Pondering over the so called dead language.. (2)

How to revive the prisitne glory?

According to the modern educational methodology, there are certain paces in learning a language. They are step by step,

- (L)istening

- (S)peaking

- (R)eading

- (W)riting

On a gradual manner, if one practices learning a language, gaining mastery over that is not a difficult thing. Some people say, 'grammar for any language is written after it is widely spoken among the people.' Any way, discussion on this left to one's own discretion.

A baby understands and learns the vocabulary after listening from its parents. over the course of time, it starts to speak the household language. This learning process can be extended to any age group. Because, whoever wanted to speak a language, they need to start with same process mentioned. Hence, speaking has a prominent position in a linguistic activity. It is stated that any Indian can speak atleat two Indian languages. So, let's come back to our point.

Yes! there are some possibilities or alternatives for the revival of this beautiful language. If you propagate the idea of spoken Sanskrit, then its very possible to revive its pristine glory. But you feel incomfortable after listening this? Please hold on..

Two decades back in Bangalore, an voluntary orgnisation named after 'Aksharam' was established to propagate the spoken Sanskrit activity by a group of Sanskrit scholars. They were going to house to house, village to village putting their maximum effort to realize their goal. Some other like minded organisations supported them to their daily needs.

They've targetted a village by name 'Mattur' in Karnataka, to spread the message over there. A camp for ten days organized consiting 2 prcatice hours per day. These are called 'dasa dina samskrita sambhashana sibirani.' Here, one interesting thing to observe is that the volunteers use to teach Sanskrit vocabulary through Sanskrit medium only. With the help of teaching aids, their communication is very effective. With these dedicated voluntary efforts, irrespective of age and gender, the entire village started to speak only in Sanskrit. Amazing! No one taught them The Vedas, Sanskrit grammar&literature to speak in a so-called dead language!! But it is achieved!!!

Pondering over the so called dead language..(1)

How to revive the prisitne glory?

Here, I want to share some of my views on the spoken aspects of the Sanskrit language.

For any language, its learning is based on its grammar and literature prevalent from the times. In olden days in India, whoever desires education right from childhood, he has to undergo a rigourous 12 years of tutelege through 'gurukula' system. By learning Vedas, Upanishads, Vedanta and Darshanas in a methodological and meticulous way, it can be assumed that one's basic study in Sanskrit is over. But the process of learning is not over! Then one can become teacher and impart knowledge to others. The colloquial language was Sanskrit even to layman, thosedays! Means everyone is capable of having atleast little knowledge in Sanskrit language. One can refer some of the Kalidasa's kavyas for an evidence to this instance.

The attitudes, behaviours and activities that are characteristic to particular social group is called 'culture.' In India, Sanskrit is inseparable from culture. It has a mass treasure of the human 'experience, knowledge and skills' through its knowledge base of 14 vidyasthanas. Hence Sanskrit and culture are equal to the context. But in the course of time, modern advancements in education prominently occupied the position in curriculum. Say, engineering or technolog and so on. In the wave of modern educational policies, the system of 'gurukul' gradually disappearing. That is a biggest threat to a language believed to be the language of gods. But how to hold on the stream of Sanskrit learning, which is the backbone of Indian culture and tradition? There is an urgent need to revive the pristine glory of mother of all Indian languages in India. Are there any possibilities?

Lets think over..

Sanskrit literature

The holy Hindu scriptures: RgVeda

The root for Veda is “Vida (Jnane)” which means knowledge. The Vedas are four in number: RgVeda, YajurVeda, SamaVeda and Athrva Veda respectively. According to some historical resources, RgVeda is considered the oldest among these four by its language and style. Vedas are not authored; Sage Vyasa or Krishna Dwaipayana classified the Veda. Vyasa has preached RgVeda to Paila, YajurVeda to Vaisampayana, SamaVeda to Jaimini and AtharvaVeda to Sumanta who are his disciples. For the ages, Vedas are surviving and prevalent on complete oral tradition.

RgVeda is divided in two schemes. Former one is Ashtaka krama and the later one is Mandala krama. Under Ashataka krama, whole RgVeda divided in eight ashtakas. Each ashtaka will have eight adhyayas. RgVeda is comprising sixty four adhyayas. Each adhyaya is further divided in to vargas. Totally there are 2006 vargas according to Ashtaka scheme.

Under the later scheme, RgVeda is divided in to ten Mandalas. It is called ‘Dasa tayee’ also. For every mandala, it is sub divided in to Anuvakas. Each Anuvaka contains some certain number of Suktas, which contains Riks/Mantras. There are eighty Anuvakas and 1017 Suktas found in RgVeda. Each and every Rik and even the characters are also so meticulously calculated and described in a text called Sarvanukramani.

The normal recitation of Rik is called ‘Samhita patha’. The patha is fixture of metre and pattern of recitation. Eight types of Pathas or Vikritis (various combinational patterns in Vedic recitation involving accented euphonic combinations) are available for Vedas. Respectevely that are-

1. Jata
2. Mala
3. Shikha
4. Rekha
5. Dhwaja
6. Danda
7. Ratha
8. Ghana

In Pada patha every word is exploded and recited. Based on Pada patha if the order is changed and recited, it forms the different variations like Samhita, Jata etc.

According to Patanjali, RgVeda was having twenty-one Sakhas. People will have different Vedic traditions and Samskaras depending on their Sakhas.

To elaborate the Vedic idea,

Brahmanas-Aranyakas-Upanishads-Pratisakhyas-Nighantu-Nirukta

were authored. Itareya and Sankhayana are the only available two Brahmanas/Aranyakas on RgVeda. Among the commentators on Veda, Sayanacharya has written commentaries for all the four Vedas.

Eleven Suktas in RgVeda are called ‘Valakhilya Suktas’ for which Pada patha is not available.

Glossory:

adhyaya- chapter

varga-sub-chapter in ashtakaa

nuvaka-sub-chapter in mandala

sukta-group of hymns

Rik-Rgvedic hymn

mantra-hymn

sarvanukramani-a text on Rgveda by Katyayana

sakha-branch

samskaras- hindu rites of passage