Origin and Development of Sanskrit Letters With the special reference to Grantha Letters – A Study

1. Origin and Development of Sanskrit Letters With
the special reference to Grantha Letters – A Study
Mr.Sarveswara Iyer Padmanaban,
B.A.(Hons, PG Dip. In Edu., M.Phil.,
Lecturer, Department of Sanskrit, Faculty of Arts,
University of Jaffna.
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2. Abstract
Sanskrit is an one of the ancient Language, It is in the member of Indo-European
Language family. This Language divided by two, one is Vedic Language other is
Classical Language. Panini’s Astadyayi is a Grammar book of this Language. Panini
called as a father of the Sanskrit Language, According to the phonology of Panini’s
Astadyayi thr fourteen sutras of the Sanskrit language had their origin in the
sounds of lord Nadaraja’s damaruka. The Samjna Praharana of Astadyayi mentions
the birth of vowels and consonants in particular, their phonology.
The letter of Sanskrit are called Akshara and lipi. The script is not mentioned. In the
Indian tradition two scripts are mentioned. One is karosti and the other Brahmi. The
Brahmi scripts developed because of its regional popularity. In this context, Grantha
evolved as the script for Sanskrit in South India.
This research will trace the origin and Development of the Grantha script. This
script was widely used in South Asia, particularly in Sri Lanka, in inscriptions coins,
manuscripts and copper plates. Now the script has been organized and saved in
software.
This research says about the originality and development of Grantha Scripts in
Sanskrit Language by the discretional method as methodology.
Key Words: Sanskrit, Phonetics, Akshara, Lipi, Bhahmi, Ach, Hal, Grantha.
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3. Introduction
The term “Bharatavarsha” denotes ancient India. Those who
used the oral (Vedic) language were called Aryas. The Indo-
European language family had its origins in central Asia. It spread
in south Asia and in countries like Iran. Vedic Language and Prakrit
developed from oral tradition. The literatures of the times are
known as Vedic literature they were called as “Sruti” (Meant to be
heard) and protected by special instructional method. Inevitably
some such works fell into disuse. They are recognized as markers
of Vedic language. The Vedargas appeared with the sole purpose
of protecting the vedic language. Prakrit the spoken language is
the off shoot of this trend . It was Panini grammarian who codified
this form. The lived in the 4th century B.C his Astadyayi became the
grammar for Sanskrit Panini as there fare called the father of
Sanskrit language
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4. Astadyayi
Panini’s Astadyayi is also called pannineeyam. It consists of 4000
sutras. It is called Astadyayi because it contains eight (Asta = eight)
chapters and eight chapters.
Panini called as sutradara, vararachi called as vachyackara, Parjali
called a Bhashyakara, There were develop ted and understand this
pannini’s Grammatical sutra tradition, as commentary tradition, This
comment ration traditional developed to” siddhantakoumuthi” tradition
had special stand for scientific approached.

5. Maheswara sutras established form Nadaraja’s damaraka’s sound ,
there were fourteen These described on samjna praharana vowels fourteen
and cansenents Thirty-three, all together forty seven letters mentioned
specially vowels called a,i,u,ir,il connected with long letters. Vowels
pointed out a steps there were short ( ), long (demerge),and too long
(plots), altogether eighteen.
There letters where from established by sound described by sutra that
detail on the table.
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6. Sanskrit letters
In Sanskrit Grammar pointed out the Sanskrit language especially pone tic forms,
this portent oral tradition the word “Bhahusruta” represent the knowledge an oral
Educational knowledge in language. As the tradition called “sruti” an Vedas a
reason now, the littering tradition here so many textual changes state to state .
Mainly the reason an trances from the oral to writing step . In the practical writing
stage in Sanskrit pointed out some any words. There are lipi, Akshara,lipikara,
kanda, patala, Granta, lekana, and lekaka but hot to mentioned the particular
stretchered the letter.
