34. The Sâman hymns are the chants of the Sama Veda, one of the three principal Vedas. The Brihat-saman is the standard ritual chant melody and form. The Gayatri meter (or chanda) is a simple meter that underlies most of the chants and hymns in the Vedas. In the Chandogya Upanishad, the gayatri meter is considered the best metrical form since it leads to knowledge of the Brahman, or Infinite Spirit.