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== परिचयः || Introduction ==
 
== परिचयः || Introduction ==
When we presume that Samskrit is the language of Veda, we get into trouble in understanding the text. There is difficulty in understanding the meanings of words and sentences.<ref name=":1">Sri. Rayalu Viswanadha's  [https://vedaravindamu.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/vedic-language/ Articles on Veda]</ref> Even those words which appear to be common to both the languages denote different meanings in the earlier Vedic language and the later sanskrit language.<ref name=":0" />
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When we presume that Samskrit is the language of Veda, we get into trouble in understanding the text. There is difficulty in understanding the meanings of words and sentences.<ref name=":1">Sri. Rayalu Viswanadha's  [https://vedaravindamu.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/vedic-language/ Article on Vedic Language]</ref> Even those words which appear to be common to both the languages denote different meanings in the earlier Vedic language and the later sanskrit language.<ref name=":0" />
    
== शब्दः || Words ==
 
== शब्दः || Words ==
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There are r̥ks with a single akṣara as a complete word:
 
There are r̥ks with a single akṣara as a complete word:
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ऊ॒र्ध्व ऊ॒ षु णो॑ अध्वरस्य होत॒रग्ने॒ तिष्ठ॑ दे॒वता॑ता॒ यजी॑यान् । (Rig. Veda. 4.6.1)
    
 ūrdhva ū ṣu ṇo adhvarasya hotar agne tiṣṭha devatātā yajīyān |
 
 ūrdhva ū ṣu ṇo adhvarasya hotar agne tiṣṭha devatātā yajīyān |
   −
ऊ॒र्ध्व ऊ॒ षु णो॑ अध्वरस्य होत॒रग्ने॒ तिष्ठ॑ दे॒वता॑ता॒ यजी॑यान् । (Rig. Veda. 4.6.1)
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How can one get to understand the r̥k without knowing the meaning of single akṣara – words?
 
  −
How can one get to understand the r̥k without knowing the meaning of single akṣara – words?  
      
Earlier Vedic scholars (Shaunaka, being one of them) wrote books on the language structure of Veda. They are called prātiśākhya granthas. Each one of those books deals at length about akṣara. Hence we have to look at our speech system, the source of all akṣaras to understand Vedic language.
 
Earlier Vedic scholars (Shaunaka, being one of them) wrote books on the language structure of Veda. They are called prātiśākhya granthas. Each one of those books deals at length about akṣara. Hence we have to look at our speech system, the source of all akṣaras to understand Vedic language.
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== Vedic Alphabet ==
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== Vedic Aksharas  ==
 
When we speak or hear, the speech sounds are akṣaras. When we put them to writing their name is alphabet. Vedic alphabet is shown below as per their articulation points in the speaking machine (mouth):
 
When we speak or hear, the speech sounds are akṣaras. When we put them to writing their name is alphabet. Vedic alphabet is shown below as per their articulation points in the speaking machine (mouth):
{| class="wikitable"|a (अ)
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{| class="wikitable"
|1
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!1
!
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! rowspan="6" |
|2
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!2
|3
+
!3
|4
+
!4
|5
+
!5
|6
+
!6
!
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! rowspan="6" |
|7
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!7
|8
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!8
 
|-
 
|-
|प्राण
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!Vowels (प्राण)
!
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! colspan="5" |Consonants (स्पर्श)
|
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!ऊष्म
|
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!अन्तःस्थ
|स्पर्श
  −
|
  −
|
  −
!
  −
|ऊष्म
  −
|अन्तःस्थ
   
|-
 
|-
 
|a (अ)
 
|a (अ)
!
   
|ka (क)
 
|ka (क)
 
|ca (च)
 
|ca (च)
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|ta (त)
 
|ta (त)
 
|pa (प)
 
|pa (प)
!
   
|ha (ह)
 
|ha (ह)
 
|ya (य)
 
|ya (य)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|i (इ)
 
|i (इ)
!<br>
   
|ga (ग)
 
|ga (ग)
 
|ja (ज)
 
|ja (ज)
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|da (द)
 
|da (द)
 
|ba (ब)
 
|ba (ब)
!
   
|ṣa (ष)
 
|ṣa (ष)
 
|ra (र)
 
|ra (र)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|u (उ)
 
|u (उ)
!<br>
   
|ṅa (ङ)
 
|ṅa (ङ)
 
|Ña (ञ)
 
|Ña (ञ)
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|na (न)
 
|na (न)
 
|ma (म)
 
|ma (म)
!
   
|śa (श)
 
|śa (श)
 
|la (ल)
 
|la (ल)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|
 
|
!
   
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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|
 
|
 
|
 
|
!
   
|sa (स)
 
|sa (स)
 
|va (व)
 
|va (व)
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#* The arrangement is so scientific and perfect, that the tongue can jump to any point and pick up the consonant before the vowel sound comes to join.
 
#* The arrangement is so scientific and perfect, that the tongue can jump to any point and pick up the consonant before the vowel sound comes to join.
   −
== Akshara in Vedic language ==
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== Vedic Padam ==
 +
In Sanskrit and other languages only word has a meaning but not its component akṣaras. Vedic word (पदम्) is a combination of Vedic akṣaras. The meaning of the word is summation of their individual meanings. The meaning of the word can be deduced by linking the meanings of individual akṣaras in a logical way.
 +
 
 +
akṣaram is a Vedic word. It in itself is a combination (saṁhita) of the following akṣaras:
 +
* All the svaras (vowels) we can speak are represented by a – अ
 +
* All sparśa-akṣaras (stops) are represented by k – क्
 +
* All ūṣma-akṣaras (aspirants) by ṣa – ष
 +
* All antaḥstha akṣaras (semivowels) by ra – र
 +
* All nāsikya akṣaras (nasals) by ṁ – म्
 +
Saṁhita’s capability is indicated by compound akṣara kṣa – क्ष. The word not only indicates all the audio capsules which mouth can produce, but also its saṁhita capability. The word akṣara literally means what it sounds!
 +
 
