Non commercial website, for knowledge sharing. Free to copy and use, if you find it useful. Languages and Understanding the scriptures

• The ancient India had very many language families and majority of them are extinct now. Currently, we have two popular language families, indo aryan and dravidian. Sanskirit and Tamil are Classical languages and used for all subjects such as science, management, arts etc, including spiritual topics.
• The Prakrits became literary languages, generally patronized by kings. The earliest inscriptions in Prakrit are those of Asoka. The various Prakrit languages are associated with different patron dynasties, with different religions and different literary traditions.
• The earliest records in Old Tamil are short inscriptions from around the 2nd century BCE in caves and on pottery. These inscriptions are written in a variant of the Brahmi script called Tamil Brahmi and the earliest long text in Old Tamil is the Tolkappiyam, an early work on Tamil grammar and poetics, around 1st century BC.
• We miss lot of original scriptures. Meanings of words change over time. So, it will be difficult to understand what author wants to say.
• Scriptures evolved over time, with many additions, deletions and modifications.
• Bulk of the scriptures are a sealed book to us.
• Ancient tribes include Gandharvas, Devas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, Rakshasas, Nagas, Suparnas, Vanaras, Vidyadharas, Valakilyas, Pisachas, Rudras, Adityas, Danavas, Maruts, Nivatakavachas, Daityas, Kalakeyas and Vasus. Sanskirit, called deva basha may be the language of deva tribes. Sanskrit also means "adorned, cultivated, purified" or "refined speech" and Vedic Sanskrit used around 1500 B.C. edic Sanskrit comprises three categories: Vedas, poetic works that became sacred literature; Brahmanas, (prose religious writings).
• Classical Sanskrit was codified in a grammar, by Panini and initially used Grantha, Sharda and Siddham scripts for writing. From the 19th century, the language has primarily been written with the Devanagari alphabet, but it also can be written with Thai and Tibetan alphabets. It is used in mantras and religious services for the Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Actual meanings of these mantras and texts may not be known to us.
• All religious texts are not originally written in Sanskirit. There are many languages like Pali; Prakrit; Devanagarika; Tamil; Kannada; Telugu; Sauraseni; Magadhi; Maharashtri; Kucheo; Brajbhasa, Bundeli; Awadhi; Marwari; Maithili; Bhojpuri; and Magahi. There are many ancient scripts and originals are in different scripts such as: Brahmiscript; The Kharoṣṭhior Gandhariscript; Siddhaṃ script; Gupta script; Bhujimol script; Kalinga script. Kashmiri had an appropriate and precise script of its own in Sharda used by sankara.
• Zoroasters are fire worshippers. The Gods in Hindu mythology were called Devas, and the Villians were called Asuras. Now in Zoroaster mythology, the Gods are called Ahuras and the Demons are called Daevas. The Hindus call the mighty river of the Vedas the Saraswati and the Zoroasters call it the Harasvati. The Zoroasters called the Sindhu as Hindu, and that is how the people of the Sindhu valley were named. And the Iranian texts also claim to be as old as the Vedas.

Scriptures

Initially all these would have started with some basic facts, astronomical/geological/historical events. Then writers/poets, with poetic imaginations and fantasies, would have brought it to current form. So, it will be diificult to extract the real meaningful content from these.

Earlier no one thought of the meanings of their chants. So, people are kept in the dark. It helped rulers and ruling class, to manage affairs, with out any discussion.

Vedic language

The Vedic language itself was called meter or Chandas. Though the word chandas also means vedas themselves, the meaning here refers to the meter of vedic poetry. Rig and Sama vedas are fully in the form of verses, whereas, Yajur Veda has prose and poetry. It is believed that the oldest source of Chandas is ‘Chandasurta’ by some unknown author named Pingalacharya. Chandas are not only for Vedas but used in many other scriptures too.
Ancient Sanskrit we mean the oldest known form of Sanskrit. The simple name 'Sanskrit' generally refers to Classical Sanskrit, which is a later, fixed form that follows rules laid down by a grammarian around 400 BC.

Old Tamil literature refers Chandas as Chandham; Prakrit is Bagatham; and Sanskrit is Sankatham.

Chandas

Of the six Vedangas or ways of viewing the Vedas, four relate to language with etymology (Nirukta), grammar (Vyakarana), pronunciation (Siksha) and meter (Chandas).

Indian scripts

Bhartrihari

Panini

Valmiki

Some ancient scripts

Ancient Indian languages

Sanskrit literature encompasses a rich tradition of poetry and drama as well as scientific, technical, philosophical and religious texts. But there is a misconception that Sanskirit is Hindu religious language,

Languages does not belong to any religion or country. It belongs to speakers. Universal and available to humanity,

(1) After 500 BC History. After 500 BC, most of the materials are documented. Brahmi annd many versions of brahmi script are used. Coding used is still not well understood and disputable
(2) After 2500 BC and Before 500 BC Theories, Models and proposals, which can neither be proven nor rejected
(3) Before 2500 BC Just Intelligent guess, Speculation and trying to infer some meaning.

Many scripts found from ancient excavations could not be deciphered, but language groups claim as their ancient language. Widely circulated Fallacies becomes facts.