Feb 68 min read

History of Sanskrit | Vedas to Kalidasa's Verses

Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Indian subcontinent, holds a special place in linguistic history. Its origins are deeply rooted in the past, and its age continues to be a subject of fascination for scholars and language enthusiasts alike.

In this blog, we start a journey to discuss the controversies surrounding the age of Sanskrit, tracing its roots and exploring the historical milestones that have shaped its timeless legacy.

What Is Sanskrit?

Sanskrit is considered the oldest language still spoken and resonates with a timeless melody. It serves as the linguistic bedrock of India, where approximately 25,000 people proudly claim it as their first language. Beyond borders, over two million speakers embraced Sanskrit in 2011, highlighting its enduring global influence.

In the quest for knowledge, the United States takes the lead with 36 higher education institutes offering Sanskrit courses. India, its cultural cradle, closely follows with 15, while Germany and Italy contribute significantly with 14 and 12 institutes, respectively.

As we explore the age of Sanskrit, we recognize its not just historical but also contemporary significance, echoing in the classrooms and conversations that keep this ancient language vibrantly alive.

Real Age of Sanskrit: First Written Evidence

In the quest for Sanskrit's true age, opinions vary widely, ranging from 22,000 to 2,000 years ago. Imagine a family reunion where words echo similarities!

Through linguistic analysis and archaeological insights, we attempt to unmask the real age of Sanskrit, discovering the secrets hidden within its timeless verses.

Long ago, people spoke a language called proto-Indo-European, and from it, many languages, including Sanskrit, developed. Sanskrit is part of the Indo-European family, like English, German, French, and others.
The Indo-European languages have words that are alike because they likely came from a common ancestor language called proto-Indo-European, spoken around 4500 to 2500 BC.
Sanskrit is in the Indo-Iranian branch of this language family, which also includes Hindi, Bengali, and others. In ancient India, people spoke Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Pali, and they wrote scripts like Brahmi or Kharoshti.
The oldest Sanskrit texts are the Vedas, sacred to Hinduism. Vedic Sanskrit, used to write the Vedas, is older than Classical Sanskrit, which we use today. A scholar named Panini standardized Classical Sanskrit grammar between the 6th and 4th centuries BC.
Some say Sanskrit can't be more than two thousand years old because the earliest written examples are from around the first century BC. These include the Ayodhya Inscription and the Hathibada-Ghosundi inscriptions.
However, before these, Emperor Ashoka wrote rock edicts in the third century BC. These are considered India's first written inscriptions, but they were in languages like Prakrit, not Sanskrit.

So, some argue that Sanskrit might be more recent than other Indian languages. To challenge this, it's interesting to note that the earliest evidence of Sanskrit comes from Syria, not India, predating even the rock edicts of Ashoka.

Roots of Sanskrit: Vedic Sanskrit

To understand the age of Sanskrit, we must first trace its origins. Sanskrit is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family, a subgroup of the larger Indo-European language family. Its roots can be found in the ancient sacred texts of Hinduism, known as the Vedas.

The Vedas, which include the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, are considered the oldest religious texts in the world. Scholars believe that the Rigveda, in particular, was composed around 1500 BCE, making Sanskrit at least as old as these ancient scriptures. The language of the Vedas, known as Vedic Sanskrit, laid the foundation for classical Sanskrit.

Sanskrit in the Rigveda

The Rigveda, a kaleidoscope of ancient wisdom, consists of hymns that illuminate the dawn of Sanskrit civilization. Composed around 1500 BCE, it is the oldest of the four Vedas. Within its verses, we find hymns dedicated to various deities, celebrating the forces of nature, and contemplating the essence of existence.

The Rigveda is one of the four Vedas, alongside the Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Athravaveda, with the Rigveda being the earliest among them.

Each Veda is structured into four sections: Samhita, Aranyakas, Brahmanas, and Upanishads. The Samhita, meaning "union" or "collection," serves as the foundational layer of the Vedas. Within this category, the Rigveda Samhita stands out as the primary text, comprising hymns, chants, and prayers dedicated to various deities.
The Rigveda Samhita is further organized into ten mandalas, each containing a compilation of hymns. In total, the Rigveda consists of 1028 hymns, with invocations seeking blessings for wealth, cattle, longevity, progeny, and success in battles. Some hymns also elaborate on rites of passage, rituals, and cosmic phenomena.
The oldest segments of the Rigveda are found in Mandalas 2–7, while Mandalas 1, 8, 9, and 10 are believed to be later additions. The composition of the entire text spanned multiple generations.
One notable hymn is the "Purusha Sukta," which delves into the cosmic creation and the interconnectedness of all life. Another is the "Gayatri Mantra," a profound prayer for enlightenment and wisdom. These hymns not only showcase the linguistic brilliance of Vedic Sanskrit but also offer insights into the spiritual and philosophical inquiries of ancient times.
Geographically, the Rigveda was composed in the Sapta Sindhu region, also known as the land of the seven rivers. This region encompasses Punjab in modern-day India and Pakistan, extending to Afghanistan in the northwest and the Gangetic Plains in the east.
The seven rivers, including the Indus, its five tributaries, and the Saraswati, played a significant role in shaping the cultural and geographical context of the Rigveda.
One of the primary challenges in dating the Rigveda arises from the selective interpretation of events within the Vedas, leading to varied conclusions about the chronology of this ancient scripture.
Some researchers think we should change historical dates because the Saraswati River dried up around 2500 BC. The Saraswati River is significant in ancient texts, and scientists connect it to the Gagghar-Hakra in northern India and Pakistan.
We won't discuss the Saraswati River in detail here, but new studies show that the upper and lower parts of the river always had water, and people lived there when the Rigveda was written. Only the middle part of the river dried up and became seasonal around 2500 BC.

