Heaven. Please take care of our welfare and increase our Wisdom.

O Mitra and Varuna! May we have a plentiful supply of sweet Food grains. You are the ones who accept oblations and are pleased with Hymns. Make the Sacrifice a Success. Drink the soma juice we have offered.

O Indra! The soma juice has been prepared for You. Please listen to the Hymns we are singing for your benefit. It is for you that the Mantras are being chanted.

Usha is Heaven’s Daughter. She appears and destroys the darkness. O Usha! After you and Surya appear, let us have a plentiful supply of Food grains.

O Ashvinis! Use your powers to protect those who are praying to You. You give us inspiration, you provide us with an abundant supply of Food grains.

O Soma! Be present at our Sacrifice. Grant us Food, Riches, Children and Grandchildren. Hymns from the Vedas are being chanted for the Sacrifice.

During the night, the rays of the Surya are to be found in the light of the Moon. So it has been said.

O priests! Chant with sweet Hymns for Mitra and Varuna. These two Gods are full of Valor. The Hymns will bring them to the Sacrifice. It is they who create Water. They will also grant us riches through their Energy. Sing to the glory of the pure soma juice. Soma is the protector of the Gods, he is the one who increases our Happiness.

Veda Mantras – Blessed is the one who studies the Mantras collected by the Sages. These Mantras Purify, they bring Welfare. These Mantras are like Immortal Nectar, preserved by the Brahmanas learned in the Vedas. These Mantras are like the manifestations of the Gods themselves. Let us be sanctified by them. We will be freed through the studying and chanting of these Hymns on a regular basis. They will, for sure, help us to make us Immortal.

Saraswati – We call upon Saraswati. She will grant us Children, Grand Children and Riches. The river Saraswati is fit to be prayed to. (Saraswati was a Goddess in the Vedas, but she was not the Goddess of Learning. She was also a River. It was only subsequently that Saraswati became the Goddess of Learning.

O Brahaspati! Make us Learned, may the flow of Knowledge course (route) through our Bodies.

O Valiant Maruts! Grant us all our Wishes.

O Dyavaprithivi! May Heaven and Earth listen to our Prayers. May we obtain the objects that we Desire. May our sacrifice be a Success.

O Vishnu! I praise your sacred name. May you never be far away from us. Many are the rays that radiate from your being. I pray to you, I offer you oblations. Please accept my oblations. O Vayu! You are the lord of all Power. We are offering the soma juice on the occasion of the Sacrifice.

O Men! In the intention of worshipping the Devas, please chant Sama Gaana for the pure Soma. O Mitra and Varuna! You are worshipped by Jamadagni and You strengthen the Satya (Truth). Please drink the soma juice. O Indra! We invite you with our Prayers and by our Mind. Arrive at our home from the Clouds and Heaven. Please drink the soma juice. O Soma! You are shining bright and you bring Happiness to us. Drink the soma juice on behalf of Indra. For the sake of developing Strength, sing Sama Gaana for Agni in every Yajna. We will Pray to the friendly and learned Agni. Grow with the soma sprinkles. O Indra! We are inviting you for the Sacrifice and we know our security is ensured. We will sing Sama Gaana and offer you soma juice. Indra is invited by different people for different kind of requirements and you are ever popular among us. Please provide us the riches. We sing Sama Gaana for your Satya (Truth). We will praise you at all times. You provide us the Jnyanas, Foodgrains, Riches. The Maharishis chant prayers for You. The Devatas perform Yajna in all the three Lokas. Let our prayers help these Yajnas.

O Indra! The soma juice that is prepared for You is Pure and Sacred. Please drink it soon. You have a lot of riches and provide them to us and make us Happy.

O Agni! You are the show of strength, affectionate, a Learned Messenger to the Gods, You are the best in the Sacrifices offered – we Worship you and invite You to the Sacrifice. O Asvinis! We invite You to the Yajnas performed in the early Morning. Please provide us the security we need. O Men! Please sing Sama Gaana for the Devatas, for the Bhu Loka, and for the sacred Soma. The Soma attracts everyone in the Universe like the Swan Bird (Anna Pakshi). O Soma! The Vedas are there for You! Most of the Sama Gaanas are chanted for Indra only. Also, most of the Mantras chanted are done for Indra only. Indra provides riches for such of his earnest Devotees.

O Indragni! This Worship in Mind, that matches the rains from the clouds, is especially for you. Please listen to our requests and grant our requests.”

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.