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| * Shukla Yajurveda has two samhitas : '''Maadhyandina and Kanva''' | | * Shukla Yajurveda has two samhitas : '''Maadhyandina and Kanva''' |
| * Krishna yajurveda has four Samhitas : '''मैत्रायणि || Maitrayani, कथा || Katha, कपिस्थल-कथा || Kapisthala-Katha, तैत्रिय || Taittiriya''' | | * Krishna yajurveda has four Samhitas : '''मैत्रायणि || Maitrayani, कथा || Katha, कपिस्थल-कथा || Kapisthala-Katha, तैत्रिय || Taittiriya''' |
| + | * The Vajasaneyi-Samhita gives a vivid description of many important sacrifices such as - Darsha-purnamasa, Somayaga, Chaturmasya, Agnihotra, Vajapeya, Ashvamedha, Sarva-medha, Brahma-yajna, Pitrimedha, Sautramani, and so on. For a general idea the contents can be divided into three sections. The first section comprises the ''Darshapurnamasa'', the second section deals with the ''Somayaga'' and the third section comprises the ''Agnicayanas''. The last section of the Vajasaneyi-Samhita contains the popular Ishavasya-Upanishad. |
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| === Sama samhita === | | === Sama samhita === |
− | The SamaSamhita contains mantras in the form of songs meant for liturgy or public worship. The Yajur-Samhita contains verities of mantras composed in the poetical and the prose forms. The Atharva-Samhita contains mantras meant for routine rites and rituals.<ref name=":022" /> | + | The SamaSamhita contains mantras in the form of songs meant for liturgy or public worship. The Samaveda is shortest of all the four Vedas. It is closely connected with the Rigveda. It is important to note that the Samhita of the Samaveda is an independent collection (Samhita), yet it has taken many verses, a large number indeed, from the Samhita of Rigveda. These verses are chiefly derived from the eighth and the ninth Mandalas of the Rigveda. |
| + | * The Samaveda Samhita consists of 1549 stanzas, taken almost entirely (except for 75 mantras) from the Rigveda. |
| + | * The Samaveda is compiled exclusively for ritual application, for its verses are all meant to be chanted at the ceremonies of the Soma-sacrifice and procedures derived from it. The Samaveda is, therefore, specially intended for the ''Udagatr'' priest. |
| + | * The Samaveda samhita comprises two major parts. The first part include four melody collections (gāna, गान) and the second part three verse “books” (ārcika, आर्चिक). The Archika is also separated in two. - the Purvarcika, and the Uttararcika. |
| + | * Its stanzas assume their proper character of musical ''samans'' or chants only in the various song-books called ''Ganas''. According to the Jaiminiya Sutra - 'Melody is called Saman.' |
| + | * Saama Gana or singing of hymns as per the rules of Sama Veda is said to be the basis and source of the seven svaras or notes fundamental to the Indian music systems. |
| + | * According to the ancient tradition, told by Patanjali, the Samaveda had 1000 ''Shakhas''. But at present there are only three Shakas. These are – '''(1) Kauthuma, (2) Jaiminiya, (3)Ranayaniya.''' |
| + | * Famous Chandogya Upanishad belongs to this veda. |
| + | Traditional the Vedas are spoken as''<nowiki/>'Trayi''<nowiki/>', because thay are composed of three kinds in mantras- Rcs or verses, Yajus or prose, Saman or chants. |
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| + | Among the four Vedas, the Samaveda is regarded as the foremost. In the Bhagavadgata, where Lord Krishna has declared "Among the Vedas I am Samaveda"-''Vedanama Samavedosmi'' (Gita, 10.22). Here Indra, Agni and Soma deities are mainly invoked and praised but most of the time these prayers seem to be the invocations for the Supreme Being. In the spiritual sense Soma represents All-pervading, Glorious Lord and Brahman, who is attainable only through devotion and musical chanting. |
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| + | Thus major theme of the Samaveda can be regarded as worship and devotion (''Upasana''). |
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| + | === Atharva Samhita === |
| + | The Atharva-Samhita contains mantras meant for routine rites and rituals.<ref name=":022" /> |
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| Swami Dayananda Saraswati made extraordinary efforts to bring out the significance of the mantras of the Vedas. Shri Aurobindo also challenged the Western philosophers and opined that the mantras are found to express esoteric truths which the Westerners can not grasp. He strove hard to elucidate the cryptic meanings of the Vedic words and the hymns.<ref name=":022" /> | | Swami Dayananda Saraswati made extraordinary efforts to bring out the significance of the mantras of the Vedas. Shri Aurobindo also challenged the Western philosophers and opined that the mantras are found to express esoteric truths which the Westerners can not grasp. He strove hard to elucidate the cryptic meanings of the Vedic words and the hymns.<ref name=":022" /> |
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| A collective study of Vedas and later text suggests that the compendium of ''Samhitas'' and associated Vedic texts were far larger than currently available. However, most have been lost at some point or over a period of Indian history.<ref>Stephen Knapp (2005), The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination, ISBN 978-0595350759, pages 9-16</ref> | | A collective study of Vedas and later text suggests that the compendium of ''Samhitas'' and associated Vedic texts were far larger than currently available. However, most have been lost at some point or over a period of Indian history.<ref>Stephen Knapp (2005), The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment and Illumination, ISBN 978-0595350759, pages 9-16</ref> |
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− | == Examples == | + | == Famous Examples == |
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| === Rig veda === | | === Rig veda === |
| The [[Gayatri mantra]] is among the famous Hindu mantras. It is found in Rig Veda Samhita. | | The [[Gayatri mantra]] is among the famous Hindu mantras. It is found in Rig Veda Samhita. |
