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 Sanskrit
Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of the world. Among the current languages which possess a hoary antiquity like Latin or Greek, Sanskrit is the only language which has retained its pristine purity. It has maintained its structure and vocabulary even today as it was in the past. Sanskrit is a language for humanity and not merely a means for communication within a society. The oldest surviving literature of the world, viz. the Vedas, encompass knowledge in virtually every sphere of human activity. The grammar of Sanskrit has attracted scholars world over. It is very precise and upto date and remains well defined even today. Of late, several persons have expressed the opinion that Sanskrit is the best language for use with computers. Sanskrit, the vocabulary of which is derived from root syllables, is ideal for coining new scientific and technological terms. The need to borrow words or special scientific terms does not arise. Sanskrit comprises
fifty one letters or aksharas. In other languages, we refer to the letters
of the alphabet of the language. We know that the word alphabet is derived
from the names of the first two letters of Greek. The term alphabet has
no other meaning except to denote the set of letters in the language.
In contrast, the word "akshara" in Sanskrit denotes something fundamental
and significant. One of the direct meanings of the word is that it denotes
the set of letters of Sanskrit from the first to the last. The word also
means that the sound of the letter does not ever get destroyed and thus
signifies the eternal quality of the sound of the letters. The consequence
of this meaning is that the sound of a word is essentially the sounds of
the aksharas in the word, a concept which will help simplify text to speech
applications with computers.
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| Sanskrit
Literature
Sanskrit literature can be classified under six orthodox heads and four secular heads. The six orthodox sections form the authoritative scriptures of the Hindus. The four secular sections embody the later developments in classical Sanskrit literature. The six scriptures are: (i) Srutis, (ii) Smritis, (iii) Itihasas, (iv) Puranas, (v) Agamas and (vi) Darsanas. The four secular writings are: (i) Subhashitas, (ii) Kavyas, (iii) Natakas and (iv) Alankaras. Source: Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/HinduScriptures/id/22629 |
| Sare
Jahan Se Aacha - Patriotic song
The poem Saare Jahan Se Achcha was composed by the poet Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal in 1904-1905 while India was under British administration. The poem is sung by Indians on occasions of national importance and in schools as part of morning prayer. After the Indian National Anthem Jana-Gana-Mana and the Indian National Song Vande Mataram, Sare Jahan Se Achcha enjoys the reputation as the most popular patriotic song in India. The poem epitomises love for the nation and patriotism. saare jahaan
se achcha hindostaan hamaraa
parbat vo sabse
unchaa hum saaya aasma kaa
godee mein
khel tee hain is kee hazaaron nadiya
mazhab nahee
sikhataa apas mein bayr rakhnaa
Translation
of the poem in English:
That mountain
most high; neighbor to the skies
A thousand
rivers play in its lap,
Faith does
not teach us to harbor grudges between us
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