Samhita literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection", and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses". Samhita also refers to the most ancient layer of text in the Vedas, consisting of mantras, hymns, prayers, litanies and benedictions. Parts of Vedic Samhitas constitute the oldest living part of Hindutradition.
Etymology
Samhita is a Sanskrit word from the prefix sam, 'together', and hita, the past participle of the verbal root dha 'put'. The combination word thus means "put together, joined, compose, arrangement, place together, union", something that agrees or conforms to a principle such as dharma or in accordance with justice, and "connected with". Saṃhitā in the feminine form of the past participle, is used as a noun meaning "conjunction, connection, union", "combination of letters according to euphonic rules", or "any methodically arranged collection of texts or verses".
Discussion
In the most generic context, a Samhita may refer to any methodical collection of text or verses. Any shastra, sutra or Sanskrit Epic, along with Vedic texts, can be called a Samhita. Samhita, however, in contemporary literature typically implies the earliest, archaic part of the Vedas. These contain mantras – sacred sounds with or without literal meaning, as well as panegyrics, prayers, litanies and benedictions petitioning nature or Vedic deities. Vedic Samhita refer to mathematically precise metrical archaic text of each of the Vedas. The Vedas have been divided into four styles of texts – the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads. The Samhitas are sometimes identified as karma-khanda, while the Upanishads are identified as jnana-khanda. The Aranyakas and Brahmanas are variously classified, sometimes as the ceremonial karma-khanda, other times as the jnana-khanda. The Vedic Samhitas were chanted during ceremonies and rituals, and parts of it remain the oldest living part of Hindu tradition. A collective study of Vedas and later text suggests that the compendium of Samhitas and associated Vedic texts were far larger than currently available. However, most have been lost at some point or over a period of Indian history.
noted that the Samhita of Samaveda is an anthology taken from the Rigveda-Samhita. The difference is in the refinement and application of arts such as melody, meters of music and literary composition. Thus, the root hymn that later became the Rathantaramantra chant is found in both Rigveda and Samaveda Samhitas, as follows,
Yajur veda
The hymns in Section 4.1.5 of the YajurvedaSamhita, dedicated to several ancient deities, state:
Atharva veda
A hymn in the Atharva Veda Samhita, for example, is a woman's petition to deity Agni, to attract suitors and a good husband.
