Glory of Sanskrit

[anandb]

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Came across these interesting links today.

The first is a video showing British schoolchildren chanting verses from Vedas. Link below

YouTube - Commonwealth baton receiving ceremony: Sanskrit in London

This article is about a British school having Sanskrit as a compulsory language and an interview with its Sanskrit teacher (a Brit) who talks so highly of the language.

A British School Makes Sanskrit Compulsory

 

[Raghy]

Sanskrit is a language. A media for communication. It is an old language; it is one of the hundreds of languages in practice. Unfortunately, sanskrit is seen as a language of prayers, slokams and religious rites. I have not heard any social song in Sanskrit language; I am sure there would be many songs.. but not very popular. Any language would have swear words; does Sanskrit has her share? What about pornography? Has any learned persons come across Sanskrit pornography books? These are questions always lingered in my mind when I think Sanskrit as a language.

Cheers!

 

[renuka]

Sanskrit is a language. A media for communication. It is an old language; it is one of the hundreds of languages in practice. Unfortunately, sanskrit is seen as a language of prayers, slokams and religious rites. I have not heard any social song in Sanskrit language; I am sure there would be many songs.. but not very popular. Any language would have swear words; does Sanskrit has her share? What about pornography? Has any learned persons come across Sanskrit pornography books? These are questions always lingered in my mind when I think Sanskrit as a language.

Cheers!

Dear Raghy,
Swear words can be created in any language. thats not a problem even in Sanskrit.
Just translate a few power packed swear words from Tamil/ Hindi and we get new ones in sanskrit.
Somehow the english swear words dont have the powerful impact as indian swear words. I naturally prefer the Indian ones full of emotions involved.

Coming to pornography we mainlyneed good clear visual images and you have your porn.
In pornography visual images are more important.
No one would want to see porn clips with poetry, flowery language.
Its hardcore action people want.

Nothing is impossible Raghy.

We feel Sanskrit is kind of holy becos we dont speak it.

Once we speak it it will be like any other language.

even a simple mantra will sound so divine and unreachable but once we know the meaning it sounds quite simple.

for example ; Vasudeva Sutam Devam Kansa Chaanura Mardanam

its sounds so "Hi Fi" some would say but all it means is "The Divine son of Vasudeva slayer of Kansa and Chaanura"

I practise speaking Sanskrit with my husband who has just started learning Sanskrit.
Its really fun.Just a few words on and off.
I am no scholar.

Disclaimer: This reply is just to inject fun into this forum.
I have no intention of disrespecting the Sanskrit Language or any other Language.

 

[RVR]

It is my earnest opinion that Tamil Brahmins adopting sanscrit is the root cause of division among various Tamil communities.

There are lot of Brahmins among Alwars and Nayanmars who composed songs only in Tamil. At that time caste discrimination was not visible. (7th to 9th Century AD)

Arunagirinathar suppose to be a Tamil Brahmin composed Thiruppugazh on Lord Murugan only in Tamil (14th century AD). But sanskrit mix could be noticed in his songs.

Abhirami Battar again suppose to be a Tamil Brahmin composed songs on Goddess Abhirami in Tamil only (17th Century AD)

But subsequently Thiagayya composed songs in Telugu. Shyama Sastri and Muthusamy Dikshidar composed in songs in Sanskrit. (18th and 19th Century AD). All the three belong to Brahmin community.

It means Brahmins started patronising Sanskrit only in the latter period and probably isolated themselves from other communities.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

All the best

 

[renuka]

Dear all,
I personally feel Sanskrit is not the cause of division among Tamilians.
Sanskrit is a language.A language cannot cause division.
Has english caused divisions among Tamilians?

Its humans which divide.
i persoannly feel Non Brahmin tamilians have never ever rejected Sanskrit contrary to what they may potray.
99% of everyone walk around with Sanskrit names only.
We rarely find anyone with a pure Tamil name.

Non Brahmin Tamilians may feel alienated from Sanskrit partly due to the script used.
For all practical purpose Devanagari is just a script but you will be very suprised that many think its a Hindi script and feel Sanskrit does not give them a Tamil feel.
The best way is to revive Grantham script which would attract more to learn sanskrit and hopefully the man made divisions will gradually fade.

