Origins and Influence of Hindu Saman Chanting

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There’s also singings in Hinduism. The traditional music in Hinduism begins in saman singing (or saman chanting). Which is known first as Gan-dharva Sangita, or Sangita, Sama veda chants, etc. They are music from the hindu scripture Sama veda. Said in book Discovering the Vedas, “the Vedas are not a religion in any of the many senses of that widespread term. They have always been regarded as storehouses of knowledge, that is: veda.” Sama veda is a part of the scriptures of Hinduism, despite they are songs. According to Dr. V. Raghavan, Sangita is born from the Sama Veda: "Our music tradition in the North, as well as in the South, remembers and cherishes its origin in the Sama Veda, the musical version of the Rig Veda.” This scripture not only represents Hinduism, but is also the basis of the development of Indian music. The transitional Saman chanting is composed of rhythmic syllables with a pattern, and passed down through generation through oral teachings. Saman chanting begins far before instruments were created, so it does not …show more content…

To others who don't understand such music, it can be described as spooky or just simply strange. Because the words and vowels are usually stretched and sustained in a vibrating state, it sounds like sad howls. And the constantine vibration of vowels are impossible to perform for most artist nowadays. Singer of Sama Veda requires very special skills to bring such music to life, and the music must sounds holy and relate the audience to God in a way. Different from other religious music, nonsense words and sounds are even considered as holy. Since one of the principles of Sama veda is self-generating, spontaneous phrases are encouraged. The history of this Hindu music was long, and it’s influence was all over the world. Indian musicologist Dr. V. Raghavan can even trace the similarities between Sama recital and the Jewish folk

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