Role of Sanskrit in the development of cultural heritage of India. (500 Words)
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First It could be interesting to
know certain facts about Sanskrit Language can help us better understand how
Sanskrit has influenced the development of cultural heritage.
- Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of the world and in the beginning it was mainly transferred through Oral Tradition. (Vedas and Upanishads were earliest written in Sanskrit and to be handed from Master to disciple mainly through oral recitations)
- The construct of Sanskrit language i.e. (Grammar, phonetics is quite scientific and it has led to greater interest in the field of linguistics (Linguist such as Noam Chomsky have acknowledged Panini as an influence)
- Sanskrit is the mother of languages not only of North India but also most of the European Languages. The closest language to Sanskrit in present day is not Hindi but Lithuanian.
Swami Vivekananda has said
“Sanskrit and prestige go together in India. The very sound of Sanskrit words gives a prestige and a power and a strength to the race”
Sanskrit had been highly regarded language as a part of India’s cultural tradition. It was necessary to learn Sanskrit in order to be considered as a scholar. Despite the fact that Sanskrit was an Oral language in the beginning, the manuscripts in Sanskrit are more (30 million) than Latin and Greek manuscripts put together. These plenteous texts in Sanskrit already gives a glimpse of richness of cultural heritage of India in the field of literature. UNESCO also recognizes it and have considered ‘Kutiyattam’, a form of theatre in Sanskrit as a part of its heritage collection.
Sanskrit still continues to influence the life of Indians in daily fashion as the two most epic mythologies Ramayana and Mahabharata were first written In Sanskrit and most of the Indians are aware about these texts and it forms the part of value systems, beliefs and tradition of Indian People. For e.g. Diwali and Dussehra which are big festivals in India have their mythologies in Ramayana. Sanskrit has influenced Cultural tradition of not only people in India but also in Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The kings of Thailand are called ‘Rama’ from the Hindu god Rama. The official symbol of Indonesia is Garuda which was the carrier of Lord Rama. The temples of Ankor Wat (Largest temple) in Cambodia have Ramayana and Mahabharata scriptures.
Sanskrit is still alive language in states such as Kerala where Sanskrit is part of curriculum and theater is performed in Sanskrit Language. In Uttarakhand Sanskrit is given the status of second language. Many foreign countries such as Germany and USA have established institutions to study Sanskrit as it being scientific and oldest of knowledge is in Sanskrit Manuscripts. So Sanskrit continues to Inspire not only Indian tradition and cultural heritage but also of several other countries.
- Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of the world and in the beginning it was mainly transferred through Oral Tradition. (Vedas and Upanishads were earliest written in Sanskrit and to be handed from Master to disciple mainly through oral recitations)
- The construct of Sanskrit language i.e. (Grammar, phonetics is quite scientific and it has led to greater interest in the field of linguistics (Linguist such as Noam Chomsky have acknowledged Panini as an influence)
- Sanskrit is the mother of languages not only of North India but also most of the European Languages. The closest language to Sanskrit in present day is not Hindi but Lithuanian.
Swami Vivekananda has said
“Sanskrit and prestige go together in India. The very sound of Sanskrit words gives a prestige and a power and a strength to the race”
Sanskrit had been highly regarded language as a part of India’s cultural tradition. It was necessary to learn Sanskrit in order to be considered as a scholar. Despite the fact that Sanskrit was an Oral language in the beginning, the manuscripts in Sanskrit are more (30 million) than Latin and Greek manuscripts put together. These plenteous texts in Sanskrit already gives a glimpse of richness of cultural heritage of India in the field of literature. UNESCO also recognizes it and have considered ‘Kutiyattam’, a form of theatre in Sanskrit as a part of its heritage collection.
Sanskrit still continues to influence the life of Indians in daily fashion as the two most epic mythologies Ramayana and Mahabharata were first written In Sanskrit and most of the Indians are aware about these texts and it forms the part of value systems, beliefs and tradition of Indian People. For e.g. Diwali and Dussehra which are big festivals in India have their mythologies in Ramayana. Sanskrit has influenced Cultural tradition of not only people in India but also in Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The kings of Thailand are called ‘Rama’ from the Hindu god Rama. The official symbol of Indonesia is Garuda which was the carrier of Lord Rama. The temples of Ankor Wat (Largest temple) in Cambodia have Ramayana and Mahabharata scriptures.
Sanskrit is still alive language in states such as Kerala where Sanskrit is part of curriculum and theater is performed in Sanskrit Language. In Uttarakhand Sanskrit is given the status of second language. Many foreign countries such as Germany and USA have established institutions to study Sanskrit as it being scientific and oldest of knowledge is in Sanskrit Manuscripts. So Sanskrit continues to Inspire not only Indian tradition and cultural heritage but also of several other countries.
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