Evolution of Sanskrit

Department at a glance

Evolution Of Sanskrit

Sanskrit is anancient and classical language of India in which ever first book of the worldRigveda 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 capabilityprior to that. It is presumed that the language used in Vedas was prevalent inthe form of different dialects. It was to some extent different from thepresent Sanskrit. It is termed as Vedic Sanskrit. Each Veda had its book ofgrammar known as Pratishakhya. The Pratishakhyas explained the forms of thewords and other grammatical points. Later, so many schools of grammardeveloped. During this period a vast literature -Vedas, Brahmana-Granthas,Aranyakas, Upanishads and Vedangas had come to existence which could be termedas Vedic Literature being written in Vedic Sanskrit.

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

Sanskrit is said to belong to Indo – Aryan or IndoGermanic family of languages which includes Greek, Latin and other alikelanguages. William Jones, who was already familiar with Greek and Latin, whencame 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 awonderful language”. It is noteworthy that though ancient and classical,Sanskrit is still used as medium of expression by scholars throughout India andsomewhere in other parts of the world e.g. America, and Germany. Sanskrit isincluded in the list of modern Indian Languages in the eighth schedule of theconstitution of India.