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are all together, one in union and communion.
Vedic knowledge then is the Divine knowledge of life in
existence from the dimensionless point and particle unto Infinity.
And prayerful living and communion in meditation and yoga
means: Self-integration of the particle, Re-integration of the part
with the whole, and Re-union of the finite with the Infinite.
Vedas are the essence of life, and Samaveda is the essence
of the Vedas, says Chhandogyopanishad, 1, 1, 1-2:
"Of all these elements (Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Apah, and
Prthivi) the earth is the essence. The essence of Earth is waters.
The essence of waters is oshadhis, herbs. The essence of oshadhis
is Purusha, the human being. The essence of humans is Vak,
speech. The essence of Vak is Rk. Rgveda. The essence of Rks is
Sama. The essence of Sama is Udgitha, the cosmic resonance of
Aum. That Aum, chant, sing and worship in meditation."
Lord Krishna, divine persona of the Gita, also says: Of
the Vedas, I am Sama (10, 22).
Samaveda is a symphony of mantric songs sung by the
seers of all time in a state of Ananda. It consists of 1875 mantras
which, except for about 100, are common with the celebrative
mantras of Rgveda. In some mantras there are minor variations
from the Rks, turning descriptive celebrations into prayerful songs
of meditative ecstasy.
Samaveda is codified in two parts: the first is Purvarchika,
the former phase of celebration (1-640 mantras), and the second
is Uttararchika, the latter phase (651-1875 mantras), with an
intermediary phase titledMahanamnyarchika of ten mantras (641-
650).
The Purvarchika consists of four sections:
Agneya Kanda (Chapter 1: mantras 1-114)
Aindra Kanda (Chapters 2-4: mantras 115-466)
Pavamana Soma Kanda (Chapter 5: mantras 467-585)
Aranyaka Kanda (Chapter 6; mantras 586-640)
Intermediary Mahanamnyarchika (mantras 641-650)
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