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Ved, Saam
The Saam Ved
("Wisdom of the Chants") is a liturgical collection of melodies ('saman').
is better known for the intricacy and meter of its poetry than for its
literary content. The hymns in the Saam Ved, used as musical notes,
were almost completely drawn from the Rig Ved and have no distinctive
lessons of their own. Hence, its text is a reduced version of the Rig Ved.
As sacrifice became an increasingly complex ritual in Vaidic India, the
functions of the growing body of Braahman priests had to be defined. The
Saam Ved is a collection of Samans or chants, drawn mainly from the
eighth and ninth books of the Rig Ved, for the Udgaataa priests who
officiated at the soma sacrifice. The Saam Ved is more a collection of
songs than Mantra, and it includes precise instructions on how its
verses should be sung.
The Saam Ved Sanhitaa is about half as long as Rig Ved Sanhitaa.
The word Saam means sweet songs or hymns. Since Saam Ved consists of
such hymns, it is known as Saam Ved.
While it is said that Saam Ved had originally 1000 Sakhas but only 13
names are available on record. They are:
1. Ranayana
2. Shatyamukhya
3. Vyaas
4. Bhaguree
5. Oulundee
6. Goulgulvi
7. Bhanuman-oupamayava
8. Karatee
9. Mashak Gaargya
10. Varsgagavya
11 Kuthum
12. Sgakugitra
13. Jaimini
Of these, while 10 are lost to the posterity, only three ( Ranayana,
Kuthum and Jaimini) are available. In other words, Saam Veda Saanhitaa,
available to us, consists entirely of these three Sakhas.
Currently available Saam Ved consists of 1,875 Mantras of which only 100
are original. Except for two (321 and 464) that are taken from Yajur Ved, the
remaining are borrowed from Rig Ved. Since this Ved was created as a
selection of Mantra for singing and chanting, hence the name Saam
(song). However, the Mantra selection has not been the choicest. For
this reason, of the 265 or so Vaidik Mantra most chanted today, there
are only three that are from Saam Ved.
These Mantra are divided into two broad groups- Poorvaachik (650
Mantra) and Uttaraachik (1,225 Manrta). Poorvaachik is further divided into four Kaand (sections) or: Aagneya,
Aindra, Pavaman and Aranya Kaands. On the other hand, the Uttaraachik Kaand consists of 21 chapters.
Braahman of Saam Ved are seven in number. They are:
1. Taandya Brahmana or Praudra or Panchavinsha Braahman
2. Shadavinsha Braahman
3. Samavidhaan Braahman
4. Arsheya Braahman
5. Devataadhyaya Braahman
6. Upnishad Braahman ( or Mantra Braahman)
7. Vansh Braahman
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