Sanskrit and Tamil

[Guest guest]

>

I am submitting this on behalf of Smt. Nagu Satyan.

-Viji

 

> Before I address the topic Sanskrit AND Tamil, I would like to present

> the context and the background how this question arose during the

> conference. It took place in our home and I was present during most of

> the discussions.

>

> I do not think anyone in that group questioned the fact that for Sri

> Vaishnavas both Vedas (Sanskrit) and Divya Prabhandam (Tamil) are of

> equal importance. Most Sri Vaishnavas recognize that it is our

> tradition to recite relevant portions of Vedas and Divya Prabhandam.

> The question arose when it was stated that Tamil is better or easier

> than Sanskrit. The disagreement was not about our Ubhaya Vedantham

> traditions. We love to hear the Divya Prabhandham recitations comingled

> with Sanskrit Vedas. We would not have it any other way. This may be

> because we were exposed to that sampradAyam very early in life and has

> become first nature to us. It could also be because of the fact that we

> as Sri Vaishnavas are emotional about the issues (I am one of them) or

> may be a few understand a little bit the meanings behind the

> recitations. For us the mangala arathi without Sarrumurai (In Tamil)

> would be difficult to comprehend.

>

> If we look at the topic purely from the language perspective and from

> our ancient history, Sanskrit has been identified as language of the

> Gods. This does not imply that other languages are not recognized,

> important or spoken by the Gods.

>

> Yes, Tamil is one of the oldest Indian languages. It is also my mAthru

> bhAshyam. We converse in Tamil with the children and adults and

> relatives from Tamil Nadu, and converse in Kannada with our

> sisters/brothers etc. With my upbringing in Karnataka and having been

> exposed to Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi, I still think that Tamil

> is more difficult to learn compared to other languages.

>

> This does not mean Tamil is not a beautiful language. Nor does it mean

> that our Archanas should be only in Sanskrit or only in Tamil. The

> reaction so far has been to defend Tamil from our Sri Vaishnava

> SampradAyam. I do not think that is the issue. Even though the article

> reposted recently here might be based on a political platform, I think

> we need to look at it with a broader perspective of all Hindus.

>

> The question that could be asked is why Tamil did not become popular and

> become the spoken language in the adjoining regions. Where was the need

> for Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam? (I have read the story that at the end

> of Rama's avatharam on the earth, He is supposed to have punished Sage

> Agasthyar for rushing in to the chambers. The curse was that Tamil as a

> language would be dormant for a long time till the advent of the

> Azhwars.)

>

> Why did Saint Thyagaraja prefer to compose music in Telugu even though

> he was raised in Tamilnadu near Tanjore? Could it be that Telugu as a

> language is softer and easier to sing with emphasis on vowels, similar

> to Western Classical Music composers who have used Italian in most of

> the major operas? Why did Mutthuswamy Dikshithar choose Sanskrit for

> his great compositions? Sri Purandara Dasa family origin is from Poona

> (I think Marati language). He composed in Kannada. Granted that

> Kannada and Telugu have lot of Sanskrit words, with some Tamil. Of

> course we have great Carnatic Music Compositions in Tamil also. I am

> glad that more and more Musicians are rendering at the concerts Tamil

> Compositions of, including Azhwars' pasurams, Papanasam Sivan, Ambujam

> Krishnan, Oothikaadu etc.

>

> My assessment still is that Tamil is relatively more difficult to learn

> compared to Sanskrit. This does not mean that I am against Tamil nor am

> I a Sanskrit fanatic! As individuals we do have the option not to

> accept another person's assessment. What is difficult for one may be

> easy for another!

>

>

> Nagu Satyan

>