Sama Veda Punyavachanam
Sama Veda Punyavachanam
Sama Veda Punyavachanam
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co-ordinating inclusion of Sanskrit text 3. Sriman. Mihail Bayaryn for creating the exclusive Sanskrit fonts to denote the svarA texts for the sAmans 4. Mannargudi Sri. Srinivasan Narayanan for proof reading the document 5. Sriman Subramanyan of Connecticut for providing the audio for Sama Veda Punyahavacana japa samams - Kowthuma saakha 6. Smt. Jayashree Muralidharan and Sri. Murali Desikachari for assembling the e-book
CONTENTS
Introduction Kumbha Pratishta Saamans sAman 321 sAman 352 sAman 449 PuNyAhavacana Japa Mantrams sAman 500 sAman 350 sAman 91 sAman 274 sAman 321 Some excerpts from creation hymns sAman 565 sAman 169 Nigamanam 1 3 5 10 12
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Image courtesy: Kadhamba Mala released by SRI KAINKARYA, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu
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Dear VedAbhimAnis : Sriman ShrEyas Sarangan, the Web Master of Oppiliappan Web site belongs to Kautuma SaakhA of Saama Vedam. He has identified (A) the Kumbha Prathishtai and (B) PuNyAha Vachana Saamans and adiyEn is providing the meaning and the commentaries for these 10 Saamans as follows:
1. Kumbha Prathishtai: Three Saama R^ks : 321 , 352 and 449. The first two Saamans are known as Brahma or r^ita Saamans (Brahma jagyanam- - -) and the third is known as sAntanike Saaman (bhAgO na chitra- -). 2. PuNyAha VAchana Japam: Seven Saama R^ks: 500, 350, 91, 274, 321, 565 and 169. The names for the seven Saamans used in Japam are: tarantasya Saaman, SuddhASuddhIyE Saaman (etonindra--), Baarhaspatya Saaman (sOmA rAjAnam VaruNam), IndrasyAbhayaN^kara Saaaman (YatAindrabhayamahe tato na:), Brahma Saaman (321 again), arka pushpa Saaman (pavitram tE vitatam) and VaamadEvyam (kayaa aschitra- ) . All of the Saama PuNyAha VAchana Saamans come from PurvArchika section.
PurvArchika section can be called the Karma KhANDam. As an introduction, Saama Vedam has a total of 1875 mantrams (R^ks) classified as follows: 1. PUrvArchika: 1-585 (AagnEya: 114, Aendra: 352, PavamAna: 119). 2. AaraNya: 586-640 (55 Saamans) 3. MahAnAmni-Archika: 641-650 (10 Saamans) 4. UttarArchika (651-1875) Most of the Saama r^ks are from Rg Veda Mantrams set to Saama GhAnam. Only 99 Saamans of Saama Veda do not come from Rg Veda. Fifteen come from
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Yajur Veda; two occur in both the Atharva Veda and Yajur Veda. There are approximately 70-80 Saama Rks that are unique to Saama Vedam. Click here for audio for Sama Veda Punyahavacana japa samams - Kowthuma saakha, provided by Sriman Subramanyan of Connecticut.