But human beings are by nature clannish.Even if the Caste system was not there they would have found another method to divide themselves.
Only when aliens invade the earth, all will come under the Human Umbrella.

 

[anandb]

Shrimati. Renuka,

Dear all,
I personally feel Sanskrit is not the cause of division among Tamilians.
Sanskrit is a language.A language cannot cause division.
Has english caused divisions among Tamilians?

Its humans which divide.
i persoannly feel Non Brahmin tamilians have never ever rejected Sanskrit contrary to what they may potray.
99% of everyone walk around with Sanskrit names only.
We rarely find anyone with a pure Tamil name.

Non Brahmin Tamilians may feel alienated from Sanskrit partly due to the script used.
For all practical purpose Devanagari is just a script but you will be very suprised that many think its a Hindi script and feel Sanskrit does not give them a Tamil feel.
The best way is to revive Grantham script which would attract more to learn sanskrit and hopefully the man made divisions will gradually fade.

But human beings are by nature clannish.Even if the Caste system was not there they would have found another method to divide themselves.
Only when aliens invade the earth, all will come under the Human Umbrella.

You wrote exactly what is in my mind. The problem with us humans is instead of controlling and conditioning the mind we let it run amok and allow it to screw up a system in the outer world. Then we find fault with the system, change it into another and screw up that one as well and this just keeps going on. All the while not realizing that what we should be doing is controlling our inner space. As a great sage said, even if you ban arms, man will still fight with sticks so there should be a basic realization as to what's causing a fight. Is it "man (mind)" or his "tools"? So the basic divisions in our mind has to be addressed first before trying to address all the other outward symbols of difference.

 

[Raghy]

Sri.RVR Sir,

Thyagayya composed keerthans in Telugu because Telugu was his mother tongue. There are many Tamil keerthanais composed by Smartha brahmins.

Cheers!

 

[renuka]

You wrote exactly what is in my mind. The problem with us humans is instead of controlling and conditioning the mind we let it run amok and allow it to screw up a system in the outer world. Then we find fault with the system, change it into another and screw up that one as well and this just keeps going on. All the while not realizing that what we should be doing is controlling our inner space. As a great sage said, even if you ban arms, man will still fight with sticks so there should be a basic realization as to what's causing a fight. Is it "man (mind)" or his "tools"? So the basic divisions in our mind has to be addressed first before trying to address all the other outward symbols of difference.

Dear anandb ji,

this is not the first time i wrote something which was on your mind and you wrote something which was on my mind.

Even the post about the British Children reciting sanskrit, I had read it in a sanskrit magazine called Sambhasana Sandhesha and i wanted to post it here but you posted it first.

Dont you think the human mind is such a powerful entity that can have similarities and differences.
So its really essential for us to sing
"Sabko Sanmathi Dey Bhagawan"

 

[RVR]

Dr Renuka

Personally I am not against Sanskrit or any other language for that matter.

Brahmins in Tamilandu have patronised Tamil fully in the past. Infact only U .Ve. Swaminatha Iyer is regarded as `Tamil Thatha'

But the Dravidian movement has projected brahmins as aliens to Tamil and have succeeded in that.

I have seen all communities including brahmins singing Thiruppugazh in one voice at various functions even today. Murugan worship and Thiruppugazh is definitely uniting all communities in Tamilnadu

But only Brahmins are delivering sanskrit slokas and other communities are just observing.

If brahmins start showing interest in bakthi Tamil Literature, they can get integrated with all communities. It doesn't mean, they should give up sanskrit altogether. Both can go simultaneously.

Regarding English, it is a necessity. Anti-Hindi movement brought English closer to everybody in Tamilnadu and South. Today the call centers are doing large volume business, thanks to our closeness to English. North Indians are feeling isolated seeing the growth Information Technology, BPO and Call center business in South.

Off late lot of English teaching institutes are doing booming business in North India as everybody there wants to learn English and catch up the boom along with their sourthern counter parts. Earlier they use to laugh and make fun of us when we talk to them in English. Now things are changing.

My view is just to unite all communities in Tamilnadu through bakthi Tamil Literature.

