Post by radha on Aug 5, 2015 6:38:41 GMT 5.5
OM SRI GURUPYO NAMAHA!RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO SRI KANCHI MAHA PERIVA.
Research on Indian scriptures by Westerners - A compilation
"We speak of the Sanskrit language. If someone leads an undisciplined, life we say that he does not possess good ‘Samskaras’. 'Samskara' means cleansing. Sanskrit is thus a language that is pure; it needs no cleansing."
-- Sri Sri Swamiji
We read and hear about the countless great scholars from our country who have mastered our scriptures and plunged themselves in their essence. But what is even more amazing is the number of Westerners who have researched into our Vedas, scriptures and the Sanskrit language. This article details such research attempts and is based on references from several authentic sources including the journal Vaidika Dharma Vardhini.
Though there might have been few previous such attempts by Westerners, especially Europeans, to learn the Sanskrit language in the past, we can say that they evinced greater interest from the beginning of 17th century. There was a Dutch missionary named Abraham Roger who lived in Kerala. He authored a book titled “Open the door” and brought Sanskrit to the attention of the western world. This book made many realize the greatness of Sanskrit and kindled their interest to know more. Many Missionaries compiled dictionaries for European languages and Sanskrit. All these works enthused the West to master this beautiful ancient language and they began reading Sanskrit works with deep interest. This slowly had a snowballing effect and even to this day, focused research and study of Indian scriptures is underway in various centres all over the world. There are several journals in foreign languages that are dedicated to the study of Indian scriptures and Sanskrit and several reputed universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard that teach Sanskrit.
Why were the Westerners attracted to the study of Sanskrit? It is because they could find a striking similarity between Sanskrit, Greek and Latin. Even now we find that many Sanskrit words in common use in European languages such as English, French and German. In Estonia, a country neighbouring Russia, the local dialect strongly resembles Sanskrit. Even nomads in Russia use many Sanskrit words while conversing with one another. Since Sanskrit is the mother of all language in the world, the western world naturally was keen on studying the same. Moreover, those pursuing ‘Linguistic studies”, need to learn Sanskrit as part of Philology. Study of the Sanskrit language eventually led them to researching the Vedas.
There was a magistrate in the Calcutta court named Sir William Jones in the latter half of the 18th century. He founded a body known as the ‘Asiatic Society’ to print Sanskrit texts and to conduct discussions/ debates on the same. That society exists even now and is involved in many valuable services. H.T. Colebrooke(1765-1837) wrote a famous four-volume book titled “ Miscellaneous Essays” which included references about the Vedas. A German named Rosen started an analysis on the Rig Veda in the year 1838. In the year 1846, a Russian named Rudolf Roth wrote book called “On the literature and history of the Veda”.
In the mid-1800s, a French professor named Burnuf gave a two-month long discourse on the Vedas. This was a landmark event as it motivated many European professors to venture into study of the Indian scriptures. Two professors, Roth and Bohtling, released a 6-volume Sanskrit dictionary from the Petersburg Academy. This work included several quotes from the Vedas. This was followed by a mammoth work titled “Encyclopedia of Indo- Aryan research”. A German professor named Weber wrote a book on the Vedas in this period. His work “ Indiche studien” is an important milestone. He published the “Shata-patha brahmanam” portions of the Shukla Yajur Veda in Leipzig in the 19th century. The Academy in Bavaria did significant research into the Vedas.
Max Muller has done very great service to the Indian heritage. With the support of the East India Company, he was the first to publish the Rig Veda with the Sayana Bhashyam. Several lakhs of rupees (which was a very huge amount back then) was spent on this work. He studied the Rig Veda for 30 years and has written several books in related subjects. He has delivered numerous lectures on this subject too. The great Swami Vivekananda has met him personally and conveyed his appreciation to Max Muller. Grassman compiled a dictionary for the Rig Veda. Kaegi has written several elaborate articles on the Rig Veda and this was translated into English later. Pischel and Geldner compiled a work known as “Vediche studies” in German. Zimmer has written a commentary on “Padham’. Muir has written a monumental work known as “Original Sanskrit texts’ which consists of 5 volumes. He has discussed the divinity and eternal nature of Sanskrit. In this work, one can find a collection of the thoughts of various great Indian personalities from the past in this work.
