Panini to Patanjali

The book presents scholarly essays examining the origin and evolution of Sanskrit grammar in ancient India-from the time of Panini to Patanjali. It focuses on the monumental works in Sanskrit grammar, the Astadhyayi of Panini, the Varttikas of Katyayna and the Mahabhasya of Patanjali and the impact of these of the Sanskrit grammatical tradition. The essays critically analyse the Paninian system of Sanskrit grammar: its style and technicalities and particularly technical terms and devices used in the Astadyayi. Discussing chronology-ocally, the system of grammar that emerged after Panini, they study the style and system of the Varttikas and the unique contribution of Katyayana in incorporating the element of philosophy of language-interpreting difficult words in the Astadyayi on the basis of philosophical doctrine. They enumerate the tradition and technique of Patanjali the style, language, logic, semantics, and scientific interpretation of his sutras and emphasise the importance of the Mahabhasya as the basis of post-Paninian Sanskrit grammar systems. There are also discussions of the dates of Panini and Patanjali. Throughout, the author refer and quote from the works of these masters and the ancient Indian texts as well as from commentaries and sub-commentaries, supple-ments, logical interpretations and arguments on their writings and the system of Sanskrit grammar. The volume will interest and benefit scholars and researchers on ancient Indian grammar and linguistics in particular.