Literature in Sanskrit, India's oldest language, and the mother language of several modern languages in India. Given its extensive use in religious literature, primarily of Hinduism, and the fact that most modern Indian languages have been directly derived from or strongly influenced by Sanskrit, it is not surprising that the position of Sanskrit in Indian culture is not unlike that of Latin in European culture. Sanskrit has a long tradition of literature. This article tries to touch the major phases of Sanskrit literature. ...

Including:

• Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period
• Sanskrit literature - The Epics
• Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana
• Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata
• Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi
• Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays
• Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart
• Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays
• Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa
• Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra
• Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry
• Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature
• Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia - Sanskrit literature

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Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period, Sanskrit literature - The Epics, Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana, Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata, Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays, Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart, Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays, Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa, Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra, Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry, Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia II - Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry

Arguably, no grammarian has had as much influence over the grammar of any language as much as Panini has had over Sanskrit grammar and phonetics. Panini was a Vaishnava grammarian from approximately the 5th cent BC. The Ashtadhyayi was his magnum-opus. The book completely standardized Sanskrit grammar and phonetics. Panini's grammar became widely accepted and is still the standard (a common way to classify ancient Sanskrit b ...

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Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period, Sanskrit literature - The Epics, Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana, Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata, Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays, Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart, Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays, Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa, Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra, Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry, Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia II - Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi

Besides several references cited above, other ancient texts like Brahmanda Purana (II, 2.16.16), Vamsa-Bhaskara, Madhyapithika, Kalidasa's Mandakranta, Kalhana's Rajatrangini (4.163-65), Harasha-crita of Bana Bhatta (verses 7/88-90) and other numerous ancient texts make very laudatory references to the Kamboja horses. All these references sufficiently prove that the steeds from Kamboja were considered very powerful, magnificant and fastest runners. No doubt, both the the Kamboja horses as well as the expert Kamboja cavalry were very mu ...

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Kamboja Horsemen, Kamboja Horsemen - Buddhist literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Jaina texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Sanskrit texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Valmiki Ramayana, Kamboja Horsemen - Mahabharata, Kamboja Horsemen - Kautiliya Arthashastra, Kamboja Horsemen - Karanabhara of Bhaasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Asvashastra of Nakula, Kamboja Horsemen - Manasollasa of Someshvara, Kamboja Horsemen - Other Sanskrit literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Ancient inscriptions, Kamboja Horsemen - Miscellaneous, Kamboja Horsemen - Kamboja elephants

Read more here: » Kamboja Horsemen: Encyclopedia II - Kamboja Horsemen - Miscellaneous

The epics, Puranas and numerous other ancient Sanskrit texts all agree that the horses of the Kamboja, Bahlika and Sindhu regions were the finest breed. Kamboja Horsemen - Valmiki Ramayana. The Valmiki Ramayana refers to the horses from the Kamboja, Bahlika, Vanayu lands and addresses them as of best quality. It puts the horses from the Kamboja at the head of list of best breed and styles them as equal to Ucchaisrava, the steed of god Indra, the Lord of Heavens: Sanskrit: Kambo ...

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Kamboja Horsemen, Kamboja Horsemen - Buddhist literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Jaina texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Sanskrit texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Valmiki Ramayana, Kamboja Horsemen - Mahabharata, Kamboja Horsemen - Kautiliya Arthashastra, Kamboja Horsemen - Karanabhara of Bhaasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Asvashastra of Nakula, Kamboja Horsemen - Manasollasa of Someshvara, Kamboja Horsemen - Other Sanskrit literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Ancient inscriptions, Kamboja Horsemen - Miscellaneous, Kamboja Horsemen - Kamboja elephants

Read more here: » Kamboja Horsemen: Encyclopedia II - Kamboja Horsemen - Sanskrit texts

The term Kamboja, according to ancient lexicons, also means elephant (Willimas Sanskrit-English Dictionary). See also: Kambojo-hastimede.............................................. — (Nanarathamanjari 421). Kambojo hastimede cha shankh.deshavisheshayoh — (shabd.ratan.samanyakosh). This shows that, besides horses, the ancient Kambojas also raised elephants (Op cit, p 255, Dr Kamboj) The Ashvaka Kambojas had fielded 30,000 cavalry, 30 elephants and 20,000 infantry against Alexander the Great (Ancient ...

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Kamboja Horsemen, Kamboja Horsemen - Buddhist literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Jaina texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Sanskrit texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Valmiki Ramayana, Kamboja Horsemen - Mahabharata, Kamboja Horsemen - Kautiliya Arthashastra, Kamboja Horsemen - Karanabhara of Bhaasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Asvashastra of Nakula, Kamboja Horsemen - Manasollasa of Someshvara, Kamboja Horsemen - Other Sanskrit literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Ancient inscriptions, Kamboja Horsemen - Miscellaneous, Kamboja Horsemen - Kamboja elephants

Read more here: » Kamboja Horsemen: Encyclopedia II - Kamboja Horsemen - Kamboja elephants

Buddhist texts like Manorathapurni, Kunala Jataka and Samangalavilasini etc speak of Kamboja land as the land of horses: Kambojo assa.nam ayata.nam.... || Samangalavilasini, Vol I, p 124||. Aruppa-Niddesa of Visuddhimagga by Buddhaghosa also describes the Kamboja land as the base of horses (10/28). Champeya Jataka (verse 23), Mahavastu (verse II, 185) and Kunala Jataka (verse 28), Vinaya Pitaka (Vol III) etc also make very laudatory references to the Kamboja horses. Besides Kamboja horses, the Champeya Jatak ...

