Sreejith Namboothiri MN, Bhavadas KS and Devadas KS present Sama Veda chanting. The Sama Veda is a collection of samans, or chants, derived from the Rigveda and are better known for their precision of poetic meter than for their literary quality. The Sama also meticulously instructs on how certain hymns must be sung for optimum effect on the environment and the one who chants them. The verse, or Rk, beginning ‘Yajna yajna vo agnaye…’ of Jaimineeya Sama Veda will be chanted with their modes, Archika and Samagana, or Gramageya. The four Samas of the Rk will be chanted. The Samagana or Gramageya mode of chanting is highly elaborate and musical. The elaboration of swaras of Sama chanting has various similarities to the elaboration of swaras in classical music.

The full Rk is: Yajna yajna vo agnaye Gira gira ca dakshase / Prapra vayam amrtam jatavedasam Priyam mitram na samsisham //. Translated, the verse means, “Oh! Rtwiks (purohitas of yaga!), please pray to God Agni in Yagas for prosperity. You praise God Agni who knows everything, who is eternal and who is the friend of the universe.”
Sreejith Namboothiri MN has studied the Sama Veda (Keraleeya Jaimineeyapatha) traditionally. He did his Acharya degree in Sanskrit, post which he has been teaching at Vadakke Madham Brahmaswam since 2007. He has participated in and presented papers on the Vedas at many seminars in the state and other parts of India. Bhavadas KS and Devadas KS, 12 and 11 years respectively, have been learning Sama Veda traditionally since 2007.