All the best

 

[Raghy]

Sow.Sri.Renukakarthikayan,

"I personally feel Sanskrit is not the cause of division among Tamilians.
Sanskrit is a language.A language cannot cause division.
Has english caused divisions among Tamilians?

Its humans which divide."

I agree with you 100%. Sanskrit is just a language. A language can unite people; but may not divide people. Humans can use the language to divide people. In 1947, Bengali language united a bunch of people to seperate them from rest of India to form East Pakistan; religion was not the only reason in that case.

"i persoannly feel Non Brahmin tamilians have never ever rejected Sanskrit contrary to what they may potray."

A vast majority of Non-Btrahmin tamilians don't give a hoot about Sanskrit. Why should they? It is an alien language for them, anyway. I think they may not miss slokams, religious rites etc. Would I reject Swahili language? I would be pay least attention to that language since it has absolutely no effect in my life. With the Sanskrit language, NBs were denied access to that language. No wonder they decided to say 'you keep it; you enjoy it! have a good day!'.

"Only when aliens invade the earth, all will come under the Human Umbrella."

What makes you think that aliens had not invaded already?

Cheers!

 

[Raghy]

Sow.Sri.Renukakarthikayan,

"Nothing is impossible Raghy.

We feel Sanskrit is kind of holy becos we dont speak it.

Once we speak it it will be like any other language."

There are people who speak Sanskrit in their everyday lives. It is just a language for them.

http://connect.krishna.com/node/7769

Cheers!

 

[renuka]

Priya Raghy Mahodaya,

Dhanyavadah,

renuka

 

[vikrama]

But the Dravidian movement has projected brahmins as aliens to Tamil and have succeeded in that.

But only Brahmins are delivering sanskrit slokas and other communities are just observing.

If brahmins start showing interest in bakthi Tamil Literature, they can get integrated with all communities. It doesn't mean, they should give up sanskrit altogether. Both can go simultaneously.

I am for brahmins reciting thevaaram and other Tamil bakthi literature. But,as you said, that should not mean that we should give up Sanskrit. We should, instead, bring others also into the fold of Sanskrit. Till the early part of 20th century, there were many Sanskrit scholars among NBs. Pandithamani Kathiresan Chettiar was one such. It was Maraimalai Adigal, who knew Sanskrit well, spat venom in his essays against Sanskrit. He had no grouse against the language as such. He wanted to remove the domination of brahmins in the religious sphere and incited the Saivas against the language.

The Tamil community is experiencing the results of the shorted sighted anti Hindi policy of the Kazhagams. A day will come when the NBs will realise the importance of Sanskrit and begin to learn.

 

[renuka]

Dear Vikramaji,

The love for Sanskrit Language and its importance should be revived.
In Malaysia many are still not keen to learn Sanskrit but when anyone converts to Islam( because they married a muslim women) people even learn Arabic to read the Quran.
I can hardly understand at times why many Hindus despise Sanskrit when they walk around with Sanskrit names.
They wont object when they name their children in Sanskrit.
They also dont object when Sanskrit mantras are recited during weddings and Thali tying.
During funerals also they wont object but everything else in between birth, marriage and death they will object.

Some only want to sing bhajans in tamil only.
I also know of Northern Indians Brahmins here who only want to sing and pray in Hindi only.
If all of us could learn english why cant we learn Sanskrit.

 

[Curious]

Vikrama ji,

The Tamil community is experiencing the results of the shorted sighted anti Hindi policy

Agreed 100%. I know how tamils feel when they are among hindi speaking crowd. They feel isolated.

Cheers!

 

[pvraman]

It is the basic feeling of Arya Dravida separation fed by british. Sanskrit is considered as aryan language, ஹிந்தியை தார் பூசி அழிச்சாங்க.

I always amazed at Sanskrit. Even for a small line, there is a big translation. Is that such a crisp language.

In sanskrit ழ கூட இருக்கே!!