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Meaning: " In the beginning of the creation, the Supreme Lord alone knew all the details. From all sides, this effulgent wise one has manifested the bright rays. In the mid-space, our Lord has set up beautifully the celestial bodies, which speak of His unparalleled eminence. He is the sole cause of the today existing, and yet non-existing creation." (Saaman 321) Another translation goes this way: "That God alone is adorable, who, in the beginning of the Universe created every thing, is wide in expansion highest of all effulgent, and worthy of worship. The Sun, Moon and other worlds in the atmosphere stationed in their orbits, testify to His knowledge. He pervades them all through His omnipresence and comprehends the visible and the invisible in space". (Yajur Vedam: XIII.3) This translation is more in the Yajurvedic style. The same mantram with svaram variations in different Vedams can acquire different meanings. Yajur Veda Mantram XIII.2 and XIII.4 bracket the XIII.3 under discussion focus also on the Jagath Srushti KaaraNan, the Omniscient Lord and the mysteries of His Creation this way : Oh God! Thou art the support of Waters (apAm prushThamasi), the abode of fire (yOniragnE:), the enveloper of the Ocean as it swells and surges (samudramabhimata: pinvamAnam). "Oh loftiest of All, worthy of adoration by humanity, and full of majesty in space, shine forth for us with omnipresence and Omniscience ("vardhamAnO mahaam aacha pushkarE divO mAthrayA varimNA praTasva" -------Yajur Veda Mantram: XIII.2) Yajur Veda Mantram (XIII.4) acknowledges that the Lord is the Creator of the Universe, its one and only Lord, who sustains luminous objects like the Sun (HiraNyagarbha: samavarthathAgrE bhUthasya jaatha: pathirEka Aaseeth). In the second paadham of this mantram, Vedam acknowledges that the Lord sustains the Earth, the Sun and this world (sa dhAdhAra pruTiveem 6
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dhyAmuthEmAm) and commands us to worship Him (the Creator, Sustainer) with our devotion, Him, the embodiment of happiness (kasmai dEvAya havishA vidhEma). These are very similar to the revelations in the Rg Veda HiraNya garbha sooktha mantrams. Yajur Veda Mantrams XIII.2, 3 and 4 stay well together in a thematic sense (Creation) and XIII.3 is sung as Saaman 321 in Kumbha Prathishtai. This same PoorvArchika Saaman (321) is seen at two chapters of Atharva Vedam (IV.1.1 and V.6. 1) and it has the same meaning like the Yajur Veda mantram. They state that the Sun, Moon and the Stars are pervaded by this Omnipotent Creator and they testify to His Omniscience.
as: "svAdheena thirividha chEtana achEtana svaroopa sTithi pravrutthi bhEdham " The svaroopam (inherent nature), sTithi (the sustenance), pravrutthi
(vyApAram) of the three kinds of ChEtanams and three kinds of achEtanams are under the control (adhenam) of this Creator . This famous passage has been extensively commented upon by
PoorvAchAryALs . The ramifications of this Saama R^k is thus enormous and touches on the relationship of the ChEtanAchEtanams with their creator from AadhAra-
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AadhEyam, NiyAma-Niyanthruvam and Sesha-Seshi bhAvam. AshtAksharam contains these meanings of the Lord being all of the above as SarvAdhAran, Sarva NiyAmyan and Sarva Seshi . The creation is the divine vyApAram of our Lord carved on the canvas of Prakruthi, the primordial matter. To fully appreciate the mysteries of Creation by the Lord in the multi-parameter, multidimensional aspects of space, time, nAmaa and roopam, the HiraNyagarbha Hymns of Rg Vedam (X.121) and the Naasadiya Sukthams of Rg Vedam (X.129) have to be studied. Selected excerpts from the HiraNyagarbha hymns will relate to the first Saama r^k used in Kumbha PraTishtai ( 321) : Rg R^k: X.121.1: "In the beginning, there existed the Lord of divine effulgence (hiraNyagarbha: samavartaagrE); He was the sole Lord of all created beings. He fixed and held up this earth and heaven. To that Lord alone, may we offer our adorations ! Rg R^k: X.121.5: "By Him , the heavens are strong and the earth is steadfast; by Him light's realm and sky vault are supported; by Him the regions in the mid-air are measured. To that Lord alone, May we offer our adorations!
The cosmic creation is conjoined in the Vedic views with cosmic worship and by this knowledge, men were raised to the highest sublime position of Rishis" ( Rg Vedam X.130.6) . In the matter of Creation, the Lord is recognized as the Master Weaver, who weaves with extreme care and skill. In this weaving, Saama hymns are considered as weaving shuttles (Rg R^k:130.1-2). Let us study the other two Saamans used in Kumbha Pratishtai now.
Saaman 352
Baarhapathya BharadhvAjar is the Rishi, Indhran is the dEvathA and the chandas is anushtup.
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Pratyasmai pipIshate viSvAni vidushE bhara arangamAya jagmAyE paSchAdadhvanE nara: ---- Cf: Saaman 1440 and Rg Vedam : VI.42.1 Meaning: May You offer the homage to Him, who is desirous to relish it, who knows all things, whose movements are all sufficient and who goes to help sacred, selfless works. He is always a true leader, never a follower . Reflections on this Saaman: DevatA is Indra here. Indra in Saama VedA like Agni are other names for the Supreme Reality, the antharyAmi Brahman inside the two dEvathAs. This Supreme Reality is Sarvajn~an (wisdom personified), resplendent, sarva Sakthan (Omnipotent); He is the great Law (Rta). He expects obedience for that Rta from His devotees. The path of Rta is not easy to travel and He is always with You in the difficult to travel route of Rta. Hence the devotees recognize Him as a dear friend and 10
adore Him (Mithramiva priyam sthushE). He is invited to accept the devotees' Saaman chant filled with devotion (gOpeeTAya pra hUyasE). He is saluted as the knower of all of our paths (gAthuvitthama:). He is the best Leader (nrutamam) and as such accomplishes every thing He wishes without the help of anyone else. He is bounteous and rich (magavAn). He listens quickly to our invocations for protection (uthayE mruNvantham) and rushes to us for help.
