In ancient India, there have been many prominent figures throughout history. In this article, you will learn the importance of such characters, including Panini and Ashoka, who was a famous king that changed the country with religion.
Panini
Born in Shalatula (which is a town situated close to Attock on the Indus River), Panini was brought into the world in what is now known as Pakistan. It is not completely understood when he actually lived, as some texts state between the 4th and 7th century BC. However, there is no historian who will deny the importance of Panini’s work, as he earned quite the reputation as a Sanskrit grammarian who was well versed in the ways of scientific theory regarding phonetics, phonology, and morphology.
In case you didn’t already know, Sanskrit served as the classical literary language used by the Indian Hindus. In some history books, it is Panini who is believed to have become the founder of the language and literature. Additionally, you should know that Sanskrit translates into a meaning that suggests that he created a “divine language” or as some may say , ” language of the gods.”
When it comes to pinpointing one of the major works of Panini, you will encounter a treatise referred to as Astadhyayi (or Astaka ). It is comprised of eight chapters, which is separated into different quarter chapters. In this work, Panini makes out the differences between the language associated with the sacred texts and the typical language of communication. In his attempt to explain Sanskrit grammar, he provides production rules and definitions. He is also responsible for grouping the basics together, such as vowels, verbs, nouns, and consonants. He also explained the creation of things like sentences and compound nouns.
Aryabhata
Born in 476 AD, Aryabhata is considered the first astronomer to come from India. Later, he would publish a book titled the Aryabhatiya, where he dealt with astronomical and mathematical theories pertaining to the Earth, such as the spinning on its axis and made observations of the different movements of the planets, as well as elements of the sun.
Ashoka
This famous king of ancient India has triumphed in numerous battles that helped to expand his kingdom. He was also part of the historic war of Kalinga, which led to his transformation into the religion of Buddhism. Soon, non-violence was held high, as one of the most important state policies. In all of his subsequent actions, he took on the stance of humanitarianism. Buddhism was truly a strong influence in his life.
Chandragupta Maurya
When India obtained a unity that stretched into politic, it was the first time that Chandragupta was able to begin the building of his powerful empire. If you follow Indian folklore, you will find that Chandragupta is believed to have been assisted by a Brahmin named Vishnugupta (also known as Kautilya or Chanakya). It was he that was credited with one of the most well known of works , the Arthashastra.