Sanskrit: debunking top myths about the devabhasha
Sanskrit probably is the only key with us, to unlock the secret treasures of knowledge hidden away in ancient crumbly manuscripts. Perhaps we need to rid ourselves of these myths about Sanskrit in time - before we lose the treasure for ever.
Top myths about Sanskrit
Sanskrit is an ancient language that was a language of classes and masses. It was so beautiful and scientific that it was considered worthy of the Gods themself. The Gods don't need language to communicate the way we do, but the perfection of Sanskrit got it the name devaabhasha. Over the last eight hundred years, the use of Sanskrit started decreasing due to various reasons.
This led to the rise of various myths about the language. Let's check out the top myths about Sanskrit!
Sanskrit is a dead language
A dead language is not learned as a native language or one that is no longer the native language of any community. Well, not only us Indians but also foreigners proudly learn the language as the native language of India. It is recited in the form of mantras and stotras to invoke Gods. There is ample modern literature created in Sanskrit and the number of Sanskrit speakers increases day by day. To add to it, there are these Sanskrit-speaking villages in India. Mutturu (Karnataka), Jhiri (Madhya Pradesh), and Ganoda (Rajasthan) among others.
(In 1985, NASA Associate Rick Briggs published a research paper titled 'Vedic Science- ‘Knowledge Representation in Sanskrit and Artificial Intelligence.’ The research focused on many languages and explained that Sanskrit is one of the most suitable ones for computing techniques.)
Sanskrit is known to only a particular section of society
People from all walks of society used to learn Sanskrit and also create literature in it.
Rishi Vedavyas the son of sage Parashara and fisherwoman Satyavati wrote the epic Mahabharata.
The gyani Vidura paternal uncle of Kauravas and Pandavas was the son of Sage Vyasa and a humble dasi of Ambika and Ambalika
Ugrasrava Soota, the narrator of Mahabharata, was a Sutā by caste, even though he was born of a Kshatriya father and Brahmin mother. He spoke in Sanskrit.
Forest dweller Hanuman spoke brilliant Sanskrit with perfect grammar. It was observed by Lakshman when they first met.
Sanskrit does not provide a livelihood
Once you have mastered this ancient language, you can only teach this in schools, colleges, and universities.
There is no other job opportunity for those who have learned Sanskrit. This is another widespread myth about Sanskrit. The career opportunities for Sanskrit learners are abundant. Various sections of Indology require the expertise of a Sanskrit scholar. Management principles from Sanskrit texts have high regard. Increasingly the field of performing arts is seeking support from Sanskrit scholars regarding the technical know-how in Bharatamuni's Natyashastra. Sanskritised merchandise is the new in-thing. Think of the number of Sanskrit scholars required by google to commence Sanskrit translation in Google.
Sanskrit grammar is very difficult
If we focus on grammar while learning any new language, it becomes difficult. But learning any language as we learn the mother tongue, by listening and speaking, becomes pretty easy.
Today Sanskrit has broken away from the shackles and reemerged as a relevant and thriving language. Even if it is not being taught in many schools and universities, people are finding ways to study it themselves. Google said, that the highest number of requests that they received for translations was for Sanskrit. Language Curry, the only app in the world teaching Indian languages has the maximum number of downloads for Sanskrit. The students are from across the globe. Sanskrit can be learned in contemporary form too! Have you checked out this fun article we did a few days ago?