− | :: ॐ भूर्भुवस्व: | तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् | भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि | धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात् | + | :: ॐ भूर्भुवस्व: | तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् | भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि | धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात् (Rig Veda 3.62.10) |
− | :: ''Oṁ Bhūr Bhuva~Swah', Tat savitur varenyam, Bhargo devasya dhīmahi, Dhiyo yo nah prachodayāt'' | + | :: ''Oṁ Bhūr Bhuva~Swah', Tat savitur varenyam, Bhargo devasya dhīmahi, Dhiyo yo nah prachodayāt (Rig Veda 3.62.10)'' |
| :: Let us meditate on that excellent glory of the divine Light (Sun). May he inspire our thoughts, stimulate our understandings. | | :: Let us meditate on that excellent glory of the divine Light (Sun). May he inspire our thoughts, stimulate our understandings. |
− | :: – [[Rig Veda]] 3.62.10
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− | === Sama veda ===
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− | [[Albrecht Weber|Weber]] noted that the ''Samhita'' of [[Samaveda]] is an anthology taken from the Rigveda-Samhita. The difference is in the refinement and application of arts such as melody, meters of music and literary composition.<ref name="fstaal22">Frits Staal (2009), Discovering the Vedas: Origins, Mantras, Rituals, Insights, Penguin, ISBN 978-0143099864, pages 107-115</ref> Thus, the root hymn that later became the ''Rathantara'' (Excellent Chariot) mantra chant is found in both Rigveda and Samaveda Samhitas, as follows
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− | :: Rigveda form: ''Abhi tva sura nonumo 'dugdha iva dhenavah | isanam asya jagatah svardrsam isanam indra tasthusah''
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− | :: Samaveda form: ''obhitvasuranonumova | adugdha iva dhenava isanamasya jagatassuvardrsam | isanama indra | ta sthu sa o va ha u va | as |''
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− | :: Translation (same for both):
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− | :: We cry out for you, hero, like unmilked cows to the lord of the living world !
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− | :: To the lord of the unmoving world who eye is the sun, O [[Indra]] !
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− | === Yajur veda ===
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− | The hymns in Section 4.1.5 of the Yajurveda ''Samhita'', dedicated to several ancient deities, state:<ref name="edward22">Edward F Crangle (1994), The Origin and Development of Early Indian Contemplative Practices, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, ISBN 978-3447034791, page 32</ref>
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− | {{Quote|
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− | May the [[Vasu]]s prepare you, with the [[gayatri]] meter, you are the earth,<br>
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− | May the [[Rudra]]s prepare you, with the [[tristubh]] meter, you are the sky.<br>
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− | May the [[Aditya]]s prepare you, with the jagati meter, you are the heaven.<br>
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− | May the [[Visvedevas]], common to all men, prepare you, with the [[Anuṣṭubh|anustubh]] meter, you are the directions.<br>
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− | You are the unchanging direction, make unchanging in me children, abundance of wealth, abundance of cattle, abundance of heroism.
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− | |[[Taittiriya]] Samhita|4.1.5<ref name=hpa>Harvey P. Alper (2012), Understanding Mantras, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120807464, pages 75-76</ref>}}
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− | === Atharva veda ===
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− | A hymn in the Atharva Veda Samhita, for example, is a woman's petition to deity [[Agni]], to attract suitors and a good husband.<ref>[[s:Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book II/Hymn 36|Atharva Veda Samhita, Book 2 Hymn 36: To get a husband for a woman]], Translator: [[William Dwight Whitney]], Atharva Veda Samhita Series - Harvard University (Editor: [[Charles Rockwell Lanman]]), Wikisource</ref>
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− | {{Quote|
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− | May O Agni!, a suitor after this girl's heart come to her,<br>
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− | May he come to this maiden with fortune!<br>
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− | May she be agreeable to suitors, charming at festivals, promptly obtain happiness through a husband!
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− | |[[Atharvaveda|Atharva Veda]]|2.36<ref name=rp>Rajbali Pandey (1969), Hindu Saṁskāras: Socio-religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120803961, pages 162-163</ref>}}
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− | === Post-Vedic Samhitas ===
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− | There are many well known books written in the post-vedic period, also known as Samhitas or Sanhitas, because the word “Samhita” also means “systematic compilation of knowledge”. Vedic samhitas should not be confused with these samhitas of post-vedic period.
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− | Some post-vedic Samhitas are: [[Ashtavakra Gita]], [[Bhrigu Samhita]], [[Brahma Samhita]], [[Charaka Samhita]], [[Deva Samhita]], [[Garga|Garga Samhita]], [[Gheranda Samhita]], [[Kashyap Samhita]], [[Shiva Samhita]], [[Sushruta Samhita]] (a treatise on food and medicine), [[Yogayajnavalkya Samhita]].{{cn|date=January 2015}}
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| == References Keep 1,2,3,4,10 remove the rest == | | == References Keep 1,2,3,4,10 remove the rest == |