Samhita (संहिता)

Samhita (Sanskrit: सम्हिता, saṁhitā) literally means "put together, joined" and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses". Samhita has been used as a synonym for Vedas and hence used in exchange for each other. Though many western scholars, not unanimously though, have dated the Vedas to several thousands of years ago, till date many scholars and followers of Sanatana Dharma believe in the agelessness and timelessness of these ancient texts.

The Samhitas are considered to be basic revealed texts. These are recited in chain like arrangements of words, with no break, no punctuation, and order not be disturbed by arbitrary human meddling. 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.

परिचय || Introduction

The Vedas have been divided into four styles of texts:

1. the Samhitas,
2. the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas and the Upanishads. The Samhitas are sometimes identified as karma-kanda (कर्म खण्ड, action/ritual-related section), while the Upanishads are identified as jnana-kanda (ज्ञान खण्ड, knowledge/spirituality-related section).The Aranyakas and Brahmanas are variously classified, sometimes as the ceremonial karma-kanda, other times (or parts of them) as the jnana-kanda.

Another opinion states: "The Samhitas and the Brahmanas form the Karma-Kanda segment of the Vedas. They are apparently concerned with the ceremonial rites and rituals. The Aranyakas and the Upanishads form the Gyan-Kanda segment of the Vedas. They explicitly focus on the philosophy and spiritualism.

Another learned author says: These are four different modes of expressing the same truths, each as a cross check against others so that misrepresentations are avoided, a method used and valid even today.

Samhita also refers to the most ancient layer of text in the Vedas, consisting of mantras and slokas (a group of mantras or verses).

व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology

Samhita is a Sanskrit word from the roots, sam (सं) and hita (हित), which mean "correct, proper" and "wholesome, arranged" respectively. The combination word thus means "put together , joined, compose, arrangement, place together, union" and "combination of letters according to euphonic rules, any methodically arranged collection of texts or verses".

Four Samhitas

The Samhitas form the first part of each of the Vedas. A Samhita is a collection of mantras, so the Samhitas are sometimes also referred to as the ‘mantras’. Most of the mantras were concerned with the nature and the deities. Generally, the mantras are addressed to the Gods and Goddesses.

The Samhitas are named after the Vedas they belong to. For example, the Samhita of the Rig Veda is called the Rig-Veda-Samhita or the Rig-Samhita. The Rig-Samhita contains the mantras known as ‘rks’, while those of Yajur veda are called 'yajus', Sama Veda mantras are called 'saman'. These mantras are structured metered verses in Rig veda while prose form is seen in Yajurveda mantras.

Rig Samhita

The Rigveda is the oldest, biggest of the four Vedas and the most highly valued work of the Hindus. This Samhita (Collection) is unique in its nature. The present form of this Samhita clearly indicates that the collection is not a single work, but consists of multiple elements, thus, intact through thousands of years are the seeds of India's religious and philosophical development. Various indications of language, style and ideas prove this point.

Different mantras of this Samhita were composed long before they were systematically arranged. Being a compilation of different stages, there is something which stamps the Rigveda with an individuality of its own. It is much more natural in character and form than other Samhitas.

Rik, from the root rc means ‘to praise’. Variously called as 'rk', 'richas', 'rig' or 'Rik' is the name given to those Mantras which are meant for the praise of the deities. Thus the collection (Samhita) of Riks is known as Rigveda-Samhita.

• Only one Shaka (school) of the Rigveda is available today called as Shaakala. The Purāṇa literature gives ample information about the existence of Śākhā-Saṁhitās. Deviations in text, order and number of ṛk mantras started giving rise to different Śākhā-Saṁhitās from the time of Ācārya Paila; Patañjali referring to twenty­ one Śākhā-Saṁhitās of the Ṛgveda (Ref 2) the Āśvalāyana-Saṁhitā being one of them.
• It contains about 10,552 Mantras (about 10, 170 rks according to some other scholars) and 1, 028 suktas.
• It is classified into ten books called Mandalas.
• Each Mandala is divided into several sections called Anuvakas.
• Each Anuvaka consists of a number of Suktas (hymns).
• Each Sukta is made up of a number of Mantras (verses) called riks.
• Every Rik has a Rishi (Mantra Drashta), a Devata (deity) and a Chandas (meter). 
• Mantras are revealed to several rishis called Mantra Drashtas including some brahmavaadinis like Lopamudra and Vak Ambhrni.
• The Samhita of the Rigveda thus comprises of 10 Mandalas, 85 Anuvakas, 1028 Suktas and 10552 Mantras. Usually Anuvaka is not mentioned for the reference of a Mantra of the Rigveda. For example RV 3.16.7 simply means the seventh Mantra of the sixteenth Sukta of the third Mandala of the Rigveda.
• It begins with a sukta to Agni and concludes with a sukta to the same deity. Agni sukta (01.01.01) by Rushi : Madhucchanda Visvamitra, Devata : Agni, Chandas: Gayatri goes as follows

