BY: SUN STAFF Bhagavad-gita Manuscript, Kashmir Jan 14, CANADA
(SUN) A three-part summary of the history and application of the
Sanskrit language. Sanskrit is the oldest and richest language
in the world, and recorded history shows the study of Sanskrit
has continued for over five thousand years. The oldest known
form of this language is found in the Rgveda. In Vedic culture,
the language was used in the public domain and was called bhasa.
It later passed through a process of reform or purification, it
became known as Sangskrta (Sam -kr + ta). There are two stages
of Sanskrit from the chronological point of view -- Vedic and
later Vedic (or Laukika). The later Vedic language is also
called Classical Sanskrit. The main difference between these two
languages is in their instinctive accents. In Vedic vowel sound
there are three kinds of pronunciation -- udatta (high),
anudatta (low) and svarita (mixed) -- but in Sanskrit this
distinction is not maintained. Panini's Astadhyayi is the main
Sanskrit grammar book. I