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Mnemonics in Sanskrit

Introduction

  • This section begins with the basic building block of Panini's entire scheme of things.
  • These are called Maheshwara-sutras.

Maheshwara-sutras

  • Panini's entire Sanskrit grammar rests on these 14 fundamental sets of sutras known as Maheshwara-sutras.

  • These are numbered 1 to 14:

    • ai u N
    • r 1 K
    • e o N
    • ai au C
    • ha ya va ra T
    • la N
    • na ma na na na M
    • jha bha N
    • gha dha dha S
    • ga ba ga da da S
    • kha pha cha tha tha ca ta ta V
    • ka pa Y
    • sa sa sa R
    • ha L

  • He has used this fundamental set of sutras to refer all grammatical things.

Observations about the Sutras

  • Each Sutra is an ordered set of letters (e.g., ha ya va ra T).

  • Set 1 is a, i, u

  • The consonants at the end of each (like N) is to be removed and have to be ignored.

  • a i u N means a i u.

  • g ba ga da da S; S has to be removed.

  • Sutras 1-4: Vowels (a, i, u, r, l, e, o, ai, au). The color code is yellow.

  • Sutras 5-14: Consonants.

  • Example: ha L ends with l.

Termination Tag

  • First Sutra a i u N ends with N

  • 13th Sutra sa sa sa R ends with R

  • These (N, R, etc.) are considered merely as a termination tag.

  • They are not included in calculations.

Distribution of Letters

  • ka Varga (ka, kha, ga, gha, na).

  • These are distributed throughout the sutras.

    • Sutra 7 has na.
    • Sutra 9 has gha.
    • Sutra 10 has ga.
    • Sutra 11 has kha.
    • Sutra 12 has ka.

  • Other groups are also scattered.

Intelligence Behind the Arrangement

  • The order appears obscure.
  • However, understanding the transformation rules reveals the intelligence behind it.
  • Efficient rules in an arbitrary fashion is the charm of Panini's work

Panini's Use of Mnemonics

  • Panini used plenty of mnemonics.

  • Examples:

    • a i u N (combining a, i, u and N).
    • ka pa Y.
    • ga ba ga da da S.

Operation of Mnemonics

  • If you say ac:

    • Start from 'a' and continue to 'c'.
    • The ordered set is all letters in between

  • This is the formula he uses.

  • Suppose you say ha L it means whole set.

  • So ha L means consonants set.

  • Suppose khay; he will use all that in his 3983 rules in several places he will use.

  • The ordered set is kha, pa, ca, ta, ca, ta, ta, ka, pa. You have to look where kha is and keep on taking all up to where i is

  • Then that represents the list column 1 and 2 ka, kha, ga, gha, na, ca, ch, ja, jha, na etcetera.

Data Structures

  • These are kind of data structures, data representation and things of that kind through the mnemonics.

Sutra Understanding

  • Example Sutra: iko yan-aci.

  • This contains three mnemonics:

    • ik.
    • yan.
    • ac.

  • Basically what he is saying if ik is followed by ac, then simply replace ik by yan.

  • If one knows mnemonics as per Panini, one can show a complex idea very beautifully.

  • Firstly, said that Ik is followed by ac.

  • In Maheshwara-sutra, it means starts from i goes up to k:

    • You have to ignore i,r.
    • Ik = i,r.
    • ac; known that a i, u, r, l, e, o, ai, au.

  • yan; 5th Sutra is ha ya va ra T 6th Sutra la N > y, v, r, 1

  • There are 3 sets A, B, C

  • A has i, u, r, 1

  • B is consists all of vowels

  • C contains y, v, r, l

Application of Sets

  • These sets share numbers, meaning you are always dealing with the same number of entries

  • Already set the rule.

  • Whenever, same set, apply set correspondence:

    • Replace i to y.
    • Replace u to v.
    • Replace r to r,r.
    • Replace 1 to 1.

  • It becomes a simple idea, how he constructs mnemonic.

Example: iko yan-aci

  • Consider the words "prati" and "ekam”.

  • "prati" = prat + i

  • "ekam" = +e

  • Part of ik that is i

  • e is part of ac

Rule Application

  • If "ik" is followed by "ac", then replace "ik" with "yan".

  • 1-1 correspondence.

  • Replace i with y

  • Remove i and instead e, prat + e+y + kam (Pratyekam)

  • Understands step by step, but still if you know ik, if you know is yan, if you know if know is ac then can do complex operations

Efficacy of Mnemonics

  • If you understand the power of mnemonics, one may be able to construct any sentence in sanskrit out of will.
  • Richness of using mnemonics a is the special charm of this part of the data structure.

Summary

  • Mnemonics are very rich and unique data representations to give instructions in different ways.
  • Panini uses mnemonics very intelligently to construct rules.
  • Panini's rules around mnemonics makes it easy to remember.
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