What is the Sanskrit language, and where does it come from? Is it still in use? In today’s article, we will answer all these questions in detail.
What is the Sanskrit language?
For those who are not aware, Sanskrit is the chief liturgical language of Hinduism and utilized to be the lingua franca( a commonly adopted language between speakers whose native languages are different ) that assisted all the different regions of Greater India in communicating with one another.
Most of the best literary works to come out of the country were written in Sanskrit and religious texts.
Did you know that Sanskrit is the language of Buddhist and Hindu hymns and chants too?
These days, only at least one percent of the population in India speaks Sanskrit, even though it’s safeguarded as a scheduled language and considered the official language of Uttarakhand, one of India’s states.
Where does the Sanskrit Language come from?
Sanskrit is the oldest language known to humankind. It’s known to be the very origin of language itself—that from which all languages have arisen and transformed.
The Vedas, the collectively accepted first scriptures of man, were also written in this language.
You will find a deeply fixed faith among Indians that Sanskrit is the language of the Devas or Gods.
That’s why this language was identified during the Vedic era, 6,000 to 8,000 years ago, as the Divine Speech.
Panini, the great grammarian, structured the language with his grammar in the seventh century BC. Thus, it becomes called Samskritam.
Remember that Sanskrit is the basis for most modern Indian languages—Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Hindi.
Further, the classical Prakrit and the language of Buddhist scripture, Pali, has helped form many current languages such as English, Russian, German, French.
And the Southeast Asian languages like Thai, Cambodia, Vietnam, Javanese, Malay, and the Philippines.
What is the Sanskrit language and is it still in use?
There’s no doubt that Sanskrit is the language that belongs to the Indo-Aryan group and is the root of most, but not every Indian language.
Unfortunately, Sanskrit is only spoken by less than one percent of Indians in the modern world and is mostly utilized by Hindu ministers during religious rituals.
Based on data, fourteen thousand people described Sanskrit as their main language, with nearly no speakers in the country’s northeast, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa, and even Gujarat.
In schools, the language is offered as an optional language. Many students prefer to pick more relevant languages like German, French, and even Mandarin that are more suitable in a globalized world.
Example of a wise Sanskrit proverb.
Here is a good Sanskrit proverb about happiness you might like:
If your mind is happy, then the whole world is happy. If the mind is sad, then the world is gloomy. Therefore, if you want happiness, aim towards the happiness of the mind first.
Sanskrit Proverb
What is the Sanskrit language? To sum up, Sanskrit is nearly mathematical in its formulation and grammar.
It’s considered a mystical and sacred language, also called the language of the Gods.
The many Sanskrit proverbs are really remarkable and full of wisdom and advice to a Better Life and more Happiness.
Read more:
What is a Chakra, and how can it make you happier?
Meditation Benefits and how it helps your body and mind.
Namaste: All You Want to Know and Become an Expert.
Find a beautiful book about India at Amazon: Patterns of India: A Journey Through Colors, Textiles, and the Vibrancy of Rajasthan.
