World Sanskrit Day, also known as Vishva-Samskrita-Divas (), is an annual event focused around the ancient Indian language

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

that incorporates lectures about the language and is aimed to promote its revival and maintenance. It is celebrated on Shraavana Poornima, that is the full moon day of the

Shraavana Śrāvaṇa () is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the year, typically beginning in mid to late July and ending in late August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as ...

month in the

Hindu calendar The Hindu calendar, also called Panchangam, Panchanga (), is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes ...

. This generally corresponds with the month of August in the Gregorian calendar. The Sanskrit organisation

Samskrita Bharati Samskrita Bharati (, ) is a non-profit organisation working to revive Sanskrit. Sanskrit was a pan-Indian language in the Vedic and classical period but lost its place to its derivative regional dialects in modern India. Samskrita Bharati has ...

is involved in promoting the day. Shraavana Poornima, i.e.

Raksha Bandhan Raksha Bandhan Quote: m Hindi ''rakśābandhan'' held on the full moon of the month of Savan, when sisters tie a talisman (rakhi q.v.) on the arm of their brothers and receive small gifts of money from them. is a popular and traditionally Hin ...

, is considered to be the festival of remembrance and worship of sages and worship for their dedication. In Vedic literature it was called Shravani. On this day, before the study of Vedas in Gurukulas, ''Yajñopavita'' - sacred thread - is worn. This ceremony is called

Upanayana ''Upanayana'' () is a Hindu educational sacrament, one of the traditional saṃskāras or rites of passage that marked the acceptance of a student by a preceptor, such as a ''guru'' or ''acharya'', and an individual's initiation into a school in ...

Upakarma Upakarma (), also called Avani Avittam (, ), Janivarada Hunnime (), Gahma Purnima (), and Jamdhyala Paurnami () is a Vedic ritual practiced by Hindus especially Brahmanas: During the ritual, men change their sacred thread and begin to don a new ...

Sanskar. The old ''Yajñopavita'' is also changed on this day. Priests also tie raksha-sutras to the hosts.

Rishi In Indian religions, a ''rishi'' ( ) is an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mention in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "gre ...

s are considered the original source of Sanskrit literature, hence Shravani Purnima is celebrated as Rishi Parv and World Sanskrit Day. This day was chosen because the academic year in ancient India started on this day. On this day, students started the study of

Vedas FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...

in the

gurukula A () is a traditional system of religious education in India with ('students' or 'disciples') living near or with the guru in the same house for a period of time where they learn and get educated by their guruji. Etymology The word is a com ...

s. From the full moon of the month of Paush to the full moon of the month of Shraavana, the studies are stopped to learn other

Vedantic ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox ( ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompasses the ideas that e ...

scriptures. This tradition is still unbroken in modern Vedic schools. The World Vedic Day is on 11 July. In 1969, the Ministry of Education of Government of India issued instructions to celebrate Sanskrit Day at the Central and State levels. Since then, Sanskrit Day is celebrated all over India. On this occasion, Sanskrit

Kavi Sammelan A ''Kavi Sammelan'' (Devanagari:कवि सम्मेलन, Nastaliq: کوی سمملان, ''Kavī Sammelan'') is a traditional gathering of poets in the Hindi Belt region of northern India, where poets recite their poetry before each other a ...

, writer's seminar, students' speeches and verse recitation competition etc. are organized, through which Sanskrit students, poets and writers get a proper platform.

References

{{reflist Observances held on the full moon Sanskrit 1969 establishments Sanskrit revival

See also

References