|
Sāmaveda is the third of the collections of Vedic mantrās. It has
exactly 1875 mantrās or verses, each of which has a specific metre.
The texts of most of these verses are in the Rigveda Samhita which
has 10,552 verses, i.e., the text of each mantra of Sāmaveda is
identical to the text of some mantra of Rigveda Samhita, but the
corresponding mantras of the two Samhitās differ in their notation
for intonation. Sāmaveda is the earliest known systematic procedure for giving a
melody to a chanted verse. Most persons who have heard with
devotion the singing of Sāmaveda verses will attest to the sense
of exhilaration or ecstasy experienced by them. It is no wonder
that the famous epic poem Bhagavad Gīta [Chap. 10, Verse 22] in
the epic Mahābhārata declares that the Sāmaveda is the best among
the four Vedas. Each Sāma vedic mantra contains in it not only the
deep meaning of the counter part of Rig vedic mantra but also has
the added dimension of music. Sāmaveda is the foundation for all
systems of music in the subcontinent of India.
Recensions
Sāmaveda itself has three recensions
namely Kouthumīya, rāhāyanīya and jaiminīya. The first two are
identical in both text and intonation, they differ from each other
only in grouping of the verses or mantras into adhyāyās etc. This
is the text given here. The Jaimini recension has fewer mantrās,
only 1693, but it has more ganās or final songs namely 3681. The
distinction between the texts of these recensions is discussed in
the edition by Satvalekar.
Each chapter or adhyāya takes verses
for different mandalās of the Rigveda. For instance the first ten
mantras of the first adhyāya of Sāmaveda having 11 mantras have
same text as following RV Samhita: 6.16.10, 4.16.1, 1.12.1,
6.16.34, 8.73.1, 8.60.1, 8.11.7, 6.16.13. the eleventh mantra has
no corresponding RV mantra.
The reason is that compiler made the
selection based on musical considerations. All verses in the same
adhyāya or decade have one common metre and one deity. All the
deities present in RV are also present in this subset of RV
verses, except that the verses for Pavamāna Soma are numerous. |
