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Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c11.s2: II. The Sāmaveda

Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c11.s2

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II. The Sāmaveda

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A. **Brāhmaṇas** :

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(1) **Tāṇḍya**, also called *Pañchaviṁśa*, concerned with the Soma sacrifices in general, ranging from minor offerings to those which lasted 100 days or even several years (called *sattras*, or sessions). It also contains minute descriptions of the sacrifices on the Sarasvatī and Dṛishadvatī and also of *Vrātya-stomas* by which non-Brahmanical Aryans were admitted into the Brahmanical order. It is also hostile towards the Kaushītakins whom it brands as *vrātyas* (apostates) and *yajñāvakīrṇa* (unfit to sacrifice). The name Tāṇḍya is mentioned as that of a teacher in the Brāhmaṇa of the White Yajus.

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(2) **Shaḍviṁśa**, a supplement to the former.

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(3) **Adbhūta**, a supplement to the former in which are mentioned Uddālaka Āruṇi and other teachers.

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(4) **Chhāndogya**, of which the major part is its Upanishad.

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(5) **Talavakāra** in five books, of which the first three are connected with sacrificial ceremonial, the fourth is called the *Upanishad Brāhmaṇa*, which contains the *Kenopanishad*, and the fifth is called *Ārsheya Brāhmaṇa* which enumerates the composers of the Sāmaveda.

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There are three other short works which are mere *Brāhmaṇas* in name, viz. the *Sāmavidhāna*, showing the uses of chants for superstitious purposes, the *Devatādhyāya*, giving some particulars about the deities of the *sāmans*, and the *Vaṁśa* which gives a genealogy of the teachers of the *Sāmaveda*.

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The *Sāmaveda* has no *Āraṇyakas*.

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B. **Upanishads** :

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(1) **Chhāndogya** known for its mention of the Naimishīya-Ṛishis, the Mahāvṛishas, and the Gāndhāras; of Kṛishṇa Devakīputra as a pupil of Ghora Āṅgirasa; of Pravāhaṇa Jaivali, a Kshatriya engaged in philosophical discussions; Ushasta Chākrāyaṇa, a teacher; Śāṇḍilya, a teacher; Satyakāma Jābāla, a teacher, the son of a slave girl by an unknown father who was initiated as a Brahmachārin by Gautama Hāridrumata and was also a pupil of Jānaki Āyasthūṇa; Uddālaka Āruṇi; Śvetaketu; and Aśvapati, a prince of the Kekayas who instructed Prāchīnaśāla and other Brāhmins. These names are also mentioned in the *Bṛihadāraṇyaka*. The work also mentions Sanatkumāra, Skanda, Nārada, and subjects like Atharvāṅgirasaḥ, Itihāsa and Purāṇa which probably attained independent forms at the time of this reference. There is also some legal material, e.g. capital punishment for denied theft, trial by ordeal, which points to its comparatively late age. Philosophical doctrines are termed *Upanishad*, *ādeśa*, *guhya ādeśa* (the secrecy of which is repeatedly insisted upon).

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(2) **Kena**, remnant of the Brāhmaṇa of the Talavakāras.

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