All about Sanskrit                                 

ABOUT SANSKRIT

• Evolution of Sanskrit Language

Sanskrit is an ancient and classical language of India in which ever first book of the world Rigveda was compiled.  The Vedas are dated by different scholars from 6500 B.C. to 1500 B.C.  Sanskrit language must have evolved to its expressive capability prior to that.  It is presumed that the language used in Vedas was prevalent in the form of different dialects.  It was to some extent different from the present Sanskrit.  It is termed as Vedic Sanskrit. Each Veda had its book of grammar known as Pratishakhya.  The Pratishakhyas explained the forms of the words and other grammatical points.  Later, so many schools of grammar developed.  During this period a vast literature -Vedas, Brahmana-Granthas, Aranyakas, Upanishads and Vedangas had come to existence which could be termed as Vedic Literature being written in Vedic Sanskrit.  

Panini (500 B.C.) was a great landmark in the development of Sanskrit language.  He, concising about ten grammar schools prevalent during his time, wrote the master book of grammar named Ashtadhyayi which served as beacon for the later period.  Literary Sanskrit and spoken Sanskrit both followed Panini’s system of language.  Today the correctness of Sanskrit language is tested upon the touchstone of Panini’s Ashtadhyayee. 

Sanskrit is said to belong to Indo – Aryan or Indo Germanic family of languages which includes Greek, Latin and other alike languages.  William Jones, who was already familiar with Greek and Latin, when came in contact with Sanskrit, remarked that Sanskrit is more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin and more refined than either.  He said – “Sanskrit is a wonderful language”.  It is noteworthy that though ancient and classical, Sanskrit is still used as medium of expression by scholars throughout India and somewhere in other parts of the world e.g. America, and Germany. Sanskrit is included in the list of modern Indian Languages in the eighth schedule of the constitution of India. 

As per the Indian tradition Sanskrit Language has no beginning and no ending.  It is eternal. Self-born God has created it.  It is divine.  It is everlasting.  It was first used in Vedas  and thereafter it has been the means of expression in other fields. 

 Sanskrit has been the source of later languages and literature in India.  Pali and Prakrit were first to develop from Sanskrit.  Pali was taken as means for exposition of Buddhistic ideas and Prakrit was used for the spread of Jain doctrines.  Most of the Buddhistic literature is written in Pali and that of Jain cult in Prakrit.  A vast amount of Buddhistic and Jain literature was also written in Sanskrit simultaneously.  Prakrit language had different shades in different parts of India.  So they were named as Paishachi, Shourseni, Magadhi,  Ardha – magadhi and Maharashtri.  These Prakrits were used for writing ornate poetry like Gaha Saptashati and Karpur Manjari and also in Sanskrit drama as dialogues of ladies and illiterate  characters.  From each type of Prakrit various Apabhramsha languages developed bearing the same name as Paishachi  Apabhramsha, Shaurseni Apabhramsha and so on.  Modern Indian Languages are developed from these Apabhramsha languages. 

Hindi, the official language of India, is developed from Shauraseni Apabhransha.  It is said that all the modern Indian languages used in north part of India are evolved from Sanskrit and the other Modern Indian Langauges of  South India- Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu are evolved from the Dravidian family of languages.  The South Indian MILs are well enriched and nourished by Sanskrit language.

• History of Sanskrit Literature 

Sanskrit literature is as vast as the human life.  There are four aims of human life  which are called Purusharthas.  They are Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.  Dharma stands for the duties and responsibilities of man.  Artha communicates the monetary necessities, Karma stands for the human desires of all types and Moksha is freedom from birth and re-birth and worldly involvement.  Any and every literature surrounds these four aims of human life.  Sanskrit literature first of all presents Vedas which are the basis for Dharma.  Vedas are the root of Dharma.  There are four Vedas Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda, and Atharvaveda.  Brahman granthas explain the Vedic literature and give the detailed process to perform the Yajnas.  Aranyakas and Upanishads discuss the internal meaning  of the Vedas and the path of renunciation – Moksha Purushartha.  Pratishakhyas explain the grammatical issues of the Vedas.  Six Vedangas i.e. Shiksha, Vyakarana, Kalpa, Chhandas, Nirukta, and Jyotish help to understand the Vedas.  As per the Indian tradition the Veda is not written by any author but in fact  it is the respiration of God.  Veda has been seen by the seers,  the Rishis.  Later it was diversified  into four Samhitas by the great seer Vyasa.  Some Scholars hold that the Vedas were written  by different seers and they estimated the time of these writings from 6500 BC to 1500 BC.  The rest of the Vedic literature might have been completed  before 600 BC.   

Valmiki was first to write the worldly poetry; Loka – Kavya.  He wrote the Ramayana the great-epic which had the great impact on the later literature.  Even today the latest poetry is written on the line of Valmiki.  The Ramayana was written in 500BC. 

The second epic Mahabharata was written by Krishanadwaipayana Vyasa  which is known as encyclopedia of knowledge. 

Later the Poets like Kalidasa, Ashvaghosa contributed considerably during the Gupta period.  Bharavi, Bhatti, Kumardasa and Magha – all wrote Mahakaavyas.  Harishena and Vatsabhatti were also prominent writers.  Some other divisions of the classical literature and some names of the classical writers are: Kalhan and Bilhan in the field of  historical Kavyas :Bhartrihari, Amaruka, Bilhana, Jayadeva, Somadeva etc. are famous as lyric poets. The Brihatkatha, Romantic and Didactic Fables, erotic poetry, champu kavyas, works on poetics and anthologies, gnomic and didactic poetry etc. form an unparalled part of Sanskrit literature.

The Scientific Literature covers Lexicography, Metrics, Grammar, Law, Science of Politics, Love, Philosophy and Religion, Medicine, Astronomy, Astrology and mathematics etc.

Though lots of Sanskrit literature has seen the light of the day but still much more Sanskrit literature is lying in the form of manuscripts and waiting for publication.  These MSS are kept in general Sanskrit libraries and in houses of Sanskrit Scholars whose successors may know or not know the value of the MSS.  This is a huge work to be done.