Vyakarana is a branch of classical grammar which originated in India. The grammar of Sanskrit words has an intricate verbal structure, rich structural classification, and extensive usage of compound nominal pronouns. It was extensively studied and codified by Sanskrit gramaticians in the latter half of the 3rd century BCE, culminating in the Pāṇinese grammar of the fourth century CE. Vyakarana also influenced English grammar, to a certain extent, in the same way that Latin influence affected Indian English. The main concepts of Vyakarana grammar are word meaning, types of verbs, theory of roots, and grammatical categories.
Vyakarana is mainly concerned with word meaning. It devises a meaning list for every word and compares each word’s meaning with its Sanskrit root. It then assigns consequent sentences to the root words. The main part of Vyakarana’s grammar is the pre-lexical stage, where the meaning of a word is decided; and the grammar of phrases is worked out by working out how different clauses of a single sentence should be formed.
A large number of works on vyakarana Sanskrit grammar have been written, in India and have been translated by scholars abroad, and Indian learned scholars. Some of these are treatises dealing with the study of modern Hinduism or Hindu philosophy generally, while others deal with Sanskrit grammar in India only. Almost all these texts deal with the development of sacred sentences into meaningful sentences. They are literary works, but also commentaries and expositions of sacred scriptures.
Mahanarayan (dated about 500 B.C.) is one of the earliest on Sanskrit, which refers to the Hindu goddess. The work has been assigned to the school of Magadh at Kumbhalgarh, which is situated in what is now in Bihar. In this work, the grammarian relates the rules for constructing sacred sentences, which he calls “chittavrittinirodha.” The subject matter includes all descriptions of various deities, their names and attributes, and ritual activities associated with each god.
Another grammatical treatise of vyakarana Sanskrit grammar is Sankrit Brahmi Samhita, the oldest of the sacred grammars, which describes the study of Sanskrit, including grammatical theories and vocabulary. The text covers all the aspects of classical Indian language and literature as well as devotional hymns. It was composed around the middle of the seventh century, but its influence has been profound since then. According to the scholars, it is also one of the works that can be said to have marked the transition between the Buddhist and the Hindu texts. Its influence has ensured that many people today study vyakarana Sanskrit grammar, which has made it one of the most popular courses in South Asian languages and literatures.
The grammars of vyakarana Sanskrit grammarians employ an approach which includes nominalization, word-completion, tense, and case-sensitive analysis. Numerical data are analyzed through the comparative method, while the grammar is framed through the comparative study of literary works from Sanskrit and English. Word-completion and tense are treated specially by shloka. The other important aspect of shloka is that it employs a multiple-style approach, which includes nominalization, alternative argument, and alternative syntax.
The study of Sanskrit by an individual or an institutional body has certain advantages. It can prove to be an immersion course in Sanskrit, enabling the learner to gain mastery over the language immediately. However, it is necessary for the student to have an understanding of Indic culture and their customs before he or she can hope to master vyakarana grammar. A course in Indian history for instance, along with the study of Sanskrit literature, will enable the student to develop a better command over South Asian culture.