HS 201: WORLD CIVILIZATION

FINAL PAPER

ABHISHEK SINGH
11110005

TOPIC- Sanskrit worlds one of the oldest language? Why did Indian people choose other
languages (like Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu etc.) in spite of Sanskrit?
INTRODUCTION
The one which is introduced or produced in its perfect form is called Sanskrit. The word
Sanskrit is formed from sam + krit where (sam) prefix means (samyak) entirely or
perfectly, and krit means done. Sanskrit was first introduced by Brahma, so it is also called
the Dev Vani.[2]

(MENING OF ABOVE SHLOKA)- Once, at the end of Tandav (his divine ecstatic dance)
induced by the enthralling effect of Krishna love, God Shiv played his damru (the mini handdrum which God Shiv holds in his hand). From damru fourteen very distinct sounds came out.
Sage Panini conceived them and on the basis of those divine sounds, wrote down science of
Sanskrit grammar which will be always immortal.

HOW DID IT BEGIN- There are two divisions of researches. According to first, by 400B.C. a
Hindu Indian grammarian by the name of Panini had formally made the rules of Sanskrit
grammar, the collection of those rules are known as Ashtadhyayi. The Ashtadhyayi consists of
eight chapters, each of them are divided into four sections. It characterizes the difference
between the language of the written texts and that of common street language. Some rules of
Sanskrit morphology have been set out, much in the way of a mathematical function, to define
the basic elements of the language including sentence structure, vowels, consonants, nouns, and
verbs. There were much difference between classical and Vedic Sanskrit. Since the start of
human civilization on the earth, people and the Sages both spoke pure Sanskrit language. The
historical records indicate that three public programs of the recitation of the Bhagwatam and the
discourses on Krishna leelas had happened in Sanskrit language in 3072 BC, 2872 BC and 2842

BC. Later on the Prakrit form of speech with partly mispronounced words (called Apbhranshas)
was developed in the less educated society and became popular.
Other researchers says that According to Manu Smriti, ambitious Kshatriyas of Bharatvarsh
went abroad to the neighboring countries to establish their new kingdoms and, as they were cut
off from the mainstream of the Bhartiya civilization and culture, they developed their own
language and civilization as time went on. Natural calamities totally shattered their civilizations
but still the survivors started talking in some randomly words, which had many Apbhransha
words of the original Sanskrit language which their remote ancestors had retained in their
memory. As a result of this affiliation with Bhartiya culture and the Sanskrit language, Sanskrit
became the origin of the growth of the literary development in other languages of the world.
HOW DID SANSKRIT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER LANGUAGES- The phonology (the
speech sound) and morphology (the science of word formation) of the Sanskrit language is
entirely different from all of the languages of the world. Some of the unique features of Sanskrit
are:

The sound of each of the 36 consonants and the 16 vowels of Sanskrit are fixed and
precise since the very beginning. They never changed, altered, improved or modified. All
the words of the Sanskrit language always had the same pronunciation as they have
today. The reason is its absolute perfection by its own nature and formation, because
it was the first language of the world.

The morphology of word formation is unique and of its own kind where a word is formed
from a tiny seed root (called Dhatu) in a precise grammatical order which has been the
same since the very beginning. Any number of desired words could be created through its
root words and the prefix and suffix system as detailed in the Ashtadhyayi of Panini.

The perfect form of the Vedic Sanskrit language had already existed thousands of years
earlier even before the infancy of the earliest prime languages of the world like Greek,
Hebrew and Latin etc.

When a language is spoken by unqualified people the pronunciation of the word changes
to some extent; and when these words travel by word of mouth to another region of the
land, with the gap of some generations, it permanently changes its form and shape to
some extent. Just like the Sanskrit word matri, with a long a and soft t, became mater
in Greek and mother in English. The last two words are called the apbhransh of the
original Sanskrit word matri. Such apbhranshas of Sanskrit words are found in all
the languages of the world and this situation itself proves that Sanskrit was the
mother language of the world.

GRAMMMER OF SANSKRIT- Sage Panini conceived fourteen very distinct sounds from
God Shivs damru (small hand-drum which God Shiv holds in his hand) and created the entire
Sanskrit grammar called Ashtadhyayi. Those Divine sounds are:

There are total of 52 letters (16 vowels and 36 consonants).

The vowels are:
The consonants
are:

General points of the Sanskrit grammar are-

There are ten tenses: one form for the Present tense, three forms for the Past tense and
two forms for the Future tense.

There is also Imperative mood, Potential mood, Benedictive mood (called Asheerling,
which is used for indicating a blessing), and Conditional. Each tense has three separate
words for each of the three grammatical persons (first person, second person and third
person), and it further distinguishes if its referring to one, two, or more than two people
(called Ekvachan, Dwivachan and Bahuvachan).

Then there are three categories of the verbs called Atmanepadi, Parasmaipadi and
Ubhaipadi. These forms indicate whether the outcome of the action is related to the doer
or the other person or both. In this way there are 90 forms of one single verb.

SOME STRANGE POINTS ABOUT SANSKRIT- According to scientific study researchers

got conclusions that

An extreme case is the Vedic Sanskrit of the Rig-Veda: the earliest parts of this text are
dated to c. 1500 BC, while the oldest known manuscript dates to the 11th century AD,
corresponding to a gap of approximately 2,500 years[6] , So it is clear that Sanskrit is
the oldest language of earth.

According to some researchers Anatolian (the language of what is now central Turkey) is
the root language of Indo-European language (oldest language of world). Anatolian is
firstly invented near Black Sea. People from near black sea started migrating from there
to northern India. So thats the reason that European language and Sanskrit and many
other language has some connections.

According to Sir William Jones, there were many possibilities for having many same
words in different languages like taking some words as it was in the other language,

influence of peoples having other language and permutation and combinations of letters
etc.

