The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c6.s1.42

c6.s1.42

Secondly, they occur in the Sāma-Veda itself in a form called *ārcika*, that is, "collection of stanzas." This is a kind of libretto, or text-book containing the stanzas which are to be memorised for "making upon them," as the Hindus say, the *sāman*-melodies. Here also there is a system of accents, peculiar in its notation, but apparently still with reference to the unsung *sāmans*. In the third *sāman*-version, the Gānas¹ or song-books, we find the real *sāmans* as they are to be sung. Here not only the text but also the musical notes are given. Still this is not a complete *sāman* yet. In the middle of the sung stanzas certain phantastic exclamatory syllables are introduced, the so-called *stobhas*, such as *om*, *hau*, *hai*, *hoyi*, or *him*; and at the end of the stanzas certain concluding exclamations, the so-called *nidhanas*, such as *atha*, *ā*, *īm*, and *sāt*.² They remind us in a way of the Swiss and Tyrolese "yodels" which are introduced into the songs of these countries as a sort of cadenzas, intended to heighten the musical effect.