The Age of Sanskrit Manuscripts: Debunking the Aryan Invasion Theory and the Origins of Pali Prakrit

When it comes to the oldest manuscripts and languages, common assumptions often suggest that Sanskrit might hold the title. However, to fully address the question of which language and manuscript are the oldest and delve into the origins and historical context of Pali Prakrit and Sanskrit, we must first clarify certain misconceptions. Let's start by defining these terms and examining the historical evidence.

Definitions and Clarity on Prakrit

First, it is important to understand that Prakrit is not a singular language but a classification for a broad group of languages historically termed to be derived from Classical Sanskrit. Pali is a specific Prakrit language that was spoken between the 6th Century BCE and the 9th Century CE. This language is indeed significant, but it is far from being the oldest Prakrit language, as it is attested starting around 30 BCE.

Sanskrit: The Ancient Indo-European Language

Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-European language and the sacred language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It is considered one of the oldest and most complete languages, with a rich tradition of literary and scholarly works. The language is believed to have originated as early as 1500 BCE, making it significantly older than Pali Prakrit.

Evidence from Historical Records

The scholarly work of Dr. Paul Thieme, an eminent Indologist, provides compelling evidence that supports the antiquity of Sanskrit. Dr. Thieme highlighted the presence of many Sanskrit-derived names and terms in historical records from outside India, dating back to as early as the 18th century BCE. For instance, names like Azigi, Vizigi, Tiamath, Sumukan, and Manu are found in ancient records, and the Amarna letters from Egypt also mention Sanskrit-derived terms like Dasaratha, which can be found in the Rig Veda.

Indo-European Languages and the Out-of-India Theory

Further evidence comes from the discovery of Sanskrit-inspired terms in records from countries across Asia and Africa, such as the Hittite-Mitaani treaty in the 1380 BCE. These findings support the idea that the "Out of India" migration theory, which suggests that Indo-European languages evolved and spread from India, is flawed. Instead, these records demonstrate that Sanskrit and its derivatives were present in other regions long before the supposed Aryan invasion/migration around 1500 BCE.

Names and Terms Found in Foreign Records

Several Sanskrit-derived names and terms can be found in ancient records outside India. For instance:

wasannasaya (stadium) nAratiyanni (part of cart) skrathya (stable master) Babrunnu (red brown) Skandhurran (golden yellow) Pinkarannu (red yellow or pale) Urukmannu (jewel) Zirannu (quick) Makanni (gift) Maryannu (young warrior) Jiranun (wiseman) Matunni (wisdom) Parsasatar (Prasastran) Saussatar (susastra or sausastran) Artadama (Rta dama) Suryash and Maruttash (Surya and Maruts)

The names and terms in these records demonstrate the widespread influence of Sanskrit, suggesting that it was an important and influential language long before the supposed Aryan migration.

Geographic and Cultural Spread

Beyond linguistic evidence, cultural and geographic evidence supports the antiquity of Sanskrit. For example, the terms:

Turaga (Horse land, seen in Turkey) Aryan (Land of cultured people, seen in Iran) Surya (Land of solar race kings, seen in Syria) Lavana (Land of white rocks and salts, seen in Lebanon)

These examples further underscore the cultural influence of Sanskrit on a wide region, indicating that Sanskrit was a central language in the Indo-European cultural sphere long before any supposed migrations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the evidence from historical and linguistic records overwhelmingly supports the idea that Sanskrit is the oldest and most profoundly influential language of the Indo-European family. The manuscripts in Sanskrit are among the oldest, and the cultural and linguistic spread they facilitated demonstrate the deep and lasting influence of Sanskrit on both India and the broader region. Therefore, discussing the oldest manuscripts and languages in this context necessitates a recognition of the central role of Sanskrit, rather than Pali Prakrit, as a central part of the cultural and linguistic history of the Indo-European world.