What is language if it does not elevate? What is literature if it does not illuminate? Saṁskṛta, the refined speech, is not merely a linguistic construct—it is Vāgbrahma, the very manifestation of consciousness through sound. More than a means of communication, it is a vehicle of revelation, carrying within it the wisdom of the Vedas, the inquiry of the Upanishads, the grandeur of Itihāsa, and the poetic brilliance of Mahākāvyas. From philosophical discourses to scientific treatises, from lyrical poetry to dramaturgy, Sanskrit embodies the intellectual and artistic genius of an entire civilization.
This section of the Journal of Sanatana Dharma seeks to explore the linguistic, literary, and philosophical dimensions of Sanskrit as both a sacred and scholarly tradition. How does Sanskrit encode metaphysical realities within its grammar? What makes Mahākāvya different from Western epic traditions? Can Sanskrit literature be seen as an unbroken continuum of thought, binding ancient and modern sensibilities?
We invite contributions on:
- The linguistic structure and philosophy of Saṁskṛta (Paninian grammar, syntax, etymology)
- Comparative studies of Sanskrit with Indo-European and Dravidian languages
- Literary analysis of Mahākāvyas, Khaṇḍakāvyas, and Campūkāvyas
- The art of Sanskrit dramaturgy (Nāṭyaśāstra, Daśarūpaka)
- The role of Sanskrit in preserving and transmitting knowledge (astronomy, mathematics, Ayurveda, logic)
- Translation studies: Challenges and approaches in translating Sanskrit texts
- The oral-aural tradition: Recitation, meter (Chandas), and memory techniques
- The influence of Sanskrit literature on world traditions and comparative poetics
- The continued relevance of Sanskrit in contemporary philosophy and dharmic discourse
- Reviving Sanskrit as a spoken and literary language in the modern era
We welcome articles, critical essays, translations, and explorations that engage with Sanskrit not just as a classical language but as a living, evolving, and inexhaustible reservoir of wisdom and beauty.