Sanskrit is the basis of many European languages. But the many fables and myths recorded in Sanskrit also permeated Western storytelling culture. An exhibition by Leiden University Library shows how closely this language and culture are intertwined.
Most people know Sanskrit as a mystical language from India. Perhaps of the Vedas, the oldest Hindu writings that are mainly known among yogis in Europe. What many people do not know is that Sanskrit is in fact the basis of many European languages and cultures. Thus, it is one of the oldest members of the Indo-European language family. Hence, Sanskrit words like nasa, matar and nava somewhat similar to our words 'nose', 'mother' and 'new'. You will also find Indian influences in European storytelling culture. For example, the French writer Jean de la Fontaine was inspired by the Indian tradition. The fox Reinaert, one of the most famous mythical creatures of the Middle Ages, shows parallels with the gray jackal that appears in Sanskrit texts.
A small exhibition about Sanskrit has been set up in the University Library of Leiden this summer. There are all kinds of manuscripts and figurines on display, mainly from the university archives. The main aim of the exhibition makers is to show how Sanskrit has spread within and outside India. And how, for example, this has resulted in a large variation in writing.
Palm leaves
One of the exhibition makers is Liz Cecil. She investigates the religious and material culture of Southeast Asia in general and Sanskrit in particular. She explains why the manuscripts on display are so different:“These writings come from different areas of Asia, and all have been influenced by the local languages. While translating, we occasionally come across meanings of words that cannot be found in any dictionary.”
What is also striking are the different forms that the writing takes. The texts from North India have sharp angular letters, those from the south are characterized by a round script. According to Cecil, this has to do with the material on which the texts are written, such as palm leaves in the south. “The writers then have to write along with the direction of the leaf veins.”
Missionaries
Leiden University has a large collection of Sanskrit manuscripts. “In the past they were gathering dust in archives, nowadays a large part can be found via online catalogues. This has given Sanskrit research an enormous boost,” says Cecil. Incidentally, Leiden has a long tradition of research into Sanskrit. It has attracted the attention of scientists since 1865. They were presented with manuscripts and other objects brought back from India by early missionaries. In the nineteenth century, Sanskrit study also spread to Groningen, Amsterdam and Utrecht. But now those studies have all been cut.
Incidentally, the number of students who only choose Sanskrit can also be counted on two hands here. But it is an important part of the South and Southeast Asian Studies study. Leiden has even attracted an entire international team of scientists who are researching Hindu mythology, which is accessible through Sanskrit. Cecil, who is an American herself, tells how her own fascination with Sanskrit started:“I went to India for a year in an exchange project and immediately became fascinated by the culture, the language, the rituals and the art.”
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Cultural tradition
In Leiden, all these aspects are examined in relation to each other. “In India, Sanskrit is a language of religion and ritual. The main stories of this culture are recorded in Sanskrit. We therefore want to teach our students that you cannot study Sanskrit in isolation, but that it is part of a cultural tradition.”
Sanskrit as a sacred language can be found in texts written on palm leaves in the display case. These were recited and repeated during public Buddhist rituals. The manuscripts may date from the twelfth century, making them the oldest Sanskrit texts in the collection. Furthermore, there are many texts about Indian gods and goddesses.
Kamasutra
But Sanskrit is also a language that has been used over time by political leaders to show their power. For example, it is customary among Asian leaders to record their family tree in a stone in Sanskrit letters. The god Vishnu can also be found throughout Asia as a royal symbol.
Finally, Sanskrit plays an important role in the life of the 'common man'. For example, it is customary in India to have a 'birthmark' made for a newborn, in which astrology is explained. And while many Sanskrit texts are about gods and goddesses, there are also many that focus on the health of the human body. Such as in the books on yoga and Ayurveda (Indian health theory) and of course the world-famous Kamasutra texts.
Creation Story
The fact that Sanskrit in India is closely intertwined with the entire culture is also apparent from the figurines and utensils in this exhibition. In fact, you can also read them as stories. For example, there is a statue of Ganesha, the four-armed god with the elephant head from Java. “If you look closely you can see that he is missing a tusk,” says Cecil, “According to the legend, he broke off one of his tusks to use as a pen to write down an important epic tale, the Mahabharata.”
The exhibition poster also shows a detail of one of the manuscripts on display, in which language and culture come together:“It depicts the Indian creation story. Vishnu, the supreme god, sets the process of creation in motion, and at that moment a lotus grows from his navel. From the lotus arises the god Brahma, who is the religious authority in the field of language.”