The Rigveda, like a timeless melody, continues to resonate through the corridors of history, echoing the wealthy thoughts of our ancient forebears.

The Horse and The Wheel

In ancient times, people in the Rigvedic society preferred using horses and chariots. They were kind of a big deal. The story takes us back to a cold place called the Eurasian Steppes.

Some archaeologists argued a lot about where the first tamed horses came from. At first, they thought it was Kazakhstan around 3500 BC. But in 2021, a smart person named Ludovic Orlando studied old horse genes and found out that our modern horses didn't really come from there. The horses we have now are different and evolved around 2000 BC.

The Sintashta culture, living in the Ural mountains in Russia from 2200 to 1900 BC, not only made our modern horses but also invented cool chariots with spoked wheels. These chariots weren't the only thing they shared - some Indo-Iranian people, like the Indo-Aryans, might have moved from there.

The Rigveda, a famous text, talked about these chariots. People back then were into the ones with spoked wheels, not solid ones. This suggests that the Rigveda was probably written after these Indo-Iranian folks moved to India, around 1900 to 1200 BC. So, it's like a story of horses, wheels, and people on the move!

The Evolution of Sanskrit: Classical Sanskrit

As time progressed, Sanskrit evolved from Vedic Sanskrit into Classical Sanskrit. This transformation occurred over several centuries, with the language adapting to the changing linguistic landscape. The period from 500 BCE to 200 BCE is crucial in understanding this evolution.

Classical Sanskrit, characterized by its refined grammar and syntax, became the language of classical literature, philosophy, and scientific treatises. It served as a means of communication among scholars and thinkers across ancient India.

Panini's Ashtadhyayi

Panini, an ancient grammarian, played a crucial role in shaping Sanskrit through his masterpiece, the "Ashtadhyayi." This work, completed around the 4th century BCE, laid down the rules and structure that formed the backbone of classical Sanskrit.

Panini talks about "lipi" (which means script in Sanskrit) and "lipikara" (which means scribe in Sanskrit) in his big work, Ashtadhyai. This tells us that writing in Sanskrit was already a thing in India when he was around.
People argue about when Panini lived. Some think it was around the 6th century BC, while others say it was in the 4th century BC. Most people agree that he lived before Alexander the Great.
Panini's genius was creating sutras or concise rules covering pronunciation, word formation, and sentence construction. Like a well-organized puzzle, his grammatical framework ensured that Sanskrit remained precise and consistent across diverse regions. Panini's rules became the cornerstone for scholars, providing a systematic guide to the language.

Ashtadhyayi not only standardized Sanskrit but also facilitated its evolution into a sophisticated and expressive medium. Thanks to Panini's linguistic legacy, Sanskrit's beauty and precision continue to captivate learners and scholars, making it an integral part of our cultural and intellectual heritage.

Sanskrit in Epics and Puranas

In the grand history of Sanskrit's legacy, its role in Epics and Puranas stands out vividly. The Epics, like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, are monumental literary treasures composed in Classical Sanskrit. These epics narrate tales of heroism, morality, and divine intervention, captivating readers across ages.

In the Mahabharata, we witness the timeless dialogue of the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna imparts profound wisdom to Arjuna. This sacred conversation, delivered in Sanskrit, continues to guide seekers on their spiritual journeys.

The Puranas, ancient mythological texts, also find their expression in Sanskrit. These narratives delve into cosmology, genealogy, and the exploits of deities. Through stories in the Vishnu Purana or Shiva Purana, Sanskrit serves as the language that unveils the mysteries of creation and the divine.

In Epics and Puranas, Sanskrit becomes the storyteller, telling narratives that transcend time and culture, enriching humanity with profound insights and timeless tales.

Sanskrit's Influence Beyond India

Sanskrit's influence extends far beyond the borders of India, reaching distant lands and diverse cultures. As ancient trade routes connected India to Southeast, Central, and East Asia, Sanskrit texts journeyed alongside merchants and adventurers. The philosophical treasures found in Sanskrit writings, such as the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads, resonated with seekers of knowledge in distant regions.

Temples and educational centers became beacons of Sanskrit wisdom, shaping local traditions and thought. Today, echoes of Sanskrit's influence persist in Southeast Asian art, literature, and inscriptions, showcasing the enduring impact of this ancient language on a global scale.

Sanskrit's Decline and Revival

With time, Sanskrit experienced a decline in everyday usage, giving way to vernacular languages. The decline began around the medieval period, as regional languages gained popularity. People began using languages like Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi more in their daily lives, sidelining Sanskrit.

However, its influence persisted in religious and scholarly circles. In the 19th century, the efforts of scholars like Sir William Jones and Max Muller brought Sanskrit to the attention of the Western world, sparking a renewed interest in its study. During this time, Sanskrit found a place in educational curricula, and steps were taken to revive it as a spoken language.

In contemporary times, initiatives for the revival of Sanskrit have gained momentum. Educational institutions and enthusiasts worldwide are working towards preserving and promoting the language, recognizing its cultural and linguistic significance.

Conclusion

The question of how old Sanskrit is takes us on a journey through the time machine. Its influence has surpassed geographical boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and intellectual world.

From ancient Vedas to the eloquence of Kalidasa, it stands tall. Sanskrit whispers the secrets of our past, painting vivid stories in timeless verses. As we bid farewell to this linguistic journey, let's cherish the legacy of Sanskrit, that continues to sparkle in the hearts of scholars, echoing across generations. In every word, a piece of history lingers, inviting us to celebrate the ancient beauty of a language that refuses to be forgotten.

#Hinduism #IndianHistory

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