Post No. 13,936
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There is a beautiful summary of the development of Sanskrit grammar in the past 3000 years. H P Dwivedi has published a thesis to Patna University and got a doctorate. His title was Some Aspects of the Technical Terms in Astadhyayi (astaadhyaayii). When he published his thesis in a book, he has written an introduction where he has summarised the four phases in the growth of Sanskrit Grammar. It is very useful for anyone interested in the study of Sanskrit grammar. His book title is Studies in Panini (year 1978).
“It is a fact that the Astadhyayi of Panini which has been held in high esteem both by native and foreign scholars of Sanskrit grammar and distinguished above all similar works of other countries was brought to perfection by the Varttikas of Katyayana and the Mahabhasya of Patanjali.
Panini – 700-800 BCE (according to Goldstucker)
Varttikas of Katyayana – 400 BCE
Maha Bhashya of Patanjali- 150 BCE
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Different Phases of the Study of Panini
The First Phase began earlier than Katyayana (kaatyaayana) and culminates virtually in the Mahabhasya of Patanjali continuing in the Kasika of Vamana and Jayaditya. The earlier commentators no doubt supplied materials for the Varttikas of Katyayana as did the works of grammarians like Vyadi and others for the Mahabhasya of Patanjali. These are the two works that have survived. The Varttikas and Mahabhasya show critical acumen of high order and are indispensable for understanding the Astadhyayi. They have practically brought perfection to the Paninian system which would have otherwise not been what it is today. On account of these contributions of Katyayana and Patanjali, the tradition has nick named the system Trimuni Vyakaranam.
The chief purpose of their works are (1) a threadbare discussion of the aphorisms of the Astadhyayi with reference to illustrations thereof(2) rejection of unnecessary rules or their parts and (3)recasting of the rules so as to accommodate new formations that crept up in the language in course of time.
Patanjali is regarded as the ultimate authority of the Paninian system and all the later commentators are indebted to him. Patanjali follows the same order of the Sutras in his discussion as given in the parent work.
The Kasika (about 700 CE) is a commentary on the Astadhyayi. It contains, as proposed by the authors, a systematic presentation of the material of grammar scattered all over the vrtti, the Mahabhasya and Dhatupatha and the Ganappatha etc. Its method of discussion is first to give simple meaning of the sutras , illustrate them by suitable examples, cite examples to which a particular rule does not apply and to add short critical notes, if necessary. Though the Kasika is expected to follow the Mahabhasya in the matter of discussion yet at times it differs remarkably from it. It is to be noted that the Mahabhasya, though indispensable for understanding the spirit of Panini, presupposes preliminary acquaintance of the sutras of Astadhyayi for which purpose the Kasika alone is suitable. It claims to unfold the hidden meaning of the sutras of Astadhyayi and preserve the whole of Ganappatha of Panini intact. It teaches the formation of the derivatives of the words and explains Patanjali’s addition to Katyayana’s Varttikas. In this respect, the Kasika is a unique work serving a link between the Astadhyayi and the Mahabhasya.
The Kasika has a couple of commentaries: the Kasika Vivarana Panjika, popularly known as Nyasa by Jitendrabuddhi (8th century CE) and Pada Manjari by Haradatta Mishra (12th century CE). These two works are highly informative and worthy of names and systematic paraphrasing of the discussions available in Mahabhasya as it is evident from the prefatory verses thereof.
The Second Phase begins with the Rupavatara (ruupaavataara) of Dharmakirti and the Rupamala of (ruupamaalaa) Vimala Sarasvati (19th century CE) and culminates into Sidhdanta Kaumudi of Bhattoji Dikshita (17th century CE). These works distinguish themselves by changing the order of the sutras of Astadhyayi, the underlying motive of this change is to secure convenience in word formation as the ultimate purpose of grammar. The main problem confronting the authors of the first phase was to explain threadbare the rules of the Astadhyayi to supplement shortcomings and to do away with its superfluousness. In other words their main objective was to bring about perfection of Astadhyayi which they fully achieved. To the authors of second phase, on the other hand, the formation of words was the primary consideration. The works of this phase better known as the Prakriya Granthas, proved most suitable to the changing need of the hour, because Sanskrit was no longer a spoken language and had long left its claim as such. They were followed by works which mark commencement of the third phase.
The Third Phase, which begins with the Sabdakaustubha and the Manorama of Bhattoji Dikshita and ends with the work of Nagesa, marks the climax of the textual study of Panini. The authors devoted themselves to subtle discussions of the theories and elements of grammar. The works of this phase were mostly Tika Granthas (tiikaa) and needed a more grounding in the principles of grammar than it was required for understanding their original. The influence of logic in them is quite apparent and therefore they came, later on to be known as Navya Vyakarana or Neo Grammar. This new school within the old system was actually founded by Bhattoji Dikshita but attained perfection in the works of Kaunda Bhatta and Nagesa (naagesa).
The contributions of the later grammarians to the Paninian system are quite outstanding by virtue of their logical and subtle discussions of the theories and elements of grammar they virtually left no place for further deliberation. The theory of Sphota though owing its origin to Nirukta period was developed by the new school of grammarians who were more logicists than structuralists.
As a matter of fact the authors of this phase devoted themselves more to pedantry than to really useful scholarship. They are mainly responsible for putting to confusion the aim and purpose of grammar which later on came to be misunderstood by the posterity as an end in itself and not a means to the study of Sanskrit language.
Then came the Fourth Phase when the Sanskrit language was introduced to the Western world. Goldstucker and others wrote their views on the great works of Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali.
My Comments
The above summary shows the development of grammar in 3000 years. We don’t have any grammar nearer to the age of Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali in any part of the world. Even the Tolkappiam of Tamil grammarian Tolkappiar or Truna Dhumagni is dated first century BCE or CE; that is they came at least 200 or 300 years later. Even there, the Third Adikara of Tolkappima is considered a later addition. My view is that the entire work is compiled in the present format around fifth century CE. The word Adikaram found in Tirukkural, Silappadikaram and Tolkappiam shows that they were compiled in the same period. But their authors might have lived earlier than that.
Above all the development of language and literature in India shows that Hindus were the pioneers of civilization. They were first in producing grammar books, dramas, poetry, thesaurus, books on sex, astronomy and mathematics. Unless a civilization is advanced, we can’t see such books 2000 years ago. Only Greeks produced more plays in that period. Socrates and other Greek scholars followed the Upanishads in writing intellectual and philosophical matters.
—subham—
Tags – Sanskrit , Grammar, Development, Panini, Patanjali, Astadhyayi, Mahabhasya, Varttika, Katyayana, Kasika, Bhayyoji Dikshita, Siddhanta Kaumudi, Goldstucker, Story of Sanskrit
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