Samaveda

About the Samaveda

The Samaveda (Veda of Melodies) is largely derived from the Rigveda — about 75 of its 1,875 verses are unique to it, while the rest are Rigvedic hymns set to elaborate musical notation. It is recited by the Udgatri (chanting) priest during the Soma sacrifice. The Samaveda has the fewest affiliated Gotras of the four Vedas, but those lineages hold a special distinction as musical-liturgical specialists in the Vedic tradition. The Samaveda gave rise to the tradition of Indian classical music (gandharva veda).