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The following are the important features of vaidika samskrit bhasha (वैदिकसंस्कृतभाषा) which differentiates it from the laukika bhasha that has been in vogue since recent centuries. Some of these features are completely lost from the laukika bhasha.

Vaidika Bhasha Lakshana (Samskrit: वैदिकभाषाविशेषलक्षणम्) involves outlining those qualities of vaidika samskrit bhasha (वैदिकसंस्कृतभाषा) which differentiates it from the laukika bhasha that has been in vogue since recent centuries. Some of these features are completely lost from the laukika bhasha.

 

 

The following sections give an idea about the differences between Vaidika and Laukika samskrit. It should be noted that all the aspects have not been covered here owing to the vastness of the subject but a few classic examples have been presented.

===स्वराः ॥ Svaras===

===स्वराः ॥ Svaras===

*The invariable presence of Udatta (उदात्तः) and other svaras in vaidika bhasha is a foremost differentiating feature from traditional Samskrit.

*The invariable presence of Udatta (उदात्तः) Anudatta (अनुदात्तः) Svarita (स्वरित) svaras in vaidika bhasha is a foremost differentiating feature from traditional Samskrit.

*Usage of Svaras gives a musical tinge to the veda mantras, while such an attempt in traditional samskrit is not seen (chandas is applicable).<ref name=":4">Upadhyaya, Baldev. (1958) ''[https://archive.org/details/VaidikSahityaBaldevUpadhyaya1958 Vaidik Sahitya]''.</ref>

*Usage of Svaras gives a musical tinge to the veda mantras, while such an attempt in traditional samskrit is not seen (chandas is applicable but not svaras).<ref name=":4">Upadhyaya, Baldev. (1958) ''[https://archive.org/details/VaidikSahityaBaldevUpadhyaya1958 Vaidik Sahitya]''.</ref>

===मात्रा ॥ Matra===

===मात्रा ॥ Matra===

*The time of utterance (उच्चारणम् | uccharana) of a syllable is called Matra (मात्रा). In vaidika samskrit - Hrasva (ह्रस्वः), Deergha (दीर्घः), Pluta (प्लुतः) kinds of utterances are available but Pluta is gradually lost in present day samskrit language.<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>अधः स्विदासी३त् उपरि स्विदासी३त् भीरिव विन्दन्ती३ । adhaḥ svidāsī3t upari svidāsī3t bhīriva vindantī3 ।</blockquote>

*The time of utterance (उच्चारणम् | uccharana) of a syllable is called Matra (मात्रा). In vaidika samskrit - Hrasva (ह्रस्वः), Deergha (दीर्घः), Pluta (प्लुतः) kinds of utterances are available but Pluta is gradually lost in present day samskrit language.<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>अधः स्विदासी३त् उपरि स्विदासी३त् भीरिव विन्दन्ती३ । adhaḥ svidāsī3t upari svidāsī3t bhīriva vindantī3 ।</blockquote>

The following features about pronunciation of varnas are seen only in vaidika bhasha.

The following features about pronunciation of varnas are seen only in vaidika bhasha.

*Anunasikikarana (अनुनासिकीकरण ) -  Svaras (स्वर-s) which are अच् (vowels) when present at the end of the word (अवसानम्) are transformed into anunasika (अनुनासिकः) forms except in Shakala shakha (शाकलशाखा) of Rigveda. Example : ईड्यो॒ नूत॑नैरु॒'''तँ'''। (Rig. Veda. 1.1.2) (Pratishakhya Sutra given on Page 554 of Reference <ref name=":4" />)

*Anunasikikarana (अनुनासिकीकरण ) -  Svaras (स्वर-s) which are अच् (vowels) when present at the end of the word (अवसानम्) are transformed into anunasika (अनुनासिकः) forms except in Shakala shakha (शाकलशाखा) of Rigveda. Example : ईड्यो॒ नूत॑नैरु॒'''तँ'''। (Rig. Veda. 1.1.2) (Pratishakhya Sutra given on Page 554 of Reference <ref name=":4" />)

*Anusvara usage (अनुस्वारप्रयोगः) - Considered as a varna different from both Svara and Vyanjana (व्यञ्जनम् । consonant), the Anusvara is pronounced using the nasika (नासिका) (Rik. Prat. 1.5). However, presently, the pronunciation of anusvara is diluted and gradually declining. Example : '''सिंह''' with the requirement of pronunciation of anusvara is uttered as '''सिह''' without the anusvara.

