sanscrita

Sanscrita, commonly known as Sanskrit in English, is an ancient Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It belongs to the Indo-European language family and functions as the classical language of Hinduism, and as a scholarly language in Buddhism and Jainism. Sanskrit is noted for its systematic grammar and precise morphology, including extensive inflection and compounding. The standard form, Classical Sanskrit, was codified by the grammarian Panini in the 5th century BCE in the Ashtadhyayi; earlier forms are found in Vedic texts.

Two main stages are Vedic Sanskrit and Classical Sanskrit. Vedic Sanskrit appears in the Vedas and their commentaries, with liturgical usage and philosophical ideas; Classical Sanskrit became the vehicle for a vast body of literature, including the epic poems of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Upanishads, as well as scientific, grammatical, and philosophical treatises. Devanagari is the most common script today, though Sanskrit has been written in several scripts historically, such as Grantha and Brāhmī. Panini's grammar, later augmented by Patanjali, defined a highly regular system of phonology, morphology, and syntax that influenced many later Indo-Aryan languages.

Today Sanskrit is studied by scholars worldwide and is used liturgically in Hindu rituals and in some Buddhist and Jain practices. It is taught in universities as a classical language and appears in literary, philosophical, and scientific texts. The language has profoundly influenced many modern Indian languages, contributing vocabulary and stylistic concepts, and ongoing efforts aim to preserve, revive, and provide broader access to its texts through modern editions and digital resources.