VEYAGANA

MS 5293
MS Short Title VEYAGANA
Text VEYAGANA, BOOK OF CHANTS OF THE LITURGICAL KAUTHUMA SAMHITA OF THE SAMAVEDA
Description MS in Sanskrit on paper, Toddapur, India, 1672, 134 ff. (complete), 14x29 cm, single column, (9x21 cm), 8 lines in archaic Devanagari book script by Vyasacaturbhuja son of Vyasanarahari , 8 lines in Vedic numeric hand gesture music notation.
Binding Toddapur, India, 1672, poti paper covers.
Context For the full text of RigVeda, see MS 2097 above.
Provenance 1. Sam Fogg, cat. 17(1996):56.
Commentary The Veyagana, also known as the Gramageyagana, is one of the 4 ganas (song-books) of the liturgical Kauthuma Samihita of the Samaveda, providing details of the particular melodies to be employed in the rendition of the samans. Both the Gramageyagana (detailing songs which can be practised in the village) and the Aranyagana (containing esoteric songs meant for study in the forest), belong to the Purvarcika, the first book of the Samaveda. The music notation goes back to the ancient Vedic period. The numbers above the text lines correspond to specific hand gestures from which the correct tone of the chant could be interpreted. Colophon on the final f.: Thus ends the seventeenth lecture. The Veyagana is complete and ends. The section of the Pavamana ends. In the year 1729 (1672 AD) in the month Phalguna on the second day of the waxing lunar fortnight. Today here in the city of Toddapura in the reign of King Anandasimha this book was written by Vyasacaturbhuja son of Vyasanarahari from Srimala(?). For his own benefit. For the benefit of others. Whether correct or incorrect, blame should not be apportioned to me. May it be auspicious. May it be pleasing. May it be so. It should be protected from oil, it should be protected from water and from loose binding, it must not be left to the rats: thus speaks out the manuscript.
Place of origin Toddapur, India
Dates 1672