See also:

Kamboja Horsemen, Kamboja Horsemen - Buddhist literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Jaina texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Sanskrit texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Valmiki Ramayana, Kamboja Horsemen - Mahabharata, Kamboja Horsemen - Kautiliya Arthashastra, Kamboja Horsemen - Karanabhara of Bhaasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Asvashastra of Nakula, Kamboja Horsemen - Manasollasa of Someshvara, Kamboja Horsemen - Other Sanskrit literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Ancient inscriptions, Kamboja Horsemen - Miscellaneous, Kamboja Horsemen - Kamboja elephants

Read more here: » Kamboja Horsemen: Encyclopedia II - Kamboja Horsemen - Buddhist literature

Nalanda Grants of king Deva Pala of Bengal also refers to Kamboja horses as well as the Kamboja mares. It is notable that the Pala kings of Bengal had obtained their horses as well as cavalry from the Kamboja of north-west (Dr R. C. Majumdar). The Khasas, Hunas, Yavanas ets are also mentioned as being routinely recruited in the armed forces of the Pala kings. Verse twelve of the third Asama-patra (1185 AD) of king Valabha Deva of Valbhi proudly refers to him as the possessor/rider of the Kamboja horses and elephants. Sans ...

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Kamboja Horsemen, Kamboja Horsemen - Buddhist literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Jaina texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Sanskrit texts, Kamboja Horsemen - Valmiki Ramayana, Kamboja Horsemen - Mahabharata, Kamboja Horsemen - Kautiliya Arthashastra, Kamboja Horsemen - Karanabhara of Bhaasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa, Kamboja Horsemen - Asvashastra of Nakula, Kamboja Horsemen - Manasollasa of Someshvara, Kamboja Horsemen - Other Sanskrit literature, Kamboja Horsemen - Ancient inscriptions, Kamboja Horsemen - Miscellaneous, Kamboja Horsemen - Kamboja elephants

Read more here: » Kamboja Horsemen: Encyclopedia II - Kamboja Horsemen - Ancient inscriptions

Kalidasa (Sanskrit) The greatest poet and dramatist of historic India, one of the "nine gems" that adorned the court of King Vikramaditya at Ujjayini. He is the true or reputed author (although the name Kalidasa has been given in Indian literature to several poets) of Sakuntala, Meghaduta, Malavikavnimitra, Vikramorvasi, etc. Whether all the works attributed to this Kaldasa are really to be ascribed to him or not, the fact remains that they are among the finest specimens of Indian poetry.

(See also: Kalidasa, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

India has a rich tradition of theatrical arts, possibly longer than that of the western world. The theatrical tradition of India was not born out of the Greek invasion as believed by several scholars. Theatre has existed as an indigenous institution at least since the Vedic period. Later Hellenistic influences on Sanskrit theatre however cannot be denied. The earliest forms of theatrical arts could have existed in the form of dance-dramas as evidenced by iconography from the Indus Valley Civilisation. As the Indus Valley Civilisation ...

See also:

Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period, Sanskrit literature - The Epics, Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana, Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata, Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays, Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart, Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays, Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa, Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra, Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry, Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia II - Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays

The period between approximately the 12th and the 2nd centuries BC saw the composition of the two great Hindu epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. They are known to Hindus as itihaas, or "that which occurred" and are both collective works, having evolved through the centuries before finally being put into writing sometime in the 2nd century AD. Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana. While not as big as the Mahabharata, the Ramayana is still twice as big as the Iliad and the Odyssey put together. Tr ...

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Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period, Sanskrit literature - The Epics, Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana, Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata, Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays, Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart, Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays, Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa, Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra, Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry, Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia II - Sanskrit literature - The Epics

The Natyasastra (literally "Scripture of Dance," though it sometimes translated as "Science of Theatre'") is a keystone work in Sanskrit literature on the subject of stagecraft. Almost nothing is known about its author, Bharata. Bharata is also the name of a character in Hindu mythology; though the author of the Natyasastra bears no relationship to the mythological character. The Natyasastra was written somewhere between 500 A.D. and 300 B.C., though it is usually thought to have been composed around the second century A.D. The title is ...

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Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period, Sanskrit literature - The Epics, Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana, Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata, Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays, Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart, Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays, Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa, Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra, Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry, Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia II - Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra

Composed between approximately 2000 BC and 500 BC, Vedic literature forms the basis for the further development of Hinduism. There are fours books of Vedas - Rig, Yajus, Sāma and Atharva. Some people consider the first three as the more important ones. Each veda contains four parts - hymns, rituals, meditation and mystical philosophy. The Vedas were not written at any single time, and have been compiled over several centuries by thousands of people. As a result, the Vedas provide an insight into the historical and cultural developmen ...

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Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period, Sanskrit literature - The Epics, Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana, Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata, Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays, Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart, Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays, Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa, Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra, Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry, Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia II - Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period

Some important works from the 11th century include the Katha-Saritsagara and Geeta Govinda. The Katha-Saritsagara (An Ocean of Stories) by Somadeva was a poetic adaptation in Sanskrit of Brihat-katha, written in the 5th cent BC in the Paishachi dialect. The Paishachi manuscript of the Brihat-katha has not been found. The thousands of short stories embedded in this book inspired numerous later stories, most notably several stories of the Arabian Nights (note that the Arabian Nights was f ...

See also:

Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - The Vedic Period, Sanskrit literature - The Epics, Sanskrit literature - The Ramayana, Sanskrit literature - The Mahabharata, Sanskrit literature - Panini and Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit literature - Sanskrit Plays, Sanskrit literature - Mricchakatika The Little Clay Cart, Sanskrit literature - Bhasa's plays, Sanskrit literature - Kalidasa, Sanskrit literature - Bharata's Natyasastra, Sanskrit literature - Classical Poetry, Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit literature - Reference

Read more here: » Sanskrit literature: Encyclopedia II - Sanskrit literature - Later Sanskrit literature