Part of: West Bengal Gk set 7

Which of the following is the language of 13th century Brihaddharma Purana of Bengal?

Category: West Bengal Gk

Hint: Consider the historical context of religious texts in Bengal.

Correct Answer: D) Sanskrit

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, State PSC

Difficulty: Moderate

Explanations:

The Brihaddharma Purana is a significant religious text that originated in Bengal during the 13th century. It is important to understand the historical context of religious texts in India, particularly in the region of Bengal, to appreciate why Sanskrit was the language of choice for such works.

Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language, has been the primary language for religious and scholarly works in India for centuries. It is the language of the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and other important religious texts. The use of Sanskrit in religious texts is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of India. It was considered the language of the gods and was used by scholars, priests, and other learned individuals to compose and preserve religious and philosophical knowledge.

In the context of Bengal, the 13th century was a period when Sanskrit was still the dominant language for religious and scholarly works. The Brihaddharma Purana, being a religious text, would naturally be composed in Sanskrit to maintain the tradition and to ensure that it was accessible to the learned community who were well-versed in the language. The use of Sanskrit also helped in preserving the purity and authenticity of the text, as it was less likely to be influenced by regional dialects or changes in vernacular languages.

It is important to note that while Sanskrit was the language of the Brihaddharma Purana, other languages such as Persian, Hindi, and Urdu were not used for religious texts in Bengal during the 13th century. Persian was more commonly used for administrative and literary purposes during the Islamic rule in India, but not for religious texts. Hindi, as we know it today, did not exist in the 13th century, and Urdu developed much later. Therefore, the Brihaddharma Purana, being a religious text from 13th century Bengal, is correctly written in Sanskrit.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This option is incorrect. Persian was not the language of the Brihaddharma Purana. Persian was more commonly used for administrative and literary purposes during the Islamic rule in India, but not for religious texts in Bengal during the 13th century.
  • Option B: This option is incorrect. Hindi, as we know it today, did not exist in the 13th century. The language of the Brihaddharma Purana is Sanskrit, which was the primary language for religious texts in ancient and medieval India.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect. Urdu developed much later, primarily in the 13th century onwards, and was not the language of the Brihaddharma Purana. The text is in Sanskrit, which was the language of religious and scholarly works in Bengal during the 13th century.
  • Option D: This option is correct. The Brihaddharma Purana, a significant religious text from 13th century Bengal, is written in Sanskrit. Sanskrit was the primary language for religious and scholarly works in ancient and medieval India.

Mnemonic: Sanskrit is the language of ancient Indian religious texts.

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