by Dr. Vivek Desai
As we celebrate World Sanskrit Day on Shravan Poornima, a question may arise in the minds of many: “Why Sanskrit? Why should we learn Sanskrit? How is it relevant today?” In today’s day and age when artificial intelligence is on the rise and when English, Spanish, and French rule the global scene of languages, many question the value of learning Sanskrit, which is often dismissed as another classical or even dead language like Greek and Latin – just chanted during religious rituals but having no practical use. However, a closer look at Sanskrit sheds light on its value and significance even in modern times.
The mother language
Sanskrit is the mother of all the languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent. It is the root of the vast tree of Indic languages, where all the current Indian languages, including Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and numerous others, are branches. When the root is cut or not watered, the tree loses its vigor and slowly dies. If Sanskrit is not taught and supported, then slowly the Indian vernaculars will become contaminated with words from English, French, Urdu, and other distant languages, bringing in foreign concepts along with them that are antithetical to the traditional Indian culture. A language is not just a tool for communication but it also creates the world-view of the speaker and the culture (sanskriti). The vocabulary and structure of a language constitute its components. A word conveys a concept, so there are certain words in each language that cannot be translated into any other language because the concepts they convey are unique to that culture. Sanskrit words such as guru, mantra, avatar, karma, rasa, ananda, moksha, and many others do not have accurate equivalents in any other language because these concepts are not found in any other culture. By being ignorant of the original Sanskrit words and replacing them, albeit unknowingly, with, for example, English words, the original concepts that define Indian culture also get replaced by modern Western concepts, which lie rooted in a culture of exclusion rather than inclusion, consumerism rather than service, and individualism rather than universalism.
The natural language
Whereas most languages are known by the country of their origin, such as French from France, German from Germany, and so on, Sanskrit is universal, not limited by political boundaries. Sanskrit is termed as ‘deva-bhasha’ or ‘deva vani’ (‘language of the gods’) and ‘gods’ (devas) here refers to the ‘natural elements.’ Sanskrit is the language of nature, not created by the human mind. In the silence of meditation, the rishis (sages) of yore experienced the universe as a pulsating vibration – in the form of the sound ‘Om.’ All the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet emerged from ‘Om.’ The Vedas, the most ancient sacred texts in the history of humanity, also have their origin in this eternal sound of nature. The Vedas contain mantras that were heard by the rishis, not created or written down by any person; hence they are known as ‘apaurusheya’ (non-human). Sanskrit letters are embedded in the subtle body of every human being as well. This is elaborately explained as part of the chakra anatomy laid out in the Tantra tradition. Each of the six chakras in the human body has a Sanskrit letter as a bij mantra (seed mantra) along with other Sanskrit letters around it. Merely listening to Sanskrit mantras, let alone reciting them, has a tremendous healing effect on the body and mind. It also purifies the atmosphere of the place where they are chanted. Sanskrit is also the source of Indian classical music, which has become world-famous not just for its entertainment but also for its therapeutic benefits and spiritual significance. Whether it be Vedic mantras, nada yoga (yoga of inner sound), mantra cikitsa (Ayurvedic treatment by mantras), or healing ragas, all of them have their roots in Sanskrit.
The scientific language
With the most precise grammar, the rules of Sanskrit are systematically laid out in the Ashtadhyayi of Panini, which is based on the 14 sutras (aphorisms) that emerged from the cosmic drum of Shiva. The grammar is so precise that it is often considered to be useful for computational linguistics. Tightly bound by the precise rules of grammar, Sanskrit cannot be altered or contaminated. ‘Sanskrit’ means that which is ‘perfected’ or ‘refined.’ Sanskrit is a pure and eternal language. The Sanskrit alphabet has 50 letters (almost double that of the English alphabet) with the pronunciation of each letter having a specific location in the mouth. The mere pronunciation of Sanskrit letters is a good workout not just for the entire speech apparatus but also for the breath. To chant ancient Sanskrit sacred texts with accurate pronunciation in the correct meter constitutes natural pranayama (breath regulation), which confers immense health benefits and mental peace.
The language of peace
The structure of a language also informs the worldview of that culture subliminally. For instance, what is called ‘third person’ in English is known as ‘prathama purusha’ (first person) in Sanskrit, which shows that the culture informed by Sanskrit considers the ‘other’ as the most important in an interaction. In Indian culture, a guest is considered to be God (‘atithi devo bhava’). Everyone is considered to be a manifestation of God and to welcome everyone is considered the highest form of worship. To this day, the traditional greeting in India is ‘namaste,’ which means ‘I bow to you.’ In Sanskrit, the first person of English is known as ‘uttama purusha,’ which means ‘noble person,’ which shows that in this culture, value is given to becoming magnanimous, not first in a race. This is quite different, for example, from the Greek worldview, the mother culture of the West, where winning is of paramount value. The Olympic Games have their roots in that worldview. Even in the Devanagari (script of the gods) script of Sanskrit, when the conjuncts are written, the half letter is shown as full, supported by the full letter shown as half; in other words, even through the script, the value is being imparted that the powerful in society must help and support, not dominate or exploit, the weak. All the shanti mantras (peace prayers) in Sanskrit pray for universal welfare (“sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ”) as they consider the entire world to be one family (“vasudhaiva kutumbakam”). While we experience the ill effects of capitalism and consumerism on not just home and society but also on nature, the study and chanting of the Sanskrit language can act as a powerful aid in evoking empathy and compassion in the human heart for all sentient beings and natural elements.