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Saaman 449:
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bagO na chitrO agnirmahOnAm dadhAthi ratnam -nAnadam Saman unique to Saama Vedam Meaning : "Among the great ones, wonderful like the Sun, and superb like the adorable fire- - -May He provide us with precious riches." Reflections on this saaman: This Saaman reminds one of the First Saaman (Agna Aaa yaahi veethayE gruNAnO havya dhAtaye-): "Having been praised by us, Come Oh adorable Lord , to bless the dedicated devotees with prosperity". This type of prayer for prosperity and riches as if laden on a chariot (agnE raTam na vEdhyam/ 5th saaman). These riches asked for extend beyond material wealth and includes the kindling of the fire of inner enlightenment, the valiant progeny of inner consciousness (21st Saaman). The gems (ratnam) sought are thus of 12
many kinds: 1. destruction of enemies that stand in the way of inner enlightenment, 2. destruction of sins with His blazing flames, 3. exemption from decay (tapishtairajarO daha/24th Saaman). The 37th Saaman prays: "Oh resplendent Fire Divine! Confer riches on us and shine forever in our inner consciousness! In the spirit of the prayers for the riches, the 42nd Saaman is exemplary: "Bestow upon us, Oh Wealth Giver, that wealth of wisdom, which all crave, and which is glorious and which brings its own glory and fame (suneethi suyaSastaram) . What the devotee can offer in return for the Lords blessings is illustrated by the 459th Saaman, where He is visualized as the Lord and Sustainer of the Universal Law . We will conclude this Kumbha Pratishtai section with an evocative prayer (Saaman 209) echoing the appeal of devotees for the Lord to join them: "Oh Resplendent Lord, brave and heroic, We have come to You with plentiful divine prayers, dedicated especially to You. Oh Lord of selfless benevolence and supreme protection, May we have numerous opportunities of offering our heartfelt sentiments to such a glorious Lord as You are".
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taratsa mandee dhAvati dhArA sutasyAnthasa: taratsa mandee dhAvati ----Cf: Rg Veda Rk :IX 58.1 Meaning: " He (the divine sap of Spirituality), exhilarating and rescuing (from Sins), runs swiftly (to receptacles): the effused sap of nourishment flows in streams. Swiftly runs the rescuing elixir, the giver of delights ". One can interpret this verse as a metaphor for the rejuvenating Dayaa of the Lord flowing swiftly towards the Jeevan, freeing the jeevan from its sins and immersing the jeevan in the stream of its bliss. dhaavathy means - it runs to the jeevans. It does not flow sluggishly. It is a swift torrent and washes away all the sins of the Jeevans.
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Comments: This is about Soma rasam (Soma-PavamAna), the vitalizing, conceptual juice of the Soma plant, the beverage of the Gods, offered to them during the Soma Yaagams. The Soma PavamAna book of Rg Vedam is totally devoted to effusion, filtration and purification of the conceptual Soma (herbal) creeper. BhagavAn says in GitA that He is the Soma among the medicinal herbs (Oushadhis). It is considered to be present in all medicinal herbs to different degrees as an ingredient. All the medicinal herbs growing on this earth are the gifts of Soma ("ThvamimA Oshadhee:" 604th Saaman). This same Saaman continues to praise the Soma Creeper as the dispeller of darkness with its light/radiance (Thvam jyOthishaa vi tamaa vavarTa). The Soma (the elixir of the divine) is requested to flow (pavasva) in the sweetest and most exhilarating stream (madhishDayaa): "svAdhishDayaa madhishDayaa pavasva Soma dhArayaa" . Soma's another name is Jn~Ana and Aananda (light and Joy). The Soma offered by the devotee is a small measure of the cosmic Soma and the prayer is for that to flow (dhArayaa) swiftly (AaSava) and copiously. The place of its origin is considered as mid-space (antariksha) and brought from there to earth with Vedic prayers (girvaNa:) in Trishtubh metre (SomE arkaa sthrishtuba: sam navanthE). It is considered the elixir of life force. It is saluted as KIng Soman (Soman rAjAnam) .
