What is Sanskrit?

Sanskrit is one of the oldest known Indic languages, with examples of Vedic Sanskrit dating back to approximately 1500 BCE and possibly even earlier eras which are difficult to determine because the language was spoken and sung long before it was written. Indic languages, also known as Indo-Aryan languages, are a large and diverse branch of the Indo-European language family, and Sanskrit is one of the most famous and culturally important of these languages.  more

Sanskrit is one of the oldest surviving written language, originating from modern-day India. Hindi (the language spoken today in India) is based upon Sanskrit. All of the original scriptures of Hinduism were written in Sanskrit, and it is also found in Buddhist scriptures due to the fact that Buddhism originated in India. The Sanskrit word "om" is associated with the "sound" supposedly made at the birth of the universe, if I am not mistaken. It is often used in Buddhist chants.  more

Quick links and archives related to Sanskrit Popular archives related to Sanskrit Sanskrit, Sanskrit Dictionary, Sanskrit Symbol, Sanskrit Language, Sanskrit Alphabet, Sanskrit Literature, Sanskrit Mantras, Sanskrit Slokas, Sanskrit Om, Sanskrit Mantra Popular archives related to Hinduism Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Hinduism Religion, History of Hinduism, Hinduism Symbols, Hinduism Beliefs, Hinduism and Buddhism, Origin of Hinduism, Hinduism Gods, Woman in Hinduism, Hinduism Karma, Hinduism and Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, Hindu Art, Hindu God, Hindu Temple, Hindu Religion Popular archives related to Buddhism Buddhism, Buddhism Dictionary, Zen Buddhism, Buddhism Religion, Buddhism Symbols, History of Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, Buddhism Beliefs, Mahayana Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism, Hinduism and Buddhism, Buddhism Meditation, Christianity and Buddhism, Origin of Buddhism, Buddhism God, Buddhism Facts, Buddhist Art, Buddhist Monastery, Buddhist Temple, Buddhist Symbols Other ...  more

The symbol represents the sound "aum" or "om" in Sanskrit (as well as Hindi and Nepalese and other languages that use the same writing script as Sanskrit). The symbol represents the sound that someone would chant during meditation. The sound is supposed to represent the most basic nature of all matter in the universe. It is a very holy symbol to Hindus (especially the worshippers of Lord Shiva).  more

Sanskrit is an Indo-European language and the key to classical Indian civilisation. It could be argued that every great or profound thought and utterance in India before the Year 1000 was probably thought and recorded and transmitted in Sanskrit. We’re talking about the cultural, spiritual and intellectual output of about one quarter of humanity. Sanskrit is not a natural language, in that it was never spoken in the marketplace. It was an artificial system for elite scholarly and spiritual discourse. All languages are artificial of course, but this language was self-consciously constructed as a way of conveying the most sublime, spiritual and intellectual beauty that the human brain was capable of creating, and it does it with extraordinary subtlety. When did it originate? The origins of Sanskrit are lost in the mists of time. A collection of texts called the Vedas probably date from around 1000BC. The remarkable thing is that the language in the Vedas is largely recognisable today. ...  more

A. Sanskrit is the language used in yoga. In your class your teacher is likely to use Sanskrit to indicate the name of each posture. Just be patient, you will learn these overtime.  more