" अग्निसूक्तम् in प्रथमं मण्डलम्।"

" ९ मधुच्छन्दा वैश्वामित्रः । अग्निः।  गायत्री। "

" अ॒ग्निमी॑ळे पु॒रोहि॑तं य॒ज्ञस्य॑ दे॒वमृ॒त्विज॑म् । होता॑रं रत्न॒धात॑मम् ॥१"

" अ॒ग्निः पूर्वे॑भि॒र्ऋषि॑भि॒रीड्यो॒ नूत॑नैरु॒त । स दे॒वाँ एह व॑क्षति ॥२"

" अ॒ग्निना॑ र॒यिम॑श्नव॒त् पोष॑मे॒व दि॒वेदि॑वे । य॒शसं॑ वी॒रव॑त्तमम् ॥३"

" अग्ने॒ यं य॒ज्ञम॑ध्व॒रं वि॒श्वत॑: परि॒भूरसि॑ । स इद् दे॒वेषु॑ गच्छति ॥४"

" अ॒ग्निर्होता॑ क॒विक्र॑तुः स॒त्यश्चि॒त्रश्र॑वस्तमः । दे॒वो दे॒वेभि॒रा ग॑मत् ॥५"

" यद॒ङ्ग दा॒शुषे॒ त्वमग्ने॑ भ॒द्रं क॑रि॒ष्यसि॑ । तवेत् तत् स॒त्यम॑ङ्गिरः ॥६"

" उप॑ त्वाग्ने दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ दोषा॑वस्तर्धि॒या व॒यम् । नमो॒ भर॑न्त॒ एम॑सि ॥७"

" राज॑न्तमध्व॒राणां॑ गो॒पामृ॒तस्य॒ दीदि॑विम् । वर्ध॑मानं॒ स्वे दमे॑ ॥८"

" स न॑: पि॒तेव॑ सू॒नवे ऽग्ने॑ सूपाय॒नो भ॑व । सच॑स्वा नः स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥९"

As seen in the above example, the Vedic mantras are notated with lines above and below the letters which indicate the svara or tone of the particular letter in which it has to be uttered. The information about Vedic Language, the tones and accents used are explained in Siksha part of the Vedaangas. This division of the Rigveda is most popular and systematic. There is also the ashtaka system of dividing the contents of the Rigveda, but today that is uncommon among the students of the Veda.The value of the Rigveda today is not confined to India, for its well-preserved language and mythology have helped a better understanding of languages, literatures and cultures of the whole world. The concluding sukta of the Rgveda (10.191) also has Agni as Devata and should be regarded as having a higher significance than the national anthem of any country: it is a prayer for amity among all nations, a true international anthem. Rushi : Samvanana Angirasa, Devata : Agni, Chandas: Anusthub and Tristubh

" संगठन सूक्त"

" ४ संवनन आङ्गिरसः। १ अग्निः,२-४ संज्ञानम्। अनुष्टुप्, ३ त्रिष्टुप्।"

" संस॒मिद्यु॑वसे वृष॒न्नग्ने॒ विश्वा॑न्य॒र्य आ । इ॒ळस्प॒दे समि॑ध्यसे॒ स नो॒ वसू॒न्या भ॑र ॥१"

" सं ग॑च्छध्वं॒ सं व॑दध्वं॒ सं वो॒ मनां॑सि जानताम् । दे॒वा भा॒गं यथा॒ पूर्वे॑ संजाना॒ना उ॒पास॑ते ॥२"

" स॒मा॒नो मन्त्र॒: समि॑तिः समा॒नी स॑मा॒नं मन॑: स॒ह चि॒त्तमे॑षाम् । स॒मा॒नं मन्त्र॑म॒भि म॑न्त्रये वः समा॒नेन॑ वो ह॒विषा॑ जुहोमि ॥३"

" स॒मा॒नी व॒ आकू॑तिः समा॒ना हृद॑यानि वः । स॒मा॒नम॑स्तु वो॒ मनो॒ यथा॑ व॒: सुस॒हास॑ति ॥४"

Meaning : "May mankind be of one mind, " it goes. "May it have a common goal. May all hearts be united in love. And with the mind and the goal being one may all of us live in happiness".

