Sanskrit Divas

There are many days throughout the year that hold significance for our Sanatan tradition and culture, including the birthdays of great personalities and festivals. Among these, Sanskrit Day plays a crucial role in connecting us to our culture and traditions. On Sanskrit Day, we learn about the importance of the Sanskrit language, which reveals that through understanding and reading our sacred texts, we can follow the path of devotion and attain peace. Nowadays, very few people have knowledge of Sanskrit, as most individuals show a particular interest in learning English and other languages. If this trend continues, understanding Sanskrit and reading the Vedas will become increasingly difficult in the future. Therefore, Sanskrit Day highlights the significance of the Sanskrit language and should be celebrated as a festival. On this day, we honor the sages and express our reverence towards them. Consequently, we should also study the Sanskrit language used in the Vedas.

The first Sanskrit Day was celebrated in 1969. This classical language gained recognition due to its scientific structure. Efforts are ongoing to declare it as an international language. Additionally, some religious beliefs suggest that this language was used by deities, which is why it has no beginning or end, as Sanskrit was used to compose the Vedas. Even today, in Sanatan Dharma, Sanskrit mantras are used in ceremonies such as weddings, pujas, and rituals. To promote the Sanskrit language, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also extends his best wishes to everyone on Sanskrit Day.

Sanskrit Day is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Sawan. On this day, there is also a tradition of celebrating Raksha Bandhan. Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of the World, it is the mother of all languages. The progenitor of Sanskrit is 'Maharishi Panini.' Sanskrit is also the second official language of Uttarakhand.

The term Sanskrit means 'the language of refinement' or 'the language of transformation.' In the village of Mattur in Karnataka, Sanskrit is the spoken language. All mantras used to invoke deities are in Sanskrit, which is why it is also referred to as 'Devabhasha' or 'Devavani' (divine language). This language is found in the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, and other religious and literary texts.

Despite the presence of these texts, very few people use Sanskrit today. If Sanskrit Day were not celebrated, future generations might remain unfamiliar with Sanskrit. Without knowledge of this language, they would neither read nor understand the religious texts, potentially leading them to become disconnected from their faith.

The purpose of celebrating Sanskrit Day is to encourage people to read, understand, and connect with the literature written in this language. Sanskrit is divided into two main branches: Vedic and Classical. Observing Sanskrit Day raises awareness about this language, promoting its spread. To promote and develop Sanskrit, Sanskrit conferences are held. Sanskrit Day is also known as ‘World Sanskrit Day’ and in some regions, it is referred to as ‘Rishi Day.’

On Sanskrit Day, seminars are organized at various places, and competitions in Sanskrit writing and recitation are held. People worship religious texts, as Sanskrit language and religious books are the source of knowledge for sages and hermits.