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Saaman 350
yEthOnvindram stavAma Suddham SuddhEna sAmnA Suddhair-ukthair-vAvrudhvAgumsagu m Suddhair-AaseervAnmamattu ----Cf: Rg Vedam:VIII.95. 7 Meaning: Come now and let us glorify the pure Lord resplendent with fresh Saaman hymns. Let the correctly recited hymns mixed with devotional love gladden Him and magnify His glory ". This is a magnificent Saaman offered to Omnipotent and Omniscient Lord with awe and reverence. The awe results from the awareness of His majesty and vaibhavam. The reverence arises from the recollection of the Sesha-Seshi BhAvam (Master and servant relationship) based on svaroopa Jn~Anam of the Jeevan. Our Lord is sthOthra Priyan and therefore this Saaman singer is
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inviting the assembly to eulogize the Lord with Suddha Saamans (sthuvAma SuddhEna sAmnA). The ukthi (recitation) is invoked to be blemish less (Suddhair ukthair). It is also instructed that the ukthi to be not only correct in a formal way but it is also advised that it be blended with bhakthi (devotional love) and flow like a steady stream to please the Lord as it glorifies His limitless grandeur (Vaibhavam) .
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Saaman 91
Somam rAjAnam varuNam agnim anavArabhAmahE Aadityam VishNum Sooryam BrahmANam ca Bruhaspatim ----Cf: Rg Vedam:VIII.95. 7Rg Rk: X.141.3, Yajus IX.26 , Atarvam: III.20.4 Meaning: We invoke and evoke the blissful bounties and venerable sovereignties, the fire of spirituality, the Sun, the infinity, the all pervading energies, the effulgent bounty, the supreme divinity and Universal Lordship." Comments: This Saaman reminds adiyEn of the travel by a Muktha Jeevan by archirAdhi Maargam at the end of the life on earth due to prapatthi anushtAnam. The clue for this interpretation comes from the next Saaman (92nd), which says : "Hence these nature's bounties gone up high and mounted to topmost heights of heaven--they become conquerors on the path by which our divine intellectuals, adept in spiritual practices, travel to the lofty sky". The venerable sovereignties are the AadhivAhikars of the Para Brahmam 21
(Agni, Sun, VaruNa et al). They have their sharply demarcated boundaries as they lead the muktha Jeevan to the limit of their kingdoms and hand it over to the next devathaa. The Lofty sky referred to in Saaman 92 is the ParamAkAsam (SrI Vaikuntam).
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Saaman 274
yatindra bhayAmahE tatO nO abhayam krudhi maghavanchagdhi tava tanna UtayE vi dhvishO vi mrudhO jahi
Ah< Itae=iSm devez s<sare=iSmn! yavhe, paih ma< pu{frIka] n jane zr[< prm!. 8.
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aham bheethOasmi dEvEsa samsArEasmin bhayAvahE paahi maam PundareekAksha na jaanE SaraNam param This slOkam is in the form of a prayer from the Bhaddha Jeevan (Jeevan bound to SamsAric sufferings) to the Lord of the DevAs (DevanAthan, ImayOr Talaivan ) for protection. The Jeevan states that it is afraid of the horrors of transmigratory existence (ceaseless cycles of births and deaths) and begs for protection (release from those never ending cycles of transmigration). In this Saaman, the singer reminds the Lord of His Achyutha tatthvam, which does not permit Him to abandon those, who had sought His refuge. Next the singer reminds the Lord about one of His avathAra rahasyam: dhushta nigraham and asks the Lord to protect him from the enemies, who wish to harm
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him. The prayer is "Be firm to give us Your protections; drive away our enemies, who try to harm us". Oh Achyutha! Please do not vacillate but rush to our rescue like you did when the king of elephants was tormented by the crocodile.
