The Tradition of Vedic Chanting

　　
Proclamation: 2003

　　Member State(s): India

　　Region: Asia-Pacific

　　Associated themes: Oral traditions and expressions; Rituals and festive events

　　The Vedas comprise a vast corpus of Sanskrit poetry, philosophical dialogue, myth, and ritual incantations developed and composed in India by the Aryans more than 3,500 years ago. Regarded by Hindus as the primary source of knowledge and the sacred foundation of their religion, the Vedas embody one of the world's oldest surviving cultural traditions. The term "Veda" derives from the Sanskrit word vid meaning "knowledge." The Vedic heritage embraces a multitude of texts and interpretations collected in four Vedas, commonly referred to as "books of knowledge" even though they have been transmitted orally. The Rig Veda is an anthology of sacred hymns; the Sama Veda features musical arrangements of hymns from the Rig Veda and other sources; the Yajur Veda abounds in prayers and sacrificial formulae used by priests; and the Atharna Veda includes incantations and spells. The Vedas also provide an extraordinary historical panorama of Hinduism and offer insight into the early development of several fundamental artistic scientific and philosophical notions, such as the concept of zero.

　　Expressed in the elegant Vedic language, which derived from classical Sanskrit, the verses of the Vedas were traditionally chanted during sacred rituals and ceremonies and recited daily in Vedic communities. Although these texts were recorded in writing fifteen centuries ago for reference purposes, their principal means of transmission has remained oral to the present day. The outstanding value of the Vedic tradition lies not only in the rich content of its oral literature but also in the unique and ingenious techniques employed by the Brahmin priests in preserving the texts intact over thousands of years. To ensure that the sound of each word remains unaltered, practitioners are taught complex recitation techniques from childhood. These age-old techniques are based on tonal accents, a unique manner of pronouncing each letter and specific speech combinations.