Origin of the language Sanskrit

If it’s true that Sanskrit is the oldest language of the world, then a question arises as what was its origin? When did it first appear? And it for sure that no one in this world can answer for this question accurately. But some of the western scholars have tried to figure this out. And there are some interesting theories about the origin of the Sanskrit. As we know along with Sanskrit the other two languages like Greek and Latin also considered as the earliest languages of the world. And both of them are genuinely similar to Sanskrit. We can see some of the words used in all these languages are almost all same. Let’s take a look at some of the words that all three languages share, and compare them to their English equivalents as well:

Sanskrit	Greek	Latin	English
go	bous	bos	cow
danta	odontos	dens	tooth
pitar	pater	pater	father
nakta	nuks	nox	night
asti	esti	est	is
bhar-asi	pher-eis	fer-s	you bear

The similarities between these languages are so well built and so undisputable that the scholars came into a conclusion that these languages are not only similar but related.

One of the English scholar William Jones said this about Sanskrit:

“The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity, is of a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either, yet bearing to both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and the forms of grammar, than could possibly have been produced by accident; so strong indeed, that no philologer could examine them all three, without believing them to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps, no longer exists”; …Sir William Jones, in a speech delivered to the Asiatic Society in February 1786 (emphasis added).
This quote makes a beginning for the fantastic period of study into the history and origin of these languages. Scholars of these languages, which are collectively, called the "Indo-European languages," wanted to answer one question above all others: where did these languages come from?

The source:

 

A proposed map of the migration of PIE. India is in the lower-right corner.

Another scholar from western states that –

“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only”. Mark Twain

By this we can conclude that Sanskrit along with languages like Greek and Latin originated from a common language which was different from all three of them. We don't know what this language was called. Today, most people call it Proto-Indo-European or PIE for short. We also don't know when this language existed; but, it was likely used some time before 3000 BC. PIE is hypothetical, and no record of it remains; but over the years, our picture of the language has

Become clearer, and now we have a fairly good understanding of what it must have been like. Although we can never be sure of this picture, scholars have a lot of evidence to support it.

In the beginning the scholars considered that this PIE may have its origin from outside India. But later some of them thought the Dravidian languages, which once used to be spoken allover India may be the origin of PIE some of them mapped its origin as below –

But this theory also disproved due to lack of evidence.

Wherever this language has came from but it started to spread across Asia and Europe. And it witnessed changes as it started to spread. This may be the relationship between Sanskrit, Greek and Latin.

A brief History of Sanskrit: 
 

Vedas are known to be the first literature of Sanskrit and of the world. After Vedas Sanskrit witnessed some important changes in its feature. As the famous grammarian Panini put this language under some rules which almost seem like he froze the language from its fluid nature to an unchanged and timeless language.

After Panini’s work the proper Sanskrit witnessed its beginning. And till now it is survived according to the base given by Panini.

There is a famous saying in Sanskrit –

“Yadihaasti tadanyatra ynnehaasti na tat kvachit”

Which means – “what is there in this language is present in the rest of the world, and what is not here can’t be seen anywhere”.

So the study of sanskrit may help us in understanding our ancestors views, their theory about life and it will make us to feel as if we are going back to thousands of years ago, traveling in our ancient world, society and culture.

Introduction to Sanskrit:

“Whenever I have read any part of the Vedas, I have felt that some unearthly and unknown light illuminated me. In the great teaching of the Vedas, there is no touch of sectarianism. It is of all ages, climbs, and nationalities and is the royal road for the attainment of the Great Knowledge. When I read it, I feel that I am under the spangled heavens of a summer night” - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Sanskrit The very name is enough to inspire awe in millions of people worldwide — and great anxiety in thousands of language learners! The study of languages is always interesting. And that too a language like Sanskrit which has a strong sound, cultural and literature base gives you the feeling of going through ancient period and a peace of mind while learning. The meaning of the word Sanskrit is “which is done accurately”. 

Before staring our journey in Sanskrit we need to know why we need to study that language, and if we start listing the reasons, it will be pages together. And some of the answers for why Sanskrit can be listed as below

• It’s one of the oldest languages of the world. Among many other old languages like Latin or Greek, Sanskrit is the only language which has retained its purity. Maintained its grammar, vocabulary and constitution same as it was present thousands of years ago. The power of this language can be understood by just this one factor.

• The oldest literature of the world, the Vedas, the Puraanas, which enlighten the history of the ancient Indian subcontinent are also still in the same form as they were from their beginning. And the interesting factor is the Vedas were not scripted till the 17^th century, but they survived just through the oral coaching in the gurukulas, the ancient Indian schools and they travelled through thousands of years in that same format without any scripture that is the command of sound system and vocabulary of Sanskrit.

• It is accepted by many scholars that the Sanskrit vocabulary, which is derived from root syllables, is ideal for coining new scientific and technological terms. The need to borrow words or special scientific terms does not arise. From the very beginning, scientific principles have been hidden in the verses found in the Vedas, Upanishads and the great epics of India. What we study today as mathematics and astronomy, the principles and the base needed for their study all are present in the form of a hidden composition in the ancient Sanskrit epics.

• Sanskrit distinguishes itself in that it is the only known language which has a built-in scheme for pronunciation, word formation and grammar.

• Almost all the Indian languages have their roots in Sanskrit. Even today many of the Indian languages use the alphabets, words and grammar of Sanskrit as their own. They can’t survive without Sanskrit. If anyone wants to get hold on the Indian languages first he has to study Sanskrit and get a little knowledge about it.

Well, these are some of the common factors of the importance of the Sanskrit. 

Sanskrit is an extremely interesting language. It is amazingly logical. There are lots of rules but, once you have learn t them, there are none of the tiresome exceptions found in most languages.

This language attracts its learners by its purity, its sound and it’s amazingly logical vocabulary. For this reason only it is known to be as “Geervaanavaani” means the language of the god, looks as if very difficult to learn and has a complex verbal system but actually very easy to learn.

It is unique in its quality because it gives the bundle of knowledge to this world, and provides the base for the other languages by its rich grammar and a very strong linguistic base but doesn’t receive anything from the other languages.

Sanskrit was the language of ancient India. If we see its literature, we can notice that it was present since a long period may be from past 6000 or 7000 years ago. It was the language of the common people. In ancient India people used to communicate through Sanskrit only. As early as 2500 years ago it was considered to be as the only language which is worthy of containing religious beliefs.

This common language of society gradually started to lose its place from the society when it became almost exclusive to male Brahmans, who rigorously preserved it as a sacred language. And even later it became a timeless and place less language which has such a depth and a superb beauty. And today Sanskrit survives just because of its treasures in the cultural principles of South Asia and places beyond.

“What is our aim?”

Here we present an introduction to the Sanskrit language and a little motivation to happily pursue it to one's own capacity. At present you may not know anything about Sanskrit. But here we want to start with the very little details of this language. From the basic words called as aksharas, then to forming words, phrasing sentences, and then starting with the basic grammar we want our reader to learn Sanskrit with simple understanding. And begin to open the door to more than three thousand years of intellectual history, both in India and beyond. This is an ocean that no person can hope to cross; but let's set sail and see where Sanskrit will take us.