Sama Veda has been translated by a missionary named Stevenson. B. Keith has translated the Taittriya Yajusamhitaa. He has also researched into the Vedanta principle inside the Karma Kanda portions. Bloomfield has translated the Atharva Veda. H.H. Wilson translated the Rig Veda in English. R.T. Griffith has translated the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda. A.A.MacDonell has written several works on the Rig Veda of which ‘Vediche Index’ is very important. In 1888, Herman Old wrote a book explaining the Rig Veda. Arnold has written about the “Veda Chandas” and Vyakaranam. Rig Veda was translated in Turkish by a German professor named Stephen. Hellibraut has written about the concepts of divinity from the Vedas.
The works mentioned above constitute only a small portion of the total work done by the Westerners in this subject. This research by Western scholars is a continuing process. A French professor Levy has discussed Karma very elaborately. Reno from France has written about the Vedas. A Dutchman named J.Gonda has written elaborately about the Rajasuya Yagna. Even now, in several countries across the globe numerous write-ups about the Vedas and Sanskrit are being written in oriental journals.
Those who have an unbiased, honest urge to study the history of the world find that Sanskrit and the Vedas are as ancient as history itself and form the seat of all cultures. Vedas are a great treasure for those who study “Comparative Mythology”. The unmatched principles of Dharma, the clarity about spirituality, the value systems, the intricacies of the Sanskrit language and the incomparable literary masterpieces in Sanskrit have all amazed the Western world.
Though it is widely acknowledged that some views expressed by these Western scholars are contrary to the truth, it cannot be denied that they have made the world realize the greatness and uniqueness of our scriptures and heritage.
Dr. A. Bhagyanathan
SRI KANCHI MAHA PERIVA THIRUVADIGAL CHARANAM
Research on Indian scriptures by Westerners - A compilation
"We speak of the Sanskrit language. If someone leads an undisciplined, life we say that he does not possess good ‘Samskaras’. 'Samskara' means cleansing. Sanskrit is thus a language that is pure; it needs no cleansing."
-- Sri Sri Swamiji
We read and hear about the countless great scholars from our country who have mastered our scriptures and plunged themselves in their essence. But what is even more amazing is the number of Westerners who have researched into our Vedas, scriptures and the Sanskrit language. This article details such research attempts and is based on references from several authentic sources including the journal Vaidika Dharma Vardhini.
Though there might have been few previous such attempts by Westerners, especially Europeans, to learn the Sanskrit language in the past, we can say that they evinced greater interest from the beginning of 17th century. There was a Dutch missionary named Abraham Roger who lived in Kerala. He authored a book titled “Open the door” and brought Sanskrit to the attention of the western world. This book made many realize the greatness of Sanskrit and kindled their interest to know more. Many Missionaries compiled dictionaries for European languages and Sanskrit. All these works enthused the West to master this beautiful ancient language and they began reading Sanskrit works with deep interest. This slowly had a snowballing effect and even to this day, focused research and study of Indian scriptures is underway in various centres all over the world. There are several journals in foreign languages that are dedicated to the study of Indian scriptures and Sanskrit and several reputed universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard that teach Sanskrit.
Why were the Westerners attracted to the study of Sanskrit? It is because they could find a striking similarity between Sanskrit, Greek and Latin. Even now we find that many Sanskrit words in common use in European languages such as English, French and German. In Estonia, a country neighbouring Russia, the local dialect strongly resembles Sanskrit. Even nomads in Russia use many Sanskrit words while conversing with one another. Since Sanskrit is the mother of all language in the world, the western world naturally was keen on studying the same. Moreover, those pursuing ‘Linguistic studies”, need to learn Sanskrit as part of Philology. Study of the Sanskrit language eventually led them to researching the Vedas.