 +
One more example to indicate how Vedic words are coined. ōm is a very common word in Veda and ōm iti ekākṣaraṁ brahma – ॐ इति एकाक्षरं ब्रह्म is an oft quoted sentence from Veda. akṣara ō – ओ is the result of combining vowels a – अ and u – उ. They are located at the beginning and middle of the speech tunnel. ṁ – म्, the consonant, is at the end of the tunnel. All the three combined represent all objects that have a beginning, existence and the end. ōm has been made into a single akṣara with a purpose. All objects combine into only one  big object, the universe. Brahma, the universal creative force is known only through its creation. ōm represents Brahma through its manifestation, having the properties of a – अ, u – उ and ṁ – म्.
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== Discussion ==
 +
An interesting question raised by Shri. Achyut Karve, that has been raised and discussed in the Bharatiya Vidvat Parishad is : " Is vedic language a tongue of any particular group viz. ethnic, geographical or of any particular race?"
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 +
A few thoughts of Sri. Rayalu Viswanatha, regarding Aksharas<ref name=":1" />
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=== Akshara in Vedic language ===
 
How does Veda apportion meaning to each akṣara?
 
How does Veda apportion meaning to each akṣara?
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We can see that the matrix is the miniature audio picture of man himself and Vedic language expands it into a full-blown audio picture.
 
We can see that the matrix is the miniature audio picture of man himself and Vedic language expands it into a full-blown audio picture.
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== Examples of actual use: ==
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=== Examples of actual use ===
 
Vowels are spread over the entire yajña śāla. The akṣara a – अ is located at the entrance, i – इ in the middle and u – उ at the end. They are taking part in the formation of every akṣara. They represent the time and the potential needed for the yajña.
 
Vowels are spread over the entire yajña śāla. The akṣara a – अ is located at the entrance, i – इ in the middle and u – उ at the end. They are taking part in the formation of every akṣara. They represent the time and the potential needed for the yajña.
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* iṣetvorjetvā – iṣe tvā + ūrje tvā | इ॒षॆत्वॊ॒र्जॆत्वा॑ – इषॆ त्वा + ऊर्जॆ त्वा |
 
* iṣetvorjetvā – iṣe tvā + ūrje tvā | इ॒षॆत्वॊ॒र्जॆत्वा॑ – इषॆ त्वा + ऊर्जॆ त्वा |
 
All our actions (yajñas) are only with a purpose to achieve iṣa – our present requirement, hence starts with vowel i – इ. The word ūrja is our hopefully achievable future wants and has to start with u – उ. The two sentences are combined into one (saṁhita) to indicate that human nature is to keep an eye on future while working for the present!
 
All our actions (yajñas) are only with a purpose to achieve iṣa – our present requirement, hence starts with vowel i – इ. The word ūrja is our hopefully achievable future wants and has to start with u – उ. The two sentences are combined into one (saṁhita) to indicate that human nature is to keep an eye on future while working for the present!
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== Vedic Word: ==
  −
In Sanskrit and other languages only word has a meaning but not its component akṣaras. Vedic word is a combination of Vedic akṣaras. The meaning of the word is summation of their individual meanings. The meaning of the word can be deduced by linking the meanings of individual akṣaras in a logical way.
  −
  −
akṣaram is a Vedic word. It in itself is a combination (saṁhita) of the following akṣaras:
  −
* All the svaras (vowels) we can speak are represented by a – अ
  −
* All sparśa-akṣaras (stops) are represented by k – क्
  −
* All ūṣma-akṣaras (aspirants) by ṣa – ष
  −
* All antaḥstha akṣaras (semivowels) by ra – र
  −
* All nāsikya akṣaras (nasals) by ṁ – म्
  −
Saṁhita’s capability is indicated by compound akṣara kṣa – क्ष. The word not only indicates all the audio capsules which mouth can produce, but also its saṁhita capability. The word akṣara literally means what it sounds!
  −
  −
One more example to indicate how Vedic words are coined. ōm is a very common word in Veda and ōm iti ekākṣaraṁ brahma – ॐ इति एकाक्षरं ब्रह्म is an oft quoted sentence from Veda. akṣara ō – ओ is the result of combining vowels a – अ and u – उ. They are located at the beginning and middle of the speech tunnel. ṁ – म्, the consonant, is at the end of the tunnel. All the three combined represent all objects that have a beginning, existence and the end. ōm has been made into a single akṣara with a purpose. All objects combine into only one  big object, the universe. Brahma, the universal creative force is known only through its creation. ōm represents Brahma through its manifestation, having the properties of a – अ, u – उ and ṁ – म्.
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  −
== Different Language: ==
  −
Veda uses the akṣaras as they are located in the matrix to bring out the various forces working inside to change our intentions into akṣaras. In fact, Vedic language uses its words and akṣaras, as windows through which we can see the the working of the subtle body.
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Vedic language is made to express the various forces of the microcosm, whereas all our languages are meant to express what we see and know outside of us. All our languages combined will not contain what man does not know. Vedic language talks only of what we do not know. Vedic language uses its words and akṣaras to name the forces within us. We use that akṣara to name the items we know and want to refer. Thus, Vedic language is apart from all the languages we know and use in our daily life.
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== Time of origin: ==
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== Discussion ==
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An interesting question raised by Shri. Achyut Karve, that has been raised and discussed in the Bharatiya Vidvat Parishad is
  −
  −
" Is vedic language a tongue of any particular group viz. ethnic, geographical or of any particular race?"
      
== References ==
 
== References ==

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