Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 287

In which language did Aryans write their poems & hyms?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the language associated with ancient Indian religious texts.

Correct Answer: A) Sanskrit

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, CLAT

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

The Aryans were an ancient Indo-European people who migrated into the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE. They brought with them a rich tradition of oral literature, which was later written down in the form of hymns and poems. The language in which these texts were composed is known as Sanskrit.

Sanskrit is an ancient language that belongs to the Indo-European language family. It is closely related to other ancient languages such as Latin and Greek. The term "Sanskrit" itself means "refined" or "cultured" in Sanskrit, reflecting its status as a language of high culture and learning.

The earliest known texts in Sanskrit are the Vedas, a collection of hymns and religious texts that form the foundation of Hinduism. The Vedas are divided into four main parts: the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. These texts are not only religious but also contain a wealth of information on ancient Indian society, culture, and philosophy.

The use of Sanskrit by the Aryans for their religious texts is significant because it marks the beginning of a rich literary tradition in India. Sanskrit continued to be the language of scholarship and religious texts for centuries, and many of the most important works of Indian literature, philosophy, and science were written in Sanskrit.

It is important to note that Sanskrit is not a language that is widely spoken today, but it remains an important language of study and scholarship. The knowledge of Sanskrit is crucial for understanding the ancient texts of India and the development of Indian culture and civilization.

Other options such as "Indian" and "Hebrew" are incorrect because they do not refer to the specific language used by the Aryans. "Indian" is a broad term that encompasses many languages, and Hebrew is a Semitic language that is not related to the Indo-European language family to which Sanskrit belongs.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This is the correct answer. The Aryans wrote their poems and hymns in Sanskrit, which is an ancient language that forms the basis of many modern Indian languages and is used in Vedic literature.
  • Option B: This is incorrect. "Indian" is a broad term that does not specify a particular language. The Aryans used Sanskrit, which is a specific ancient language.
  • Option C: This is incorrect. Hebrew is a Semitic language and is not related to the language used by the Aryans for their religious texts.
  • Option D: This is incorrect. The Aryans did use a specific language, Sanskrit, for their religious texts and hymns, so "None of the above" is not the correct answer.

Mnemonic: Sanskrit: Sacred and ancient, used by Aryans.

Back to Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 287 – Practice all questions