 

[DURGADASAN]

Dear all

I wholly accept the view of RVR uncle. Even we people ignore tamil thats what I think. Whenever my relatives asks me to sing a song, usually I sing tamil carnatic songs, especially from Uthukadu or Gopalakrishna bharathi. After hearing that, they will ask me who was written this krithi? Nice to hear and all. But when I sing a song in other language, they will immediately say thats thyagayya composition (Even I wonder when my cousin identified Kabir's abhang at the sametime he is ignorant of gopalakrishna bharathi). Most of vidwans consider singing tamil songs as inferior and now the trend is changing a bit I think. It is there in all fields even within our community. I just cited the example in the field of music.

The fate of a language, which has got rich source of literature and vast speaking people, and national language in many countries, is like this in its own birthplace... Then what to say about sanskrit... Like shivaperuman, I will also say both Tamil and Sanskrit are my two eyes. But what to do, my third eye (the eye of wisdom) can be achieved only by ENGLISH in today's scenario.

Pranams

 

[pannvalan]

Tamil had its own pride of place until Marathi and Nayak rulers entered here. Later on, we on our own got enticed by English.

I personally feel learning any number of languages is good; but, learning one's mother tongue is a must.

I support RVR in voting for Tamil. A Tamil Brahmin shall never feel shy to call himself a Tamilian first. If Sanskrit is used for divine purposes, it doesn't mean Tamil cannot meet that objective. (Please see my another thread captioned "Functional language of Hinduism" posted a few months ago).

Simply because Tamil is spoken by all and sundry, many of us have a low opinion about it. That's wrong.

A language doesn't earn its honour and pride, because of the social status of the people speaking it.

I know many or most of the kids nowadays choose Sanskrit, French or Hindi as second lanugage in their school. The argument put forth by them is a student cannot score high marks in Tamil, howsoever brilliant he might be. This also has been disproved. Many students in their SSLC or +12 have scored 100% marks in Tamil in the past few years.

Let us shun the aversion for Tamil, because of the liking we have for Sanskrit or English.

At least as a language, Tamil must be taught and learnt until one attains the age of 12 years.

Sanskrit alone is not 'deva bhasha' and all others are not 'paisaasa bhashas'.

The Tamils living in/from Sri Lanka and those in Malaysia/Singapore or France have achieved so many wonders in different fields. Learning Tamil never was never an obstacle in their progress.

By saying that we call came from the north or the Sindhu region, we have unwittingly alienated ourselves in Tamilnadu and have earned the dislike and hatred of the local population.

Brahmins in Kerala are considered 'Malayalis', Brahmins in Karnataka are accepted as 'Kannadigas', Brahmins in A.P. are treated as 'Telugus'. But, what about Tamil Brahmins?

No useful purpose will be served in blaming NBs alone for this.

I am really very sad to note that nearly 60% of our children do not learn Tamil at all, even in primary level.

 

[happyhindu]

I am for brahmins reciting thevaaram and other Tamil bakthi literature. But,as you said, that should not mean that we should give up Sanskrit. We should, instead, bring others also into the fold of Sanskrit. Till the early part of 20th century, there were many Sanskrit scholars among NBs. Pandithamani Kathiresan Chettiar was one such. It was Maraimalai Adigal, who knew Sanskrit well, spat venom in his essays against Sanskrit. He had no grouse against the language as such. He wanted to remove the domination of brahmins in the religious sphere and incited the Saivas against the language.

The Tamil community is experiencing the results of the shorted sighted anti Hindi policy of the Kazhagams. A day will come when the NBs will realise the importance of Sanskrit and begin to learn.

I just read about maraimalai adigal on wiki.

Thankyou for this post.

Were there many NBs tamilians who wrote in sanskrit in the past?

To me, sanskrit and tamil are like the mother and father of all indian languages.

Lucky are people who know both.

Hope everyone will learn both languages and celebrate all languages...

 

[Nara]

...I am really very sad to note that nearly 60% of our children do not learn Tamil at all, even in primary level.

None of the younger generation in my family and my wife's family, not a single one, zero, know to read and write Tamil fluently, and that's a shame.

In this context, I would like to quote Swami Sri Desikan's last verse from his Prabhandham called Prabhanda Saram eulogizing Azvars. In this, Swami Sri Desikan, an avowed and strict Vaidika, declares himself as belonging to Dravida Vedam like Yajur Shaka, etc.