Beginning of the Sanskrit writing form in Inscription they hard prackrit
language tradition and karosti Group letters on 3rd century .B.C
Karosti letters to write and the tradition right this letter like lips of donkey this
letter formed A atria and south Asian reason.
Ancient Indian writings as Brahmi left to right. This script have independent of
the Sanskrit language structure an Grammar and regional styles. The structural
principals of North India have Devanagari an kasmir saratha, Bangali,Orisa,
telungu and Malayalam also represents the script for Sanskrit language in regional
style North Indian script Brahmi developed and organized the Devanegari or
Nagari script represent on the language , Sanskrit , Bhagtham, Hindi and Marati,
Uniform of writing with mother line . This Devangari Script regagnized and
accepted script as a Sanskrit language in printing letter also.
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7. Grantha Script
In Indian region as lines and symbols recorded an brachmi script and a
begging of Gran the script in tangle or circle shape.
Grantha called ‘knot’ the meaning this represents tread. This letter
preserved in palm leaves especially in Tamil tradition an ‘manipiravala’
Developed the organize circle shape of Gran the script spared all over the south
Asian regions an established structural script.
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8. This letter/Script established Pallara kings and a reason called “pallava
Grantha” This letter development of scrip logy can trace by the Inscription
these are divided by four.
Pallava Grantha
Transitional Grantha
Medieval Grantha
Modern Grantha
This important of Gran the script usage to represented of the usage Sanskrit
representation there are,
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10. 1. Pallava Grantha
Pallava Grantha created by pallava kings for the inscription in there south Indian
kingdoms. This tradition got the time called ‘Grantha” This script can show
Memaleparam, Thiruchchirapalli cave inscription. This tradition established after
changes called, Grantha Language family.
2.Tansitional Grantia
Tulu, Malayalam both called as another form of Grantha, Brami’s squire and types
established Grantha script Indentified an a type of malayala letters. After the pallava
kingdom used cholas in the period 650 to 950 after that can show pandian
neduncheliyan’s documents.
3. Medieval Grantha
The Imperial thanjor cholas Inscriptions developed the medieval grantha this category
was in form 950 A.D to 1250 AD
4.Modern Grantha
The modern form of Grantha is similar to Malayalam and Tamil script in the period
of letter pandiyas and vijayanagar rules.
Now
Grantha script in user for represent of Sanskrit language in printing materials and
computerized too. This Grantha script are using uni cord forms also. Some of the
Grantha script are using Tamil language and a Sanskrit letters. As E.g. Ja, sa, sha, se,
ksha,& r.etc.
Now preserve the palm leaves Grantha documents are the traditional way on
sivagama ritual traditions, Medical traditions and more the Grantha letters are the using
form 6th century A.D. to present , This script is using only represent the Sanskrit
language.
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11. Conclusion
Pannin’s Astadyayi in a Grammar book of Sanskrit language, in described vowels letters
called on ach, consonant letters called an hal. In addition.
Letters particulate pointed. Indian creation of important this sound of Sanskrit
literature tradition was preserve oral tradition from Vedic literature preservation of the
north Indian tradition used devenagarai letters. At the same time Grantha letters in
south India westerners used women letters forms, Srilankens in Sinhala letter forms an
exam files.
Sanskrit language don’t have any own script not mentioned any Grammatical
book . The connection of verbs in sandhi an join the sounds in Sanskrit language.
There for one of Grantha script represent the Sanskrit language and phonetic
forms and established the script by south Indian pallavas , Continually using form
today.
Reference
Barrow, T, (1956), The Sanskrit Language, London.
MacDonnell, Arlhen A, (1990), A History of Sanskrit Literature, motital burnsides pvt
ltd , New Delhi
Varadarajacharge, (1997), Langu Siddhanta kaumudi, Geetha press, Gorakpor.
Sivaramamurti, C., (1952) , Indian Epigraphy and South Indian scripts, Govenment
press, Madras
Web site Grantha alphabets
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