Contents of the Brāhmaṇas of the Sāmaveda

[Full title: A brief description of the contents of the Brāhmaṇa literature of the four Veda: (2): Brāhmaṇas of the Sāmaveda]

i) Tāṇḍya Mahā Brāhmaṇa

The Tāṇḍya Brāhmaṇa belongs to the Sāmaveda also called Pañcaviṃsa Brāhmaṇa, because it contains of 25 books (prapāṭhakas). This Brāhmaṇa of the Kauthumas is also known as Prauḍa Brāhmaṇa. This is one of the oldest Brāhmaṇa and contains many old legends which are historically very important for the student of Indian mythology. This Brāhmaṇa informs us of many varieties of Soma sacrifice. It describes such sacrificial ceremonies by means of which the Vrātyas were received in to the community of the Brāhmaṇas. The main contents of this Brāhmaṇa are Yajussaṃhitā, Vistutis, Gavāmayaṇa, Agniṣṭoma, Ukthya, Atirātra, Dvādasāha, Ekāhas, Ahins, Sattras, the Vrātyaṣṭomas (in17-1-4) form a matter of special interest.

ii) Sadviṃsa Brāhmaṇa

The Sadviṃsa Brāhmaṇa belongs to the Sāmaveda is a supplement to the Pañcaviṃsa Brāhmaṇa. As it is enumerated as the twenty-sixth chapter of the Pañcaviṃsa Brāhmaṇa, therefore it is called Sadviṃsa Brāhmaṇa. It consists of five chapter or prapāṭhakas, each of which is further divided in to khaṇḍas. The last Prapāṭhaka is called Adbhuta Brāhmaṇa. The Adbhuta Brāhmaṇa is small and separate work, which is later added to the Sadviṃsa Brāhmaṇa. This Brāhmaṇa deals with the performances of Sāntikarmas to silence the ups and downs caused by earth-quakes, untimed proclamation of flowers and fruits in the trees and so on. This text is important as a source of information on such beliefs and application of the Sāmans in magical rites. The main contents of the previous chapter are as follows: Subrahmanya formula, Abhicāra (sorcery) rites, performance of sandhyā and some other matters relating to the Soma sacrifice and Agnihotra.

iii) Chāndogya Brāhmaṇa

The Chāndogya Brāhmaṇa of the Sāmaveda otherwise called Upaniṣad Brāhmaṇa has ten prapāṭhakas. The first two prapāṭhakas of this Brāhmaṇa are adopted as Mantra Brāhmaṇa, while the rest of eight prapāṭhakas make the Chāndogya Upaniṣat. Each of first two prapāṭhakas ruins in to eight khaṇḍas. This Brāhmaṇa is no doubt, a fine collection of the mantras on Gṛhya-saṃskāras.

iv) The Jaiminīya Brāhmaṇa

This Brāhmaṇa is also known as Talavakāra Brāhmaṇa, is an important work of the Jaiminīyas, a rare Vedic school. Like the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa this Brāhmaṇa is a large one. It is also available to us not in all its sections. As the Jaiminīya Upaniṣat Brāhmaṇa is the part of this Brāhmaṇa, it consists of more Adhyāyas which are again sub divided in to Anuvākas, which are further divided in to khaṇḍas.

A table is presented below to show its division and sub-division:

Adhyāyas	Anuvākas	Khaṇḍas
1	18	60
2	5	15
3	7	42
4	12	28
Total 4	42	145

This Brāhmaṇa is very rich in myths and legends and also difficult because of its grammatical peculiarities and complicated details of the chanting of the sāmans. The Akhyāyikās described in this Brāhmaṇa are in philosophical style. According to the opinion of the critics this Brāhmaṇa is next to the Chāndogya Upaniṣat. Many Ākhyāyikās of the Chāndogya Upaniṣat are found in this Brāhmaṇa. The main contents of this Brāhmaṇa are as follows:

Agnihotra, Agniṣṭoma, Ekāhas, Ahins, Dvādasāha, Gavāmayaṇa and other Sattras. Any commentary of this Brāhmaṇa is not available.

v) The Sāmavidhāna Brāhmaṇa–

The Sāmavidhāna Brāhmaṇa of the Sāmaveda consists of three prakaraṇas named as Kṛcchra, Atikṛcahra and Kṛcchrati-kṛcchra. It contents are heterogeneous in nature. The sources of Vratas narrated in the Smṛti and Purāṇa texts are found in this Brāhmaṇa. The method of Sāmagāna and performance of Sāntikarmas to draw out the evil effects against wealth-acquisition, destruction of the enemies and others are also explained. In addition, execution of Kāmya karmas and Prāyascitta karmas are explained here. The third Prakaraṇa narrate the process of Sāmagāna to acquire long life, abundant wealth. The subject matter related to Nūtana Gṛhapravesa, animal wealth, victory of the enemies in the battle, direct-vision of Gandharvas, Apsarās etc are also discussed. In this way, this Brāhmaṇa absorb the depiction of various topics.

vi) The Ārṣeya Brāhmaṇa

The Ārṣeya Brāhmaṇa is another Brāhmaṇa that belongs to the Sāmaveda. It has only three prapāṭhakas and eighty two (82) khaṇḍas. The first Prapāṭhaka has (28) khaṇḍas, the second one has twenty five (25) and in the third one there are twenty nine (29) khaṇḍas. The first one is nearly in aphoristic style, and the later portion is in normal style. The author of this Brāhmaṇa is not mentioned anywhere. As the title indicates, it consists of the Sāma chants of various seers, like Gotamasherka, Kāshyapabarhisha, Bharadvāja and others also.

vii) The Vaṃsa Brāhmaṇa

The Sāmaveda has been passed through a linage of Āchāryas or followers. One of the eight Brāhmaṇas of the Sāmaveda called Vaṃsa Brāhmaṇa mentions this lineage of Āchāryas. It contains a list of fifty three teachers, the last of whom Kāsyapa, is supposed to have received the custom from Agni. This Brāhmaṇa consists of three khaṇḍas and is called a guide book of the history of ancient seers.

viii) The Devatādhyāya Brāhmaṇa

This Brāhmaṇa is the smallest Brāhmaṇa belongs to the Sāmaveda. It has three khaṇḍas, of them the first has twenty six kaṇḍikās, the second has eleven and the third one has twenty-five kāṇḍikās. The first Khaṇḍa gives us the description of Sāma-devatās such as Agni, Indra, Prajāpati, Soma, Varuṇa, Tvasta, Angirasa, Puṣan and Saraswati. The second Khaṇḍa narrates the features of chando-devatās. The third Khaṇḍa interpret the derivation of various Chandas. This Khaṇḍa is important from linguistic point of view.

ix) The Samhitaponiṣad Brāhmaṇa

This Brāhmaṇa is also a very small Brāhmaṇa consisting of five Khaṇḍas, describing the power of impact caused by singing the sāman.