Indian Philosophy.Sam Veda.

Sam Veda.
Sam Veda is the religious chant of, the expression of hymns from the Vedas. The practice dates back at least 3,000 years and is probably the world's oldest continuous vocal tradition. The earliest collection, or Samhita, of Vedic texts is the Rigveda, containing about 1,000 hymns. These are chanted in syllabic style--a type of heightened speech with one syllable to a tone. Three levels of pitch are employed: a basic reciting tone is embellished by neighboring tones above and below, which are used to emphasize grammatical accents in the texts. These Rig-veda hymns are the basis for a later collection, the Sama-veda, theVeda of the Chants, the hymns of which are sung in a style that is more florid, melodic, and melismatic, one word to two or more note, rather than syllabic, and the range of tones is extended to six or more. A simple, numerical system of notation--together with an oral tradition that stresses absolute precision in text, intonation, and bodily gestures--has served to perpetuate this stable tradition and to ensure its uniformity throughout India. The Vedas are chanted today exactly as they were centuries ago.


1. Invite ye Indra with a song to drink your draught of Soma steeds, juice,
All-conquering Satakratu, most munificent of all who live
2. Sing ye a song, to make him glad, to Indra, Lord of tawny
The Soma-drinker, O my friends!
3. This, even this, O Indra, we implore: as thy devoted friends
The Kanvas praise thee with their hymns!
4. For Indra, lover of carouse, loud be our songs about the juice
Let poets sing the song of praise.
5. Here, Indra, is thy Soma draught, made pure upon the sacred grass:
Run heither, come and drink thereof
6. As a good cow to him who milks, we call the doer of good deeds
To our assistance duty by day.
7. Hero, the Soma being shed, I pour the juice for thee to drink
Sate thee and finish thy carouse!
8. The Soma, Indra, which is shed in saucers and in cups for thee,
Drink thou, for thou art lord thereof!
9. In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,
Indra, the mightiest of all.
10. O come ye hither, sit ye down: to Indra sing ye forth your song,
Companions, bringing hymns of praise.

The word Sama means sweet songs or hymns. It is said that Sama Veda had originally 1000 sakhas but only 13 are available now -
1. Ranayana
2. Shatyamukhya
3. Vyasa
4. Bhaguri
5. Oulundi
6. Goulgulvi
7. Bhanuman-oupamayava
8. Karati
9. Mashaka Gargya
10. Varsgagavya
11 Kuthuma
12. sgakugitra
13. Jaimini
At present only three Ramayana, Kuthuma and Jaimini, are available. Samaveda consists of 1875 mantras. These mantras are divided into two broad groups- puravachika (650 mantras) and Uttarachika (1225 manrtas). Purvachika is further divided into four sections or kandas: agneya, aindra, pavamana and aranya kandas. The Uttarachika consists of 21chapters.