Samaveda

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The Samaveda ( Sanskrit , m., सामवेद, sāmaveda , lit. "knowledge of the chants") is one of the four Vedas , the sacred texts of Hinduism . The hymns are largely a selection from the Rig Veda , but adapted to the liturgical melodies of the ceremonial. The oldest parts of the Samaveda are dated to around 1000 BC. Dated.

Each of the four Vedas , that is Rigveda , Samaveda, Atharvaveda and Yajur Veda, comprises four layers of text. The oldest layer comprises the Samhitas (hymns), the next layer the Brahmanas (ritual texts), then the Aranyakas (forest texts ) and finally the Upanishads (philosophical teachings).

Among the priests of the Vedic sacrificial ritual , the Samaveda is assigned to the Udgatri (singer). However, the Samhitas (hymns) of the Samaveda only contain the lyrics for the chants, not the melody. (Notes are only available later, in the so-called ganas).

The Brahmanas belonging to the Samaveda include Pancavimsha Brahmana , Shadvimsha Brahmana and Jaiminiya Brahmana . The Chandogya Upanishad is also part of the Samaveda.

literature

  • Theodor Benfey (ed.): The hymns of Sâma-Veda . Olms, Hildesheim 1978. ISBN 3-487-06582-7 (reprint of the Leipzig 1848 edition)

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