Sanskrit Language
Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-European language from the Indo-Aryan branch, recognized as a foundational ancestor of many modern Indian languages. Revered as the "language of the gods," it serves as the original language of Hindu scriptures and continues to be integral in Hindu religious practices. Its earliest form, Vedic Sanskrit, is believed to date back to the Rigveda, composed between 1100 BCE and 1500 BCE. Sanskrit is classified as a classical language in India, akin to Greek and Latin in the West, and played a significant role in the development of religious and philosophical texts across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
The language underwent standardization by the philosopher Pāṇini in the fifth century BCE, leading to what is referred to as Classical Sanskrit. Although its use as a spoken language dwindled over the centuries, Sanskrit remains one of India's twenty-two official languages, utilized chiefly in religious contexts and rituals. The language has influenced numerous other languages and is regarded for its grammatical precision, making it a contender for contemporary applications in science and technology. Sanskrit is also closely associated with yoga, enriching the practice through its chants and mantras. Today, efforts are underway to revive its spoken use, although it is primarily preserved within scholarly and ritualistic domains.
Sanskrit Language
Sanskrit is an Indo-European language along the Indo-Aryan branch and a common ancestor to many modern Indian languages. Considered a holy language, Sanskrit was thought of as the "language of the gods" and is the original language of the Hindu scriptures. In modern times, it continues to be the language of Hindu religious rites and is used by many traditional Indian scholars. Just as Greek and Latin are considered classical languages in the West, Sanskrit is viewed as a classical language in India and large parts of Asia.
History and Classification
The earliest form of Sanskrit is known as Vedic Sanskrit, a name derived from the first knownuse of the language in the Rigveda, a sacred collection of hymns believed to date from about 1100 BCE to 1500 BCE.
Because Sanskrit was considered a holy language, it became known as a pure or perfect speech and was used by the three main religions of India: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Sanskrit was used by religious leaders and viewed as a refined way of speaking, denoting status and education. Variations of Sanskrit developed, called the Prakrit languages, that were later used by the common people. Prakrit means "ordinary" or "usual" in Sanskrit. The Prakrits were considered lower forms of speech and often looked down upon by the religious and cultural elite. Linguists consider this to be similar to the way Latin was considered the official language of the Roman Catholic Church for many years, as opposed to the common languages spoken by the people.
Another form of the language, Classic Sanskrit, developed in about the fifth century BCE, when an Indian philosopher named Pāṇini standardized the ancient form of Sanskrit. His revised version, with about four thousand rules of grammar and word formation, became known as the "perfected language," which is the origin of the word Sanskrit. This classical stage of Sanskrit lasted until about 1000 CE.
As the liturgical language of three religious, Sanskrit was carried throughout Europe, India, and the Near East by religious missionaries. As a result, Sanskrit influenced a number of other languages in these areas.
Near end of the eighteenth century CE, a British judge named Sir William Jones traveled to India, which was then under British rule. In an effort to understand Indian law, he began to study Sanskrit and noted similarities between the language and classical Greek and Latin. Jones concluded that the three classical languages must have a common source. He was not the first to make this observation, but he was in a position to share it with other influential people in the Western world. Jones’s work inspired other linguists to investigate connections between words of similar sound and meaning in other languages. At the time, Sanskrit was considered by many linguists to be one of the foundations of modern language. Jones’s discovery led to the belief a Proto-Indo-European language existed that was the common ancestor to many modern European and Asian languages.
Much of the great literature of India and surrounding areas is written in Sanskrit in verse form. Because it was originally a spoken language, Sanskrit is very descriptive and lyrical, making it harder to read and relegating it to the areas in and around India until almost the nineteenth century.
Geographic Distribution and Modern Usage
The ancient Indian cultures that first used Sanskrit placed great emphasis on the use of mathematics in many areas of life, including architecture, astronomy, and other sciences. The algebraic method was greatly influenced by Indian scholars and the Sanskrit language. The mathematical concept of zero as a number was popularized in a Sanskrit text by a seventh-century Indian mathematician named Brahmagupta. Because Sanskrit places great emphasis on consistent spelling and grammar rules, some modern scientists see it as the perfect language for science and computer programming.
Sanskrit is also the language of yoga. In Sanskrit, the word yoga means "union" or "connection," referring to the connection between mind and body considered part of yoga. Many practitioners believe using chants or mantras in the original language of yoga enhances the experience.
Although not widely spoken in the twenty-first century, Sanskrit is one of twenty-two official languages in India. It is used as a first language by about 14,000 people in India and 15,700 people worldwide, mainly in Hindu religious ceremonies and hymns. In recent years, there have been various attempts at reviving its use as a spoken language.
Sanskrit can be written in most of the alphabets of India and some regional scripts. Since the nineteenth century, it has primarily been written in the Devanagari script, an alphabet read from left to right that utilizes rounded shapes within squared outlines. A horizontal line runs along the tops of full letters. To translate this script into the Latin alphabet, researchers use a method known as the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration.
Bibliography
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