Bharatiya Sangita Shastra (भारतीयसङ्गीतशास्त्रम्)

The roots of Indian classical music are traced back to the Vedic literature.The सामवेद, भरतमुनि's नाट्यशास्त्रम्, and सारङ्गदेव’s सङ्गीतरत्नाकरम् are three very important texts in the purview of Indian Classical Music.

सामवेद and Music

Generally, the word 'Sama' means 'Stuti' or 'musical composition in Stuti form'. The Samaveda has much relation to music.

Scholars have explained the word 'Sama' based on different derivative meanings.

• According to one opinion, the word Sama has been derived from the root 'Ṣa' meaning 'to destroy' (षो अन्तकर्मणि). Thus it means that the chanting of the Veda 'destroys all evils and sins'.
• Panini derives the word from the root 'sa͞m' meaning 'to sooth or give comfort' (साम् सान्त्वप्रयोगे). It is meant here that through the melodies of music, the Veda, while chanting or when hearing, sooths the heart or gives comforts of all kind to the mind.
• Another derivation is from the root 'syati' which means that it destroys all worries by its musical melody (स्यति च्छिनत्ति दुःखं गेयत्वात्, स्यति खण्डयति दुःखानि येन तत्).
• Some give the meaning 'sorrow' or 'pain' to the root 'syati' with the hint that it is very difficult or painful to learn Samaveda (स्यति दुःखयति दुरध्येयत्वात्).
• The word also means that the gods are pleased by hearing the chanting of Sama (सामयति देवान् अनेन).
• The word 'Sāma' is the combination of the words 'sā' and 'ama'. This is referred to in Aitareyabrāhmana (12. 12), Atharvaveda (14. 2. 71) and Brhadaranyakopanishad (1.3.22).
• According to Sayanabhashya, 'sā' refers to the Mantras or Rks and 'ama' refers to the Svaras or accents while the Rks are chanted.

In many contexts in Rgveda, the word Sāma is referred to:

अङ्गिरसां सामभिः स्तूयमानः। (1.107.2)

सामगा इव गायत्रञ्च त्रैष्टुभञ्च। (2.43.1)

उद्गातेव... साम गायसि। (2.43.2)

शुद्धेन साम्ना। (8.84.7)

इन्द्राय बृहत् साम गायत। (8.87.1)

अङ्गिरसो न सामभिः। (10.78.5)