The unifying language
Sanskrit has not just singular and plural but also dual number, which emphasizes the importance given to conversation between two individuals. This is evident from the fact that Indian scriptures are mostly in the form of a conversation between one teacher and one student, rather than in the form of discourse. In the spiritual tradition of India, God is worshipped not just in ‘third person’ as ‘Thou’ (as in the Abrahamic religions) but also in ‘second person’ as ‘You’ (as in the bhakti or devotional traditions) and even in ‘first person’ as ‘I’ (as in the Advaita or non-dual traditions). Two defining features of Sanskrit are the concepts of sandhi (conjunction) between two letters and samasa (compound) between two words. Both these concepts point to the value given to conversation, collaboration, and unity. This is reflected in the Devanagari script as well, where, traditionally, there are no punctuation marks or spaces between two letters or words, and even in Indian storytelling, such as in the Ramayana, where the building of the bridge (setu) forms one of the highlights of the epic. Due to this worldview of unity in diversity, for thousands of years, the Indian subcontinent has flourished with socio-cultural and religious harmony. The peaceful co-existence of diverse languages, customs, faiths, and ideologies lies at the root of the richness of Indian culture. The secret of this lies in Sanskrit. Without Sanskrit, this sanskriti of peace and harmony will also slowly disappear. To preserve the richness of not just Indian but human thought, the preservation of Sanskrit is essential.
The unconventional language
Sanskrit, unlike other languages, is not a language based on convention. An ordinary language consists of sets of sounds that a group of people have arbitrarily ascribed to particular objects; for example, the word ‘body’ refers to the physical structure of a living organism. The word does not have any intrinsic meaning. A word is connected to an object by convention. However, Sanskrit does not adhere to this definition of language. All Sanskrit words are derived from verbal roots that describe properties. For example, one of the Sanskrit words for ‘body’ is ‘deha,’ which comes from the verbal root ‘dih,’ which means ‘to collect,’ ‘to grow,’ ‘to decay,’ ‘to anoint,’ and ‘to conceal.’ Thus, the word ‘deha’ intrinsically refers to the properties of a body: it is made of a collection of elements, it grows, it decays, it can be anointed, and it conceals the eternal consciousness within. The focus is on that which is lasting and inside (qualities) and not that which is temporary and outside (form). Furthermore, multiple words exist for one concept and the usage is determined by its context. Given that the vocabulary of Sanskrit is based entirely on verbal roots, there exists the potential to create countless new words from the same verbal root. In the Sanskrit language, the order of the words in a sentence is not important, which gives the author the freedom to express it poetically. Sanskrit poetry is governed by the science of meters, which makes the poetry musical as well. This makes Indian classical literature full of aesthetic delight, aimed at bestowing the experience of the divine. For this reason, the entire Indian ethos is based on the ideas of eternity, fluidity, infinity, creativity, flexibility, festivity, and divinity.
The language for success
In a recent scientific study, MRI scans showed that memorizing ancient Sanskrit mantras increases the size of the brain regions associated with cognitive functions, such as memory and decision-making. This phenomenon was termed the ‘Sanskrit effect’ by James Hartzell. Having a strong memory and sharp intellect is the key to achieving success in any arena. Merely memorizing and chanting Sanskrit mantras, without even understanding their meaning, can be an aid in achieving success, whether it be in studies, career, or any endeavor in life. Today, despite enormous progress in science, technology, and medicine, more and more people, especially teenagers, suffer from mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), and bipolar. A mind disturbed with psychological issues will have impaired concentration, retentive power, reasoning abilities, and analytical skills. An afflicted mind is a major contributor to psychosomatic diseases, interpersonal conflict, and inefficiency in work. The chanting of Sanskrit mantras can help prevent and even reverse mental and physical health issues. When the mind becomes more balanced, the person’s immune system is boosted, relationships become more harmonious, creative potential is unleashed, work efficiency improves, and, success naturally ensues in life. By increasing one’s natural intelligence, Sanskrit can serve as an antidote to the problems due to artificial intelligence.
The language of knowledge
The Indian sacred texts, such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and Agamas; Indian epics, such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata; Indian storytelling literature contained in eighteen major Puranas (and many minor ones); Indian classical literature, such as Kalidas’ works or Banabhatta’s works, are all in Sanskrit. Even children’s stories for value education, such as Panchatantra (the precursor of Aesop’s fables) and Hitopadesha, are originally in Sanskrit. The Kathasaritasagara, a collection of Indian folk tales that travelled far and wide, is written in Sanskrit. All the ancient scientific works of India, whether in astronomy, medicine, or mathematics, are written in Sanskrit. The works on politics and economics, such as the Artha Shastra of Chanakya, are also in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the language of yoga, Ayurveda (medicine), Jyotish (astrology), Vastu (architecture), and all of Indian spirituality, from bhakti (devotion) to advaita (non-duality) traditions. This treasure-house of knowledge is the gift of India to the world. Despite all the invasions and destruction of libraries and temples, even from the surviving 40 million manuscripts, the percentage of translated manuscripts barely reaches 5%, with the rest still awaiting discovery. This priceless knowledge belongs to the entire world. The key to accessing this eternal knowledge is Sanskrit. It can offer humanity a way out of the madness it currently finds itself in and holds the power to bring heaven to earth.
An edited version of this article was published in ‘The Speaking Tree’ on August 12, 2022 (World Sanskrit Day).