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