Relevance of Sanskrit

   
                                       Relevance of Sanskrit

The antiquity of Sanskrit , a classical language of the Indo - European family is unquestionable. Since it is not spoken and understood by most of the people, it can  be considered at the most at present a dormant language still containing active elements of vitality seen in the structure, words and literatures of other languages and in prayers to various gods and in religious ceremonies observed even today.
With so many invasions and advent of modern science and civilization in India, English as a medium, a foreign language, Sanskrit went into disuse. This language had never been a language of the masses, but a language of the elite class, language of the priests and astrologers and it continues to be their language to this day, but only for limited purposes.
Sanskrit is connected with scriptures and religious practices. The details of ceremonial observances, punishments of crime and expiation of sin are certainly obsolete now, though in their times they did serve a useful purpose.
To an ordinary man Sanskrit is nothing more than the stories and myths and religious conduct of the past (now out dated ) depicted in Manusmrti. The stories and myths abound in Sanskrit are symbolic and can be appreciated only when given a deep thought. So they are not properly understood as people in general are not conversant with the depth of Sanskrit language and most of the stories are  or read through translations. The real significance is lost and they do not have modern appeal. Religion, abstract details, obscure language and other unintelligible things appear incoherent to modern man. So Sanskrit is discarded as useless.
Generally people do not explore Hinduism as something well beyond Brahmanism. Often religion is misunderstood. All misunderstandings about dharma, karma, religion arising out of ignorance , selfishness, narrow mindedness and superstitions are passed off as belonging to Sanskrit itself. Caste system gets no new look in. The real analysis in its historical perspective is not done and is misused for political purposes. Secular is used as against Sanskrit which has come to stand for religious.
 Such being the position, the question arises ' Is Sanskrit really outdated ? It is true today Sanskrit is not living as a spoken language. But is its impact on other languages of India, nay other countries, its rich culture, its vast spectrum comprising all compartments of  knowledge all waste, dead? There is not any field in which Sanskrit is not enriched. But how many people even Sanskrit persons know it ?
It is often said that a worthless man never knows the worth of the preciousness of the gem he possesses. Only a non-possessor knows the worth and yearns and tries to get it. Indians felt proud and took the credit for being the owners of Sanskrit when two decades before foreign scholars expressed the possibility of Sanskrit as a fitting language for computer. Its connection with artificial intelligence brought a fresh vigor even in non Sanskrit people to learn Sanskrit through a crash course in one month or ten days and came to be associated with it to claim honor for it.
With a view to teach the Japanese scholars correct pronunciation of Sanskrit, a Japanese library planned to bring out a Compact Disc (CD ) with Sanskrit grammar and verses. This was also planned to help Japanese people to study the Deva- Bhasha, the language of the gods.
Research centers were set up in Europe to identify problems where the Vedas would be relevant, arising from the application of Science and Technology- environmental pollution, bio- medical and bio-technical ethics and the unsustainability of consumption based growth. The project would also seek to identify elements within modern science that are related to Vedic ideas on consciousness, mind, matter and time.
Now scientists support positive relationship between vegetarian diets and risk reduction for several chronic degenerative diseases. Here again we have time tested use of vegetables and diet according to climate, weather and conditions of vata, pittha, kapha so scientifically arranged in Charaka and
other samhitas . Can there be a better opportunity for fusion of tradition and modernity than this?
The scope for pilgrim tourism is enormous here as India is steeped in mysticism , yoga, meditation and religious fervor. Here again, knowledge of Sanskrit and Sanskrit literature which abounds in temple-lore such as architecture, stories of gods, symbolism of religious practices can help pilgrim tourism in taking off in a big way. Thus it will give an opportunity to eradicate the wrong conceptions about religion, religious practices as understood today.

In the national seminar organized by Bar council of India on ' Law, religion and politics', it was pointed out that though it may sound a paradox, but practicing religion in its highest and noblest conception and in the acceptance of the universality of mystic experience of all religions was the only hope to peace in an unrealistic situation. Secularism under Indian constitution is neither irreligious nor anti-religion but demands equality of all religions.In our pluralist society, it is a necessity and not a luxury. Religion cannot be eliminated. The more it is suppressed the more it aggravates the situation more so because religion and law confront each other in pluralist society. So the seminar emphasized on the need for a constitutional definition of religion rather than the abolition of it. Here again Sanskrit has a vital role to play. The word religion in English smacks too much of things external such as creed, rites, an external piety. There is no one Indian equivalent. The term ' Dharma' can be a fitting one. Dharma in its true sense is ' a way of life' and spirituality as the attempt to know and live in the highest self , the divine, the all- embracing unity and to raise life in all its parts to the divinest possible values. Now it is the right time to return to the age old ideal of India in its real amplitude.
 Sanskrit's relevance to modern times can be explored in beauty schemes also. There is a trend for herbal treatment in beauty clinics. People are moving towards indigenous ingredients for various beauty aids. Here the immortal Sanskrit has a hand to lend in and give an ethnic touch.
Hair dyes ( murdhaja raga ) have been dealt with in detail in Atharvaveda, Brhatsamhita. Navanitaka, an older work of 2 CE describes as many as eleven hair dyes recipes and refers to 46 ingredients employed in their preparation.
The Gandhayukti section of Brhatsamhita offers rich material for a chapter on the historicity of ancient Indian cosmetics. For example, a formula for obtaining 84 perfumes of the fragrance of Vakula flowers is set forth there. There is an all- purpose perfume called Sarvatobhadra.there is mention of mouth- perfumes made into small tablets for chewing similar to mouth freshners of today. Scented oils ( Agni purana ), dyeing of clothes ( Brhatsamhita ), tooth -sticks ( Charaka, Sushruta ), Bath powder, Talcum powder are all enlisted in Brhatsamhita.
Sanskrit has no less contribution to Horticulture. All aspects connected with crops like preservation of seeds, grafting, manuring, diagnosis of diseases of trees and other related materials are profusely available in texts like Brhatsamhita, Krshiparashara, Abhilashitartha chintamani, Vrkshayurveda and Upavana vinoda.
To cite one example, Sesame treatment for the soil. The Sesame plants in bloom, when cut into pieces and allowed to mingle with the soil, would become an excellent green manure for the soil for further cultivation. It is also held if this Sesame crop  does not flourish in a field, nothing could be grown there with advantage. Similarly when the fruits of a tree are destroyed prematurely, it should be watered with milk that has been cooled after being boiled with horse gram, green gram, black gram, Sesame and barley. Being treated thus, it will have abundant flowers and fruits.
It is interesting to note the details on transplantation of plants from one country to another and growing three kinds of fruits on the same tree on its different branches.

