Would it really be possible that vaidika pandits learn by heart such huge amounts of text, and are able to reproduce them correctly, syllable by syllable and tone by tone?
The following clips demonstrate the predominant orality and memory culture in current Vedic schools.
Among these clips, the second is a proof that at least the group of students studying the Saamaveda on that day (pre-dawn hour) in February 2001 did not use any hidden piece of paper to read the text of their lengthy chants: see what happened to their chant when there is a failure of electricity and the light goes off.
The chanting tradition followed here is that of the rare Ranayaniya school of the Saamaveda.

The fourth clip shows the performance of the Pravadbhaargava saaman earlier studied by the students.
Intended public of these clips:
students in Indology, Indian Studies, Ritual Studies, History of Education, History of Music, Ethnomusicology.

 

 

vimeo.com/82963699,
vimeo.com/90023730,
vimeo.com/90040436,
vimeo.com/111214428