*Anusvara usage (अनुस्वारप्रयोगः) - Considered as a varna different from both Svara and Vyanjana (व्यञ्जनम् । consonant), the Anusvara is pronounced using the nasika (नासिका) (Rik. Prat. 1.5). Panini's grammatical rules do not define Anusvara and it has been treated as other letters from the Pratyahara sutras.<ref>Dr. Bhagyalata Pataskar (2006) Understanding the Vedas. Pune : Vaidika Samshodhana Mandala</ref> Thus, the pronunciation of anusvara is diluted and gradually declining. Example : '''सिंह''' with the requirement of pronunciation of anusvara is uttered as '''सिह''' without the anusvara.  

*Vyanjana (व्यञ्जनम् । consonant) - Dilution of vyanjana varnas such as Visarga (विसर्गः), Jihvamuliyas ('''जिह्वामूलीय-s''') and Upadhmaniyas ('''उपध्मानीय-s''')

*Vyanjana (व्यञ्जनम् । consonant) - Dilution of vyanjana varnas such as Visarga (विसर्गः), Jihvamuliyas ('''जिह्वामूलीय-s''') and Upadhmaniyas ('''उपध्मानीय-s''')

**Visarga : Usage of visarga is gradually declining. The sound of 'ह' at the end of the word is not being used in present day.

**Visarga : Usage of visarga is gradually declining. The sound of 'ह' at the end of the word is not being used in present day.

**k ('''क्''') and kh ('''ख्''') form the Jihvamuliyas and p ('''प्''') and ph ('''फ्''') form the Upadhmaniyas which are lost in present day samskrit usage.

**k ('''क्''') and kh ('''ख्''') form the Jihvamuliyas and p ('''प्''') and ph ('''फ्''') form the Upadhmaniyas are gradually lost in present day samskrit usage. Ex: कः करोति, कः पचति

*The vyanjana ' '''ळ''' ' as in '''इळामग्ने'''  and '''साळ्हा''' is seen only in vaidika bhasha. Usage of ' ळ ' and ' ळ्ह ' and the rules for their conversion to ड and ढ are described in Rik Pratisakhya. These vyanjanas are commonly seen only in Rigveda and not in other vedas also. (Pratisakhya Sutra given on Page 555 of Reference <ref name=":4" />)

*The vyanjana ' '''ळ''' ' as in '''इळामग्ने'''  and '''साळ्हा''' is seen only in vaidika bhasha. Usage of ' ळ ' and ' ळ्ह ' and the rules for their conversion to ड and ढ are described in Rik Pratisakhya. These vyanjanas are commonly seen only in Rigveda and not in other vedas also. (Pratisakhya Sutra given on Page 555 of Reference <ref name=":4" />)

*' ऌ and ॡ ' varnas are only seen in vaidika bhasha. Example: अचीक्ऌपत् | acīkḷpat |

*' ऌ and ॡ ' varnas are only seen mostly in vaidika bhasha as a vowel. In classical samskrit, it is misrepresented as 'ल' and 'ऋ'. Many dhatus contain this vowel in the end which is lost in the derivation of words (prakriya). Example: अचीक्ऌपत् | acīkḷpat  

*Doubling of consonants (द्वित्वम् | dvitva), called as Krama (क्रमः), is a process performed under many defined conditions and exceptions. Example : सोमानं '''स्स्व'''रणम् । somānaṃ ssvaraṇam (Rig. Veda. 1.18.1)

*Doubling of consonants (द्वित्वम् | dvitva), called as Krama (क्रमः), is a process performed under many defined conditions and exceptions. Example : सोमानं '''स्स्व'''रणम् । somānaṃ ssvaraṇam (Rig. Veda. 1.18.1)

*Svarabhakti (स्वरभक्तिः) and Abhinidhana (अभिनिधानम्) are grammatical processes where combined varnas (संयुक्तवर्ण-s । Samyuktavarnas) are broken down for clarity of pronunciation. Example: स्वर → सुवर, पृथ्वी →पृथिवी and दर्शत → दरशत

*Svarabhakti (स्वरभक्तिः) and Abhinidhana (अभिनिधानम्) are grammatical processes where combined varnas (संयुक्तवर्ण-s । Samyuktavarnas) are broken down for clarity of pronunciation. Example: स्वर → सुवर, पृथ्वी →पृथिवी and दर्शत → दरशत

== References ==

== References ==