Sir William Jones has also written about Sanskrit, The Sanskrit language, whatever be
its antiquity, is of a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than
the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either, yet bearing to both of them a stronger
affinity, both in the roots of verbs and the forms of grammar, than could possibly have
been produced by accident; so strong indeed, that no philologer could examine them all
three, without believing them to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps,
no longer exists; there is a similar reason, though not quite so forcible, for supposing that
both the Gothic and the Celtic, though blended with a very different idiom, had the same
origin with the Sanscrit; and the old Persian might be added to the same family."[i]

From above points it is clear that there is no satisfactory evidence of root language of IndoEuropean language. But Rig-Veda is proof of Sanskrits old manuscripts, which proves that
Sanskrit is the old language of the world.
Peoples preferences went to other languages- In spite of having vast grammar source,
easy formulation of sentences, pretended as language of Gods language, unique poetry
writings and pure language, people decided to go with other language. The reasons behind
these are below

Obliteration of Non-Brahmin Civilizations throughout Indian history, Sanskritisation

has been the tool of the Brahmin race in its absolute dominion over India. By means
of Sanskritisation all vitality and life was sucked out of the vernaculars, whilst dead
and artificial cultures were dumped in their place. The cultured versions of the
vernaculars were destroyed and replaced by Sanskrit and forced to use Sanskrit.

Often, these diverged so widely that new languages arose; thus Hindi, Kannada,
Telugu and Malayalam arose out of the ancient Proto-Dravidian language which was
destroyed by Brahminic Sanskritisation.

Sanskrit played a very minor role in Indian culture. Even when it was forced onto the
unwilling populace, they rose in rebellion, restoring the regional, national languages.
It is hence only by means of slow and systematic policies that Sanskritisation could
undermine the non-Brahmin tongues. Tamil - The Dravidians have consistently
opposed Sanskrit and Sanskritisation of Dravidian languages. Even translations from
Sanskrit were abhorred. Tamil was able to preserve almost fully its ancient purity.
During Aryan invasions and subsequent Brahmin tyranny, the fraction of Sanskrit
words rose to 25 % but by the mid-20th century these had completely removed and
Tamil had been fully purified of any Sanskrit corruptions.

Brahminic theft of Prakrit Literatures, The Brahmin linguist-liars have set forth the
exaggerated claim that `Sanskrit literature is the mother of all literatures'. They
hypothesize that Sanskrit literature was the fountain from which all other literatures in
the world derive. In fact, none of these works were originally in Sanskrit. The `Ocean
of Story', the `Pancatantra' and most other literature produced in India was produced
in the Prakrit. They were then stolen by the Brahmins only much later, and falsely
presented as original Sanskrit works.

Artificial Sanskrit Literature Sanskrit literature always appears stiff, formal and
highly artificial since it was never spoken, and hence lacks the depth and passion that
works in the mother tongue display. Those time much of Sanskrit literature is dry and
monotonous, or can only be appreciated after a considerable effort of the imagination.

Of course the Hindu fundamentalists will always praise Sanskrit. The ancient and
classical literature of the Sanskrit tongue shows both in quality and in body an
abundance of excellence.
CONCLUSION- From above contents, now we can conclude that Sanskrit has a vast collection
of knowledge and most interesting language of the world. We all know that it isnt easy to
extract the history and grammar of Sanskrit in 6 pages. I have already studied Sanskrit for 5
years. Its really very interesting and no one can even describe the enjoyment of reading of
Sanskrit in their words. Yes, we can say that it is not sure that whether Sanskrit is really oldest
language of the word or not.
Also Sanskrit is very easy language in comparison of other languages (it can be distinguish by
the person who has read all grammar and literature part of Sanskrit). Due to Indian custom like
Cast system, Sanskrit became curse for lower caste people. So people started to find replica of
this language by which those lower cast people inhinged their Granthas, records. It is not the
problem of Sanskrit but people made Sanskrit hatred ( which was loved by bramhin who thought
that Sanskrit dev-vani shouldnt be spoken by other peoples but due to restrictions hated by
lower caste people).
In spite of every things, it is clear as water that there has been no such genius born who could
produce a grammar as perfect as Sanskrit. Such Panini had made the language which contains
large grammar other than any grammar and has immortal literature.

REFRENCE1.

COVER PIC- http://4.bp.blogspot.com/GLEaoxrkm_w/Tdc0dPPuWGI/AAAAAAAAALQ/5pcT8L2Q_ZQ/s1600/indoeuropean-language-familytree.jpg, http://www.indovacations.net/english/images/visudha-sounds.jpg

2.

http://sanskrit.farfromreal.com/index.php?x=hist_orig

3.

https://docs.google.com/a/iitgn.ac.in/viewer?a=v&q=cache:X0oGapk0jNQJ:sanskrit.safire.com/pdf/ORIGI
NS.PDF+&hl=en&gl=in&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj7hcJmArwnQVz_4YgwvhuAXwe566IMKeJDJSXLWOzJ4O0YS5j9OGIqEIzIBQe80g7XG1VCOUeSwVyiMbqYPCUGTbLWVhUeyAdhJNXB4bP4V78E
WdoVUg7lHcZ8udw8P-HVHCp&sig=AHIEtbSn2gs_cvWO_lsjpONeeivji5qqpw

4.

http://www.thevedicfoundation.org/valuable_resources/Sanskrit-

The_Mother_of_All_Languages_partI.htm
5.

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/general/sanskrit.asp

6.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit

7.

http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/sanskrit_exposure.htm

BIBLOGROPHYI.
II.

Friedrich Max Mller (1859), A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, Williams and Norgate, page1
Sheldon Pollock(2006), The Language OF The Gods In The World Of Men