SAMSKRITAM

The term "Samskritam" is derived by joining ‘Sam’ meaning ‘samyak’ which translates as "Properly or Perfectly", and ‘krit’ indicates ‘done’. Thus, the name indicates perfectly or entirely done in terms of communication, and the use of vocabulary to express an emotion. With an extraordinarily complex language and a vast vocabulary, it is still widely used today in the reading of sacred texts and hymns. Samskritam is one of the richest ancient languages with a treasure of literature works, a living spoken tradition, and deep connections with several other languages.
The teachings of Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Madhavacharya, Nimbark and Vallabhacharya wouldn't have been included into the Indian culture, had it not been for Samskritam as a medium of expressing their thoughts. Samskritam was both a spoken and literary language of ancient India and hence has a major impact on most Indian vernacular, such as Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam etc. With the spread of Buddism, Samskritam has travelled well into the far eastern countries too, impacting the Sino-Tibetan languages with the influence of Budhist texts in Samskritam and their translations. In addition to China, Java, Indonesia, Malaysia - Thailand and Sri Lanka have been enormously influenced by Samskritam and have many similar sounding words. Above all, English, the current modern international language has also been influenced by Samskritam and has picked up many words from the ancient language (for example 'path' from 'patha' meaning road or way, 'man' from 'manava' meaning a human, 'nirvana' from 'nirvan' meaning divine liberation or transcendence, 'door' from 'dwar', ''serpent' from 'sarpa' meaning snake, to name just a few.) Samskritam Grammar is uniquely extensive and detailed, aimed at explaining every aspect of the language, all contained in just a few thousands of sutras (aphorisms). So scientifically-designed is this language - the vocabulary, phonology, syntax and grammar all remains undiluted in its purity to this day, maintaining its ability to accommodate itself into an ever changing society. The possibility and versatility of coining an infinite number of words in Samskritam, just by using about 2000 roots, 22 prefixes and about 200 suffixes is unparalleled. Rigveda is known to be the earliest composition in Samskritam, Even before it was scripted down Samskritam had a tradition of being used consistently through oral communication. Memorization and orally passing on of the vedas was the norm long before it was written down. There are a huge number of literary works ranging from poetry, drama, technical, philosophical and religious texts in Samskritam. Yoga, Ayurveda, Tantra, etc. are all originally available in Samskritam. One of the best philosophies, Advaita Vedanta, is based on vedas (Samskritam literature) and it’s most subtle debates are available in the same language. People are not satisfied by reading the translated version of these texts, they want the original works and to understand it in the original language. Samskritam is the gateway to the heritage of scientific knowledge in ancient India. Knowledge of Samskritam ensures an independant and direct access to the source of knowledge. An estimate of 5 million manuscripts, most of them in Samskritam is known to be lying neglected all over India and in several corners of the world, which makes it all the more important to teach and learn Samskritam. In a bid to make the language available to the mass, bring together the scattered manuscripts all over the world, and preserve them well for the future generations, Samskrita Bharati was founded.

The very sound of Sanskrit words gives prestige and a power and strength to the race.

-Swami Vivekananda

Sanskrit language, as has been universally recognized by those competent to form a judgement, is one of the most magnificent, the most perfect, the most prominent and wonderfully sufficient instruments developed by the human mind. The great mass of Sanskrit literature is a literature of human life.

- Sri Aurobindo

Without the study of Sanskrit one cannot become a true Indian and a true learned man.

- Mahatma Gandhi