A look at the Home-Science section of Sanskrit literature. Books like Pakadarpana offers varied and exciting recipes such as preparation of different dals, vegetable dishes from raw  paka Banana ( kadali ), brinjal ( vrntaka ), bittergourd ( karavalli paka ), white pumpkin ( kushmanda ), lotus stalk ( kamala kanda ) and from the leaves of Neem, Lotus, Jackfruit etc. Even non- vegetarian dishes have been mentioned. Preparation of sweet dishes ( payasa ) and setting of curd are its special features.

Nature-cure ( Naturopathy ) can enrich itself with  Hydrotherapy , Chromotherapy , Solartherapy and other types of treatment scattered in Vedic and Sanskrit literature. Herbal treatment is also dealt with.

There are both explored and unexplored texts in Sanskrit on Cookery, Agriculture, Architectecture, Astronomy, Astrology, Chemistry, Aeronautics, Philosophy, Poetics, Dharma Shastra, Epigraphy, State craft, Erotics, Grammar, Lapidary science, Equestrian lore, Elephant lore, Lexicography, Mathematics, Medicine, Music, Religion, Theft and on topics like Mining, Earthquakes, Exploration of water- springs, Comets and others scattered in different Samhitas.

In any comparative study whether language, literature, law or any field of knowledge, Sanskrit can form a rich base. Many findings arrived on the basis of Sanskrit texts can startle the modern scientist. These have only scratched the surface area of rich mine of Sanskrit which has tremendous potential for research.

Further Sanskrit has a characteristic of its own - an ennobling ethical sublime idealism. That knowledge can be a panacea for all types of ailments. The humanistic appeal of qualities like love, compassion, kindness, charity. tolerance the inculcation of which form the creamy layer of Sanskrit literature can add a touch of charm, liveliness and success in any walk of life whether in family, society, business, management or anything. A knowledge of proper study of the Bhagavad Gita and Bhakti literature can impart the Art of living by which man can discover in himself the equipoise to stand up to life's situations, meeting efficiently the ever changing world of challenges he has to meet. Let alone the modern medical research findings on music, yoga, meditation as cure for diseases like Neurosis, High blood pressure, Migraine etc. Even with chanting or listening to the chanting of Vedic mantras , soul-stirring beautiful Sanskrit songs sung, yoga and meditation, the mind can be revived from all its fatigue and it can get recharged with all its irresistible potentialities. Karma and rebirth theory understood in the right perspective can instill will power and motivation and can make life meaningful.

Apart from the universal appeal of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-gita ( though a part of the epic Mahabharata only), Panchatantra, Hitopadesha ,etc, there are plenty of books to be explored in classical literature in its varied genres. since Sanskrits works are found in all spheres of life such as Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha , the avenues for research are plenty, throwing light on many things relevant to modern society.
Children magazines like Amarchitrakatha, Chandamama published in Sanskrit, and other languages have popularized rich, moral stories among the masses. Now a days, a new trend is noticed. Many well-known authors are writing their novels on the themes of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata focusing on the special characters like Sita, Rama, Ravana, Draupadi etc.Many authors have admitted in their interview that they draw inspiration, and source material from these ancient texts for their writings. Another innovation is seen now. Chanakyaniti. Hitopadesha ,and similar ones are roped in to highlight the principles of management in them as relevant to modern requirement. Such being the case, can you say that the eternal reservoir of Sanskrit has been dried up ?
It falls on Sanskrit knowing people to take upon themselves to prove the richness of Sanskrit in diversified fields.They should translate Sanskrit works both published and unpublished from Sanskrit into other languages both of India and other countries and works in other languages into Sanskrit to enrich it. Hindu mythologies, stories, theories like caste system, ceremonies, Samskaras should be given a proper face lift in the correct perspective through newspapers, magazines and journals.
The real parameter to judge research is its relevance to social needs. The sublime thoughts of seers and sages put down in writing thousands of years ago are not archaic remains or fossils from the cavern of the past but the facts experienced by the seers themselves.Their statements are marked by a keen desire to promote human welfare. In a culture being bombarded by the outward forces, Sanskrit provides a continuity with our glorious rich past whose motto is, ' Let the entire world be a single family ' and it should be exploited to build a better future fusing all the nations into a single family.
Now this is the time for new image. This is the time for fusion of tradition and modern. Cut flowers are beautiful. But their freshness remain for how long ? When we have the strong healthy roots, why not nurture it and get beautiful flowers which will not only make the birth soil fragrant but will make the entire atmosphere ever fragrant.