22 Facts About Sanskrit literature

1.

Vedic Sanskrit literature is the language of the extensive liturgical works of the Vedic religion, while Classical Sanskrit literature is the language of many of the prominent texts associated with the major Indian religions, especially Hinduism, but Buddhism, and Jainism.

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2.

Early works of Sanskrit literature were transmitted through an oral tradition for centuries before they were written down in manuscript form.

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3.

Sanskrit literature is vast and includes religious scripture, various forms of poetry, drama and narrative prose.

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4.

The Vedic Sanskrit literature that survives is almost entirely religious, being focused on the prayers, hymns to the gods, sacrifices and other concerns of the Vedic religion.

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5.

Classical Sanskrit literature served as a common language of scholarship and elites.

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6.

However, Sanskrit literature remains in use throughout India, and is used in rituals, religious practice, scholarship, art, and other Indian traditions.

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7.

Sutra style aphoristic Sanskrit literature continued to be composed on numerous topics, the most popular being on the different fields of Hindu philosophy.

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8.

Various Sanskrit literature spawned a large tradition of commentary texts, which were called Bhasyas, Vrttis, Tikas, Varttikas and other names.

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9.

These commentaries were written on numerous genres of Sanskrit literature texts, including on Sutras, on Upanisads and on the Sanskrit literature epics.

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10.

Some important works of Hindu Sanskrit literature poetry include the Vivekacudamani, the Hanuman Chalisa, the Astavakragita, Bhaja Govindam, and the Shiva Tandava Stotra.

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11.

The Tibetan scholar Sakya Pandita was a well known scholar of Sanskrit literature, and promoted the study of these secular disciplines among Tibetans.

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12.

Sanskrit literature covers a variety of other technical and secular topics including:.

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13.

Over time, Sanskrit literature became the main language of Buddhist scripture and scholasticism for certain Buddhist schools in the subcontinent, especially in North India.

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14.

Sanskrit literature became the most important language in Mahayana Buddhism and many Mahayana sutras were transmitted in Sanskrit literature.

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15.

Sanskrit literature was the main scholastic language of the Indian Buddhist philosophers in the Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, Madhyamaka and Yogacara schools.

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16.

The study of Sanskrit Kavya influenced Tibetan literature, and was promoted by Tibetan Buddhist scholars like Sakya Pandita.

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17.

Sanskrit literature's Buddhacarita was influential enough to be translated into both Tibetan and Chinese.

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18.

Sanskrit literature drama focuses on the sentiments and on heroic characters.

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19.

References to Sanskrit literature drama are found throughout ancient Sanskrit literature texts, including the great epics.

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20.

Kalidasa is widely considered to be the greatest Sanskrit literature playwright, hailed for his linguistic mastery and economy of style.

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21.

Some other modern Sanskrit composers include Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya (known as Kavikularatna, composer of two epics, several minor works and commentaries on Prasthanatrayi).

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22.

Sanskrit literature won laurels of appreciation by renowned Hindi and Sanskrit critics like Hazari Prasad Dwiedi, Ayodhya Singh Upadhyay "Hariaudh", Suryakant tripathi "Nirala", Laldhar Tripathi "Pravasi".

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