The Hindu Students Sama Veda

WWW.HSAINTERNATIONAL.ORG The Samveda from saman "melody" and veda "knowledge", is the third of the four Vedas, the ancient core scriptures of Hinduism. Ranking next in sanctity and liturgical importance to the Rigveda, it consists of a collection (samhita) of hymns, portions of hymns, and detached verses, most of which are taken from the Rigveda. The Samveda hymns are sung by Vedic priests as they sacrifice the juice of the Soma plant, offering it in libation to various deities. While its earliest parts are believed to date from as early as 1700 BCE (the Rigvedic period), the existing compilation dates from the post-Rigvedic Mantra period of Vedic Sanskrit, c. 1200 or 1000 BCE, in the early Kuru Kingdom, roughly contemporary with the Atharvaveda and the Yajurveda. While the Samveda is full of wisdom for the student of Hinduism, one should keep in mind that the English version of the Samveda does not contain the important syllables (stobha), as well as various modulations, rests and other modifications prescribed in the song-books which give these hymns vibrational and frequency energies. While much can be learned from reading Samveda, the full power of these prayers cannot be realized until the return of the Sankrit language, a goal we are dedicated to work toward.