Essentials of Hinduism - Sama Veda Specials

Essentials of Hinduism

Sama Veda Specials

Agni (Fire), Appu (Water) –

Appu is the Mother of Agni. This passage talks about the fire contained inside the Water. Veda has restrictions for the following – prohibits urinating inside Water; spitting inside Water; should not bathe naked (without wearing any clothes); there is fire contained inside Water – if you disobey the above restrictions, Fire inside the Water will burn you! – These restrictions above are stated in the form of Mantras.

The water used for Prayers to Devatas everyday should not be kept dirty – this is like insulting the Devatas – this is a sin - states the Veda.

Water is Atma; protecting the Water is equivalent to protecting the Atma – this is stated in a Upanishad.

Protect the sanctity of the Water is the basic inner meaning in all these statements!

Cows (Pasu) –

During the Vedic times, Cows are considered equivalent to Gods; Cows were the benchmark (point of reference or standard) for the property worth of a Person. Even until the time of the Mahabharata War, this status prevailed.

Krishna Yajur Veda, Taittriya Samhita emphasizes the importance of taking care of the Cows and stresses: “that which should not be killed are the Cows”. The Sanctity and importance attached in our Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) for the Cows cannot be overemphasized than this Statement.

Statement addressed to the Cows: After you have grazed the good quality grass and produced a large quantity of milk, after allocating the portion of milk first for the benefit of the Devas (by way of Sacrifice), please provide us the milk for our everyday sustenance (nourishment). You should stay complete with good health, with adequate calf (baby cow), free of insects, free of diseases, sin free and the thieves should not steal you for making profit from you. Please stay with your owner caretaker for long, long time to come and stay protected. Yajur Veda Mantras are chanted when the Cows are sent for grazing in the Field – prior to performing the “Darsa Purnamasa” Yajna. The Veda calls the Cows as “Agniya” to mean that they should not be killed. Besides this name, there are other names for Cows stated in the Vedas. Rig Veda has stated eight (8) other names for the Cows besides Agniya (these names are not stated here). Everyone is aware “Gho” is another name for Cow – however, Agniya got the primary preference.

Na Himsiyat Sarva Bhutani – is the Veda-Vakya – emphasizes that “No Animals should be killed”. However, a person experiences greater share of sins by killing the Cow.

Rudra requested the Devas that He wanted the task of taking care of the Cows and got it granted – He got the name “Pasupati”; He also has the name “Agniyampati”.

Horses: Horses are used for the “Asvameda Yajna”. Here there are Veda Mantras that includes twelve (12) names for the horses for the Asvameda Horses. The Veda states – the horses love the name when called as “Vibuhu”.

The importance of name by which one is known is stated with a beautiful comparison with the name of our Supreme God “Paramatma”. According to the Tamil Pasuram, the Paramatma prefers to be called as “Narayana” among all the thousand names by which He may be known. He feels more intimate and private with an “One-On-One Relationship with his Devotee”.

Udgeeta stories: Udgeeta – Superior Sama Gaana!

1) A Person wandered in the Himalayan Mountains asked a Maha Rishi – Why Omkara (OM) is considered the most Superior Mantra. The Maha Rishi replied – Omkara is the essential substance of the “Sama Veda”; Sama Veda is the essential substance of the “Rig Veda”. The Rig Veda Mantras are known by the name of “Clarified Butter” – free of impurities.

2) Surya (Sun God) is referred as Udgeeta – among all You are the Greatest and sang Sama Gaana for this Statement; Our Prana (in and out breathing process) is known by the name of Udgeeta; Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Rig Veda together are known by the name of Udgeeta.

3) Beyond Svarga: Don’t go beyond the “Svarga”, is a Statement, because, that is equivalent to the Udgeeta Sama.

4) Sama Story: One disciple went to Chandogya Maharishi and asked him, what is meant by Sama. The Maharishi said, “Whatever produces Benefits is Sama; Whatever is Discipline (in order or under control) is Sama”. He explained further that there is Sama of different kinds – Land, Akasha, Surya, Svarga or World related Samas; Wind, Clouds, Rains, Lightning are Rain related Samas and so on.

5) Dharma: One Disciple asked for clarification regarding “Dharma” from a Maharishi Knowledgeable in the Sama Veda. Maharishi explained the details on performing of Yajnas to understand the three Lokas – the Yajna in the Morning should be done for the Vasus who are Knowledgeable about the Bhuloka; mid-day Yajna should be done for the Rudra, because, He is the Devata for Atmosphere; Evening Yajna should be done for the Visve- devas, because, they are Knowledgeable about the Heaven (Svarga). Any Dharma is considered superior to the Yajna Dharma? Yes, the Brahmachari (Bachelor) living in Guru- kula, serving the Guru and learning all the Veda details from him.

6) Surya and Vedas: One Sama Veda Maharishi explained the Greatness of the Surya (Sun God) and the Vedas. The Surya is like the deliciously sweet honey and there are no words that will completely describe the Greatness of Surya. In each of the four directions, five different kinds of rays emanate from Him. In the East Direction are the Rig Bees; in the West are the Sama Bees; in the South are the Yajur Bees; and in the North are the Atharvana Bees; and, in the Upper Rays are the Marma-Adesa Bees. The Surya is the essence of all the Vedas.

7) Brahma Loka Purushas (Gate Keepers): Brahma Loka has five Purushas. Prana (Surya) in the East, Apana (Agni) in the West, Vyana (Chandra) in the South, Samana (Parjanya/ Varuna) in the North; and Udana ( Vayu/Akaasha) in the Upper Direction.

8) Brahmam: One Disciple wanted Clarification for Brahmam from his Maharishi Shandilya. Maharishi said that Brahmam is a Bright Jyoti (Light) far beyond the Svarga – He is Bigger than the Bhuloka (Earth), Bhuvarloka (Antarakshi) and the Suvarloka or Svarga (Heaven). Also, His Other Form is, He is Extremely Small like smaller than a grain of rice and stays

inside our Jivatma.

9) This Universe’s Material Wealth: A Disciple wanted explanation for this Universe’s Material Wealth from Maharishi Aitaraya. The Maharishi said: Consider Svarga as the lid of a huge

box. Packed inside this box are the Land (Earth), Svarga, Agni, Vayu, Surya, Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and so on. This is the Universe’ Material Wealth. 10) The Story of the three Lokas: Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka came from the Origins of Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda respectively. Agni, Vayu and Surya (Sun) are their Essence. Also, they represent the Land, Akasha (Space) and Light.

11) The five Devas: Mind, Prana (Breath), Speech, Hearing, Eyes are represented by five Devas for their senses. All these senses are obviously parts of a Human Body. Everyone of them felt that he is the best among the five Devas. To settle their conflict they went to Prajapati. Prajapati settled their conflict by stating that the One who is the cause of the body’s death is the Greatest Deva. The Tongue (Speech) came out of the body. Then there was an absence of Speech, but, the Body was still alive. Similarly, the Mind, Ears, Eyes left the Body and found the Body lost the capacity of the missing “Sense”, but still survived to live. Finally, when the Prana tried to leave the Body, the Body struggled to survive. All other Organs agreed with Prana that he is the Greatest among all of them.

12) Agnihotra: Performing Agnihotra washes away our sins. It is a Nitya Karma to be performed by all Hindu Brahmins. There are six Prana-Devatas inside us – Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, Samana, Brahman. We need to take care of them – by pleasing and satisfying them. Completing this ritual by performing the Homa (Yajna) with Agni we ensure our Family’s Prosperity.

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.