There was a magistrate in the Calcutta court named Sir William Jones in the latter half of the 18th century. He founded a body known as the ‘Asiatic Society’ to print Sanskrit texts and to conduct discussions/ debates on the same. That society exists even now and is involved in many valuable services. H.T. Colebrooke(1765-1837) wrote a famous four-volume book titled “ Miscellaneous Essays” which included references about the Vedas. A German named Rosen started an analysis on the Rig Veda in the year 1838. In the year 1846, a Russian named Rudolf Roth wrote book called “On the literature and history of the Veda”.
In the mid-1800s, a French professor named Burnuf gave a two-month long discourse on the Vedas. This was a landmark event as it motivated many European professors to venture into study of the Indian scriptures. Two professors, Roth and Bohtling, released a 6-volume Sanskrit dictionary from the Petersburg Academy. This work included several quotes from the Vedas. This was followed by a mammoth work titled “Encyclopedia of Indo- Aryan research”. A German professor named Weber wrote a book on the Vedas in this period. His work “ Indiche studien” is an important milestone. He published the “Shata-patha brahmanam” portions of the Shukla Yajur Veda in Leipzig in the 19th century. The Academy in Bavaria did significant research into the Vedas.
Max Muller has done very great service to the Indian heritage. With the support of the East India Company, he was the first to publish the Rig Veda with the Sayana Bhashyam. Several lakhs of rupees (which was a very huge amount back then) was spent on this work. He studied the Rig Veda for 30 years and has written several books in related subjects. He has delivered numerous lectures on this subject too. The great Swami Vivekananda has met him personally and conveyed his appreciation to Max Muller. Grassman compiled a dictionary for the Rig Veda. Kaegi has written several elaborate articles on the Rig Veda and this was translated into English later. Pischel and Geldner compiled a work known as “Vediche studies” in German. Zimmer has written a commentary on “Padham’. Muir has written a monumental work known as “Original Sanskrit texts’ which consists of 5 volumes. He has discussed the divinity and eternal nature of Sanskrit. In this work, one can find a collection of the thoughts of various great Indian personalities from the past in this work.
Sama Veda has been translated by a missionary named Stevenson. B. Keith has translated the Taittriya Yajusamhitaa. He has also researched into the Vedanta principle inside the Karma Kanda portions. Bloomfield has translated the Atharva Veda. H.H. Wilson translated the Rig Veda in English. R.T. Griffith has translated the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda. A.A.MacDonell has written several works on the Rig Veda of which ‘Vediche Index’ is very important. In 1888, Herman Old wrote a book explaining the Rig Veda. Arnold has written about the “Veda Chandas” and Vyakaranam. Rig Veda was translated in Turkish by a German professor named Stephen. Hellibraut has written about the concepts of divinity from the Vedas.
The works mentioned above constitute only a small portion of the total work done by the Westerners in this subject. This research by Western scholars is a continuing process. A French professor Levy has discussed Karma very elaborately. Reno from France has written about the Vedas. A Dutchman named J.Gonda has written elaborately about the Rajasuya Yagna. Even now, in several countries across the globe numerous write-ups about the Vedas and Sanskrit are being written in oriental journals.
Those who have an unbiased, honest urge to study the history of the world find that Sanskrit and the Vedas are as ancient as history itself and form the seat of all cultures. Vedas are a great treasure for those who study “Comparative Mythology”. The unmatched principles of Dharma, the clarity about spirituality, the value systems, the intricacies of the Sanskrit language and the incomparable literary masterpieces in Sanskrit have all amazed the Western world.
Though it is widely acknowledged that some views expressed by these Western scholars are contrary to the truth, it cannot be denied that they have made the world realize the greatness and uniqueness of our scriptures and heritage.
Dr. A. Bhagyanathan
SRI KANCHI MAHA PERIVA THIRUVADIGAL CHARANAM