Sāmaveda
Sāmaveda · sāma-veda, “the Veda of the sacred chants”
The Sāmaveda is one of the four Vedas, the Veda of the sāmans, the sacred chants sung by the udgātā in the yajña. The Vāmana Purāṇa names it in many places. In it Bhagavān Vishṇu himself is praised as the one whose form is the Sāmaveda: in the svastivācana he spoke for Skanda, Mādhava “whose form is the Sāmaveda” is called on to protect him, and in the Sarva-pāpa-mocana stava Maheśvara praises Vishṇu as Sāmaveda-rūpa. Vena praises Bhagavān Śiva as made of the Ṛg, Yajus and Sāma Vedas. When Bhagavān Vishṇu was born as Vāmana, he learned the Sāmaveda from Bharadvāja the Āṅgirasa, with its great sound and its great ākhyānas, together with the art of music. The Sāma chant resounds in the sabhā of Brahmā, Sāma mantras are offered in the yajña, and among those who follow it the Purāṇa names the tapasvī Ṛtadhvaja.
Bhagavān Vishṇu as the Sāmaveda
When the devas had consecrated Skanda as commander of their armies, Bhagavān Vishṇu, Garuḍadhvaja, performed the svastivācana (the recitation of blessings for well-being) for him, so that he would have victory and Mahisha would be destroyed. Calling on every deva, ṛshi and being to protect him, it closes: “In the waters of the ocean may Prabhu Vārāha, in places of danger Narasiṃha Deva, and Mādhava, whose form is the Sāmaveda, protect you.”
In the Sarva-pāpa-mocana stava, which Maheśvara made known at Vārāṇasī, Bhagavān Vishṇu is praised as “Kāla-rūpa, who holds the twelve Ādityas within his womb! Sāmaveda-rūpa! Paramātmā! Ākāśa-rūpa! Sarva-jīvātmaka!”
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 32, 60
Bhagavān Śiva and the three Vedas
At the Sthāṇu tīrtha, in the stotra known as the Vena Stava, Vena says to Bhagavān Śiva: “You are made of the Ṛg, Yajus and Sāma Vedas. The Vedas and Upanishads always praise you alone.”
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 26
Vāmana learns the Sāmaveda
After Bharadvāja Maharshi had performed the upanayana of the new-born Vāmana, Bhagavān Vishṇu, Bhūtabhāvana, studied the Vedas with their aṅgas while the maharshis praised him. From Bharadvāja, the Āṅgirasa, he learned the Sāmaveda, full of great sound and with great ākhyānas (sacred narratives), together with gāndharva, the art of music. Though he is himself the ocean of the Vedas and śāstras, he gained mastery of the śruti within one month, only to set going the custom of the world by his own conduct.
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 62
In the yajña and in Brahmā’s sabhā
- When Kuṭilā, turned into water by Brahmā‘s śāpa, was about to flood Brahmaloka, Pitāmaha bound her firmly with the Ṛg, Yajus, Sāma and Atharvaṇa Vedas.
- When Kaśyapa and the devas came to Brahmaloka, they found Brahmā’s sabhā resounding with vast Sāma singing and the humming of bees.
- At Bali‘s aśvamedha, though the brāhmaṇas offered well with Ṛk and Sāma mantras, the yajña fires, in awe of Bhagavān Vāmana, did not accept the portions of havis.
- In Brahmā’s stotra to Trivikrama, Bhagavān Vishṇu is praised as the hotā and as the udgātā, the one who sings the Sāma in the yajña.
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 25, 64, 66; Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 3
Ṛtadhvaja the Sāmavedī
When Citrāṅgadā sat in the kshetra of Śrīkaṇṭha Deva on the southern bank of the Yamunā, there came for darśana of the deva and to bathe Ṛtadhvaja, a great tapasvī, a Sāmavedī (a follower of the Sāmaveda), and a Pāśupata-ācārya.
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 37
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 25, 32, 37, 60, 62, 64, 66
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapters 3, 26