Among the 1028 Suktas of the Rigveda Samhita some suktas are very popular and frequently referred by the readers of Vedas. Some of them are:

1. Purusha Sukta

2. Hiranya-garbha Sukta

3. Dhana-anna-dana Sukta

4. Aksha Sukta

5. Nasadiya Sukta

6. Duhsvapna-nashna Sukta

7. Yama-yami-samvada Sukta

Besides this, there are Suktas offered to different deities, such as, Indra, Marut, Rudra, Varuna, Ushas, Surya, Bhumi, Soma, and Agni.

Yajus Samhita

In its character Yajurveda is quite different from the Rigveda & Samaveda Samhitas. It is principally in prose form. The word 'Yajush' in the Yajurveda is explained variously. But one of its definitions says -

" 'Gadyatmakam yajuh' A ‘Yajuh’ is that which is in prose form'. "

Another definition –

" ‘Yajur Yajateh’ "

talks about its relation with the sacrifice (Yajna) because both the terms are derived from the root. 'Yaj '.

• The Yajurveda is a ritual Veda for it is essentially a guide-book for the Adhvaryu priest who had to do practically all ritualistic works in a sacrifice. His works vary from the selection of a plot of land for the sacrificial altar down to offering oblations to the sacred fires. Just as the Samaveda-Samhita is the song-book of the Udgata priest, so the Yajurveda-Samhitas are the mantra-books for the Adhvaryu priest. It is solely meant for the purposes of sacrificial rituals.
• The Yajurveda is also important for its presentation of philosophical doctrines. It preaches the concept of Prana and Manas also. Many times, it is quoted for depicting religious and social life of the Vedic people. It is also known for giving certain geographical data.
• The Yajurveda is two-fold-     1. The Shukla Yajurveda             2. The Krishna  Yajurveda
• The Krishna Yajurveda is characterised by a mixture of mantra and brahmana whereas the Shukla Yajurveda maintains the clear separation of the two.
• The Shukla Yajurveda is related with the Aditya-school and the Krishna Yajurveda is related with the Brahma-school.
• Origin of Two Shakas: Rishi Vaishampayana taught the Yajurveda to Rishi Yajnavalkya and other pupils. Once Vaishampayana got angry with Yajyavalkya and asked him to give up what he had learnt. Then Yajyavalkya prayed to the Sun, who came to him in the form of a horse i.e. Vaji) and preached him the Veda. Hence this Shukla Yajurveda was also named Vajasaneyi.
• Shukla Yajurveda has two samhitas : Maadhyandina and Kanva
• 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.

Sama samhita

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'Trayi', because thay are composed of three kinds in mantras- Rcs or verses, Yajus or prose, Saman or chants.

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.

Thus major theme of the Samaveda can be regarded as worship and devotion (Upasana).

Atharva Samhita

The Atharva-Samhita contains mantras meant for routine rites and rituals. Atharvan denotes directions and mantras especially in connection to ward off evil and hardship and also contains philosophical thoughts. 'Atharvan' originally means 'priest' and the Mantras in the Atharvaveda-Samhita were brought to light by Rishi Atharva.

• According to Patanjali, Atharvaveda had nine Shakhas, but the Samhita of the Atharvaveda is today available only in two rescensions - the Shaunaka and the Paippalada.
• It is the Shaunaka-Samhita that is frequently meant when the Atharvaveda is mentioned in ancient and modern literature. It is a collection of 730 hymns containing 5987 Mantras, divided into 20 books (Kandas). Some 1200 verses are derived from the Rigveda. About one sixth of the text of the Atharvaveda including two entire books (15 and 16) is written in prose, similar in style and language to the Brahmanas, the rest of the text is in poetic verses.
• The Atharvaveda is the oldest literary monument of Indian medicine. It is believed to be the origin of Ayurveda, the Indian science of medicine.
• There are a series of Mantras related to cure various physical and mental diseases. Another class of hymns includes prayers for protection from the bite of snakes or injurious insects. We find mention and application of medicines and medicinal herbs. This feature distinguishes the Atharvaveda from the rest of the Vedas.
• It contains numerous Mantras, which according to their subject-matter, can be broadly divided into three categories: 1. Related to the cure of diseases and destruction of adverse forces. 2. Related to establish peace, protection, health, wealth, friendship and long life. 3. Related to the nature of Supreme Reality, time, death and immortality.

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.

Famous Examples

Rig veda

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 (Rig Veda 3.62.10)

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.

References

1. Narayanacharya, K S. (2006). Insights Into the Taittiriya Upanishad. Mysore : Kautilya Institute of National Studies.
2. Bhattacharya, A. (2006). Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology. United States : iUniverse.
3. http://indianscriptures.50webs.com/partveda.htm
4. Rigveda Samhita, First Mandala (in Sanskrit).
5. Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji. (). Hindu Dharma, Part 5 ,Chapter 27. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
6. Rigveda Samhita,Overview.