Of Vedas, I am the Sama VEDA ,,,,,glory of udgita !!!!

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

I found this important passage in Swami Krsishnanda's (divine life

society) discourses on Brihadaranyaka upanishad wherin he explains

the significance of 'sama' ...

 

please read on...

 

tasya haitasya samno yah svam veda, bhavati hasya svam; tasya vai

svara eva svam; tasmad artvijyam karisyan vaci svaram iccheta; taya

vaca svara-sampannayartvijyam kuryat; tasmad yajne svaravantam

didrksanta eva; atho yasya svam bhavati; bhavati hasya svam, ya evam

etat samnah, svam veda.

The Sama Mantra is told here again in the context of the

glorification of the Udgitha. One who chants Sama in the manner it

was chanted by the Prana for the freedom of the senses from death,

becomes self-possessed, becomes master of one self and, here, in the

Sama, the technique of becoming adept in the chanting of the Udgitha,

or the svaram of the Sama, i.e., the intonation of the Mantra, is

stated. Emphasis is laid on the method of chanting the Sama, or

rather, any Mantra of the Veda. The Veda is distinct from the other

scriptures in the sense that intonation is very important in its

recitation, and the power of the Sama depends upon the way in which

it is chanted. It is not merely the word that is important, but also

the modulation of the voice. The intonation, or the rich voice in the

recitation of the chant is itself the glory of the Sama. What is the

glory of Saman? Svara, the intonation, is the glory, and, therefore,

whoever is well-equipped with this art of properly chanting the Saman

is desired in all Sama-Yajnas which are called Sama-Yagas. And the

performers of the Sama-Yagas always look for one who has a clear

capacity to intonate the Mantras of the Sama, so that he can unify

himself with the spirit, with the forces which are the deities of

Sama-Mantras, and all glory comes to him also, who knows this art.

So, the glory of the Veda, the glory of the Omkara, Pranava which is

the Udgitha, the glory of the Prana, and the glory that is attended

here with the Veda chant - all these are described in concise in this

passage of this Brahmana.

 

tasya haitasya samno yah suvarnam veda, bhavati hasya suvarnam, tasya

vai svara eva suvarnam, bhavati hasya suvarnam, ya evam etat samnah

suvarnam veda.

 

 

tasya haitasya samno yah pratistham veda, prati ha tisthati, tasya

vai vag eva pratistha vaci hi khalv esa etat pranah pratisthito

giyate, anna ity u haika ahuh.

In connection with the meditation on the Sama, and the harmony

between the Prana and speech, it was said that the intonation in the

chant of the Veda, which is Sama, is very important, because the way

in which it is chanted or sung has direct connection with the meaning

that is conveyed or the objective that is intended by means of the

recitation. It is said further, in the following passages, that the

correct pronunciation also is important, in addition to the

intonation. The letters, the words, the phrases, have to be

pronounced in a proper manner, with the correct accent at the proper

places, in addition to, or together with the method of chant. This is

the resting place or establishment of the Prana. By this, one gets

established in the power that is Sama, which is, again, the unity

between the Prana and the power of speech, or to carry the meaning

further to its broader or more general sense, the harmony between the

Prana and all the senses, so that one gets totally integrated in

personality by the meditation on the Sama. One who knows this,

obtains a resting place."

 

http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/brdup/brhad_I-03c.html

 

 

16 upanishads are based on Sama veda !

 

The sama veda is all about Music and many of the chants are drawn

from rig veda set to music!

 

the kena upanishad and chandogya upanishads are baded on Sama veda!

 

on another note, indian classical music is based on Sama veda!

 

A noted musician and author of classical music T.S. PARTHASARATHY( in

Tattwaloka magazine, 1987 issue)

 

says

 

 

"The real aim of Indian music has always been to attain self-

realization and through music practiced as Nadopasana, this is

achieved much sooner.

 

(snip)

 

Origin Traced to "Vedas"

 

The origin of Indian music is traced to the Sama Veda and music

itself is styled as the Gandharva Veda, one of the Upa Vedas. From

time immemorial, God has been conceived as Nada Brahman (embodiment

of sound) and the practice of music as spiritual sadhana, as Nada

Vidya or Nada Upasana (Worship of God through sound). In one of his

kritis Tyagaraja calls it Sangita Upasana (worship through music).

 

The Yajnavalkya Smriti is perhaps the oldest treatise which mentions

that a mere votary of absolute music viz. music without words,

attains salvation.

 

Another verse equally oft-quoted in this context is attributed to

Lord Narayana Himself:

 

"Naaham vasaami Vaikunthe na yogi hridaye ravau Madbhaktaah yatra

gaayanti tatra tishthami Naarada".

 

"I dwell not in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of yogins, nor in the Sun

(but) where my devotees sing, there I be."

 

**********************************************************************

 

Enjoy the 'sound' of Music of the rig vedic and sama vedic texts!