Emergence of Sanskrit language from "summary" of The Origins & Development of Classical Hinduism by A.L. Basham,Kenneth G. Zysk
The emergence of Sanskrit language is an important event in the history of India. It evolved from Vedic Sanskrit and grew to become the language of the classical Hinduism. It is an ancient language that is still used today.- Sanskrit, an incredibly well-preserved language, is thought to have been first spoken in India around 3,500 years ago and has undergone a series of changes over the centuries.
- Sanskrit was traditionally used for religious purposes, and it also served as a primary medium of communication among intellectuals, scholars, and the educated class.
- Others argue that Sanskrit took shape due to population growth and increasing cultural exchange between Ancient India’s cities and villages.
- The grammar and syntax of the language inspired several famous poets, authors, dramatists, and scientists across times including Veda Vyasa, Kalidas, Panini, Charaka and Varahamihira.
- Over time, various dialect variations of Sanskrit also evolved, like Pali (used in Buddhism), Prakrit (used in Jainism) and Apabhramsha, which ultimately led to Modern Indo Aryan Languages such as Hindi and Marathi.
