The Scientific Literature In Sanskrit-Part IV

                                                  GRAMMAR

Grammar called Vyaakarana in Sanskrit, in India, is probably the science in which several technical schools have developed out of the old Indian Vedic Schools in the earliest times.  

For the people of India, grammar is the first and most important of all the sciences.  When one has first studied grammar, he can go in for learning any other science.  

According to AnandaVardhana, “वैयाकरणाः, व्याकरण-मूलत्वात्सर्वविद्यानाम्।”-The grammarians are the foremost scholars, because grammar constitutes the foundation of all sciences.

The Scientific Literature In Sanskrit-Part III

 

Scientific literature found developed in the Sutra Period.  The Sutra style of aphoristic prose, the oldest form, in which all the sciences were taught in the schools of Braahmanaas.  

Characteristic of this Sutra style and further of that of the scientific literature in particular is the use of nouns with almost wholesome suppression of verbs.  Abstract nouns and compounds are used with prediction.  

The Sutra style was also retained in the technical schools, especially in the works of earlier ages; but frequently in the manner that either the author himself or one of his disciples appended a BHASHYAM or commentary, based on it; thus developed the Bhashya style, a highly developed form learned prose, in scientific literature, probably first of all in Grammar and in Philosophy.