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Saaman 321
From all sides, this effulgent wise one has manifested bright rays. In the mid space, our Lord has set up beautifully the celestial bodies, which speak of His unparalleled eminence. He is the sole cause of the today-existing and yet nonexisting (Vyaktam and avyaktam) creation. Comments: Salutations are made here to the Aadhi Srushti kartha, the Supreme Brahman, who knows every details of creation in all the dimensions of space and time. The mysteries of the creation are many and the fruits of that Srushti are seen in this earth as achEtanams (mountains, trees, oceans etc). On the sentient side, Srushti extends to the nAma roopa Prapancham with highly evolved mammals including male and female forms with complex organs and their support systems. The different PrANAs activate this human machinery, the mind and the pancha kOsAs (Sheaths such as Jn~Ana maya kOsa and Aanandhamaya kOsa ). The Unique aspects of the mysteries behind creation are covered furhter in HiraNyagarbha hymns (Rg Vedam X.121), Rg Vedam X.190 and Naasadiya Sutha (Rg Vedam X.129).
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we offer our adoration" . 3.2: Rg Vedam : X 121.5: " By Him, the heavens are strong and the earth is steadfast; by Him light's realm and sky-vault are supported. By Him the regions in mid air are measured. To that Lord alone, may we offer our adorations " . In other hymns (X.130) , the creation is described as Lord's Yajnaa in which He alone is involved. It is pointed out that there are no limits to this Yajna and it is spread far and wide and beyond dimensions. This Saaman refers to this mighty creator, HiraNyagarbha, the Lord of divine effulgence and His unique activities of creation of all sentients and insentients.
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Saaman 565
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pavitram tE vitatam BrahmaNaspatE prabhur gAtrANi paryEshi viSvata: atapta-tanUr na tadh AamO aSnutE SrutAsa idh vahanta: sam tad AaSata ----Cf: Rig Rk: IX.83.1
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Meaning: "Oh Lord of divine enlightenment! Your processes of purification are widely stretched out (in cosmos); you are the sovereign, who rules over the entire creation from all sides. You never get tired in Your work. Your divine bliss is not obtainable to those who are un-ripened. Only the mature ones receive the graces from You". Comments: This PuNyAhavaacana Saaman has connections to another HiraNyagarbha Hymn (Rg Vedam : X.121.3): "Who by His grandeur has become the sole ruler of all the moving world that breathe and slumbers; He who is the Lord of men and Lord of cattle; to that Lord alone , may we offer our adoration ! An Yajur Veda mantram (YV.XL.8) refers to His sovereign ruler ship and His circumscribing us from all the sides this way: "He, The Lord, effulgent, without a body, free from wounds and sinews, ever pure and very much above the sins, has been circumscribing us from all sides. He is the One with penetrating intelligence, extending in all parameters, self-existing (Svayambhu), ----". His purification referred to in this Saaman is the power to chase away all of our sins, once we seek His protection. He is never tired in this work and is forever engaged in performing this work as SiddhOpAyam. Those who seek His refuge receive the graces from Him and the others who are Bhagavath dhvEshis can not access Him easily or ever.
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Saaman 169
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kayA naSchitra Aa bhuvadUti sadhAvrudha: sakhA KayA SachishThayA vrutA ----Cf: Rg Rk: IV.31.1, Yajur Vedam: XXVII.39 , XXXVI.1.4 and Atharvam : XX.124.1 Meaning: By what means would He who is ever augmenting, wonderful and friendly, come to us, and by what most effective accomplishments on our part? Comments: A rhetorical Question is posed in this hymn and the next one (Rg Vedam IV.31.2) about the most effective and the most earnest devotional offerings to be made to the Lord for Him to come to us and bless us with all kinds of wealth. This bounteous, munificent and blemish less Lord is invited to rush to us, assembled in sacred places of His worship. The singer of the Saaman asks the Lord to be his friend and concludes: "May all Your desires be our blessings (asmAn viSvA abhishtaya:)". Two key word in this Saaman are: "SachishThayA" and "Uti". "SachishThayA" 30
is linked to the excellent thoughts, words or deeds according to one commentator (athiSayEna SrEshDyA VaachA Praj~NayA karmaNA vaa). Saayana comments that these excellent words are accompanied by PoorNa Prajn~A and deeds nourished by Prajn~A (prajn~AvitthamayA Prajn~A sahitham anushDeeyamAnEna karmaNA). Such an observance (anushDAnam) will result in gaining the care and protection (Uti) of the Jagath Rakshaka Swami, our Lord. Thus ends the PuNyAhavaacana Mantra Japam in The Kouthuma Saakhai of Saama Vedam The unique glories of the Lord , His easy access to BhagavathAs, His distance from Bhaagavatha- Bhagavath dhvEshis, His response to Vaidhika Kaaryams, SadhAchAram, Sathsangam are eulogized and meditated upon. || NamO Veda PurushAya ||
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