SAMHITAS
The
Veda is organized into four divisions. The Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and
Atharva Veda. Samhita is the first and customarily of the
main part of the Veda. Samhita is not a teaching; it is a collection of mantras
associated with a Rishi, and a Devata. And it is designed to produce a certain
effect or give access to a certain kind of supra natural force; which is the
core of Vedas.
Each of the Veda there
are recensions / variations or Shakhas / parts; with slightly different
collection of mantras / texts / traditions. Each Veda (recension therefore) has
four parts (popularly believed by scholars like Shankara)
·
the Samhitas (Mantra Samhita -
meaning collection of Mantras) – Only mantras and benedictions
·
the Aranyakas (text on rituals,
ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices) - Philosophical speculation about reality.
Somewhat like metaphysics, but tending to Adhyatma
·
the Brahmanas (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies and
sacrifices) - literature investigating in principle the rituals included in
the tradition.
·
the Upanishads (text discussing meditation, philosophy and
spiritual knowledge) - A more focused investigation into the very essence of the
Aranyaka.
Vedas
consists of Mantra Samhithas only, which believed to be Apourusheya - not of
human origin but divine creation. Brahmanas and Aranyakas are basically the
same and Upanishads are written by sages (ancient scholars) as interpretation
of Vedas.
The Samhitas are sometimes
identified as karma-khanda (कर्म खण्ड,
action/ritual-related section), while the Upanishads are identified as jnana-khanda (ज्ञान
खण्ड, knowledge/spirituality-related section). The Aranyakas and Brahmanas are variously
classified, sometimes as the ceremonial karma-khanda, other times
(or parts of them) as the jnana-khanda.
The Vedic Samhitas were
chanted during ceremonies and rituals, and parts of it remain the oldest living
part of Hindu tradition.
Samhita means "put together / joined / union /
collection", and "a methodically rule-based combination of text
or verses". Samhita is the most ancient among Vedic Texts
consisting of mantras,
hymns, prayers, litanies and benedictions – sacred sounds with or
without literal meaning, as well as panegyrics, prayers, litanies and benedictions petitioning nature
or Vedic deities.
A collective study of
Vedas and later text suggests that the compendium of Samhitas and
associated Vedic texts were far larger than currently available. However, most
have been lost at some point or over a period of Indian history. Vedic Samhita
refer to mathematically precise metrical archaic text of each of the Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda).
RIGVEDA SAMHITA
The whole of the Rigveda-Samhita
is in form of verses, known as Rik. ‘Rik’ is the name given to those Mantras
which are meant for the praise of the deities. Thus, the collection (Samhita)
of Riks is known as Rigveda-Samhita. The Rigveda Samhita contains about 10552
Mantras, classified into ten books called Mandalas. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakha]
YAJURVEDA
SAMHITA
Yajurveda-Samhitas
are the prayer-books for the Adhvaryu priest;
for the purposes of sacrificial rituals. His works vary from the selection of a
plot of land for the sacrificial altar down to offering oblations to the sacred
fires.
SAMAVEDA
SAMHITA
The
Samaveda Samhita is an independent collection (Samhita), yet it has taken many verses,
a large number indeed, from the Samhita of Rigveda. Samaveda-Samhita is the songbook
of the Udgata priest
(singers during the Sacrifice, Yaga/Yajna).
ADHARVANAVEDA
SAMHITA
The
Atharvaveda Samhita contains hymns many of which were charms, magic spells and
incantations meant to be pronounced by the person who seeks some benefit, or
more often by a sorcerer who would say it on his or her behalf. The most
frequent goal of these hymns charms and spells were long life of a loved one or
recovery from some illness. In these cases, the affected would be given
substances such as a plant (leaf, seed, root) and an amulet. Some magic spells were for soldiers going to war with
the goal of defeating the enemy, others for anxious lovers seeking to remove
rivals or to attract the lover who is less than interested, some for success at
a sporting event, in economic activity, for bounty of cattle and crops, or
removal of petty pest bothering a household. Some hymns were not about
magic spells and charms, but prayer qua prayer and philosophical speculations.
Post-Vedic Samhitas
Some post-Vedic
Samhitas are named after the Rishi’s (authors) Ashtavakra
Gita, Bhrigu Samhita, Brahma Samhita, Charaka
Samhita, Deva Samhita, Garga
Samhita, Gheranda Samhita, Kashyap Samhita, Shiva Samhita, Sushruta
Samhita (a treatise on food and medicine), Yogayajnavalkya Samhita.
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