சந்தமிகு தமிழ்மறையோன் தூப்புல் தோன்றும்
வேதாந்த குருமொழிந்த பிரபந்த சாரம்
​

 

[RVR]

Thanks Durga, Pannvalan ji and Vikrama ji,

Brahmins have patronised traditionally our mother tongue Tamil like any other community in Tamilnadu.

Thirugnana Sambandar, Sundarar, Periazhwar, Madhurakavi Azhwar, Thondaradipodi Azhwar, Arunagirinathar, Abhirmibattar (all suppose to belong to our community) have praised the God in Tamil and obtained His lotus feet.

Late U.Ve.Swaminatha Iyer is regarded as Tamil Thatha.

Only Subramanya Bharathi is regarded as Mahakavi.

In the Vaishavi temple, Thirumullaivayil, Sri Vallimalai Swamigal installed Vaishnavi idol singing just Thiruppugazh. Both Sri Vallimalai Swamigal and his principal desciple late Sri P.N.Krishna Iyer are from TB community. Traditional agama sastras were not followed during the installation. Even today Thiruppugazh is recited on all important festivals in the temple by all the devotees present.

Recently I had the opportunity to visit a function organised by our member Sri G.Sundarajan & his colleges were Tiruppugazh was recited in single voice by all community members in one voice. I told Sundararajan that both Murugan Bakthi and Tiruppugazh unites the entire people irrespective of caste.

I wish our community members understand that Tamil Language will unite the entire Tamil Community and act accordingly.

All the best

 

[Raghy]

Priya Raghy Mahodaya,

Dhanyavadah,

renuka

Sow.Renukakarthikayan,

For Dhanyavadah, you are most welcome, it is my pleasure. Mahodaya? (Don't know the meaning) If it is any thing in praise, I don't deserve it.

Cheers!

 

[Raghy]

Respectable members,

Kindly do not use this thread to discuss between Tamizh and Sanskrit. As I mentioned earlier, Sanskrit is a language still in daily use by very small number of people. If I had an opportunity, I would have learned Sanskrit. I did not have such an opportunity.

I very humbly request the forum members to kindly consider showing the ways and means to learn Sabskrit on line, please. Let us get something constructive out of this thread, please.Thank you.

Cheers!

 

[tbs]

Respectable members,

Kindly do not use this thread to discuss between Tamizh and Sanskrit. As I mentioned earlier, Sanskrit is a language still in daily use by very small number of people. If I had an opportunity, I would have learned Sanskrit. I did not have such an opportunity.

I very humbly request the forum members to kindly consider showing the ways and means to learn Sabskrit on line, please. Let us get something constructive out of this thread, please.Thank you.

Cheers!

hi Raghy sir,
Namassadasse, mahodaya, dhanyvadosmi....
You can learn sanskrit through correspondance course...try in
kendriya sanskrit vidyapeetha, thirupathi or rastriya sanskrit sansthan , new delhi...even u can learn spoken sanskrit from
samsritha bharathi....just search in google...u will get proper
information...

regards
tbs

 

[renuka]

Respectable members,

Kindly do not use this thread to discuss between Tamizh and Sanskrit. As I mentioned earlier, Sanskrit is a language still in daily use by very small number of people. If I had an opportunity, I would have learned Sanskrit. I did not have such an opportunity.

I very humbly request the forum members to kindly consider showing the ways and means to learn Sabskrit on line, please. Let us get something constructive out of this thread, please.Thank you.

Cheers!

Dear Raghy,
Mahodaya just is a respected way of saying Sir,

Ok this is for you since you wanted to know online resources to learn sanskrit.

http://acharya.iitm.ac.in/sanskrit/tutor.html


www.chitrapurmath.net

Rashtriya sanskrit Sansthan has good beginer books(self study)

email [email protected]

website http://www.sanskrit.nic.in/sans.htm

Samskrita Bharathi has good books for beginers too.
nice monthly magazine called Sambhasahan Sandesha.

website www.samskritabharati.org

their email is [email protected]

also visit Chandamama:Indian children's magazine with stories on mythology, culture & tradition.
sanskrit chandamama really helps to improve vocabulary