Sanskrit is considered as one of the oldest of the world languages. Its most used script is called as Devanagari. Sanskrit belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. It is one of the languages of the Aryan group of the IE family.

Although it is difficult to establish the exact date of the birth of Sanskrit, we can roughly say that Sanskrit began as Vedic Sanskrit sometime before the 7th Century BC. Later it was accepted as Classical Sanskrit probably from the beginning of the 5th Century BC.

Sanskrit was a spoken language during its classical times. But slowly and gradually it ceased to be a spoken language. Presently its literature and religious texts are read and appreciated thanks to the efforts of the hundreds of Sanskrit scholars worldwide.

Sanskrit has its stamp laid on several of the languages of Southeast Asia and of the European regions. Its influence is felt in the cultures of some of the regions of East Asia as well although it is believed to be born in South Asia.

Vedic Sanskrit has its roots in the composition of the hymns of the Rgveda sometime during the 10th Century BC. It is believed that the language of the Veda originated from the mouth of Lord Brahma. Hence the 4 Vedas were preserved orally down the centuries through various Pathas or phonetic patterns. They are construed as Apaurusheyas or those that were not composed by a human being.

The Grammar of Classical Sanskrit was compiled by Panini probably during the 2nd Century BC or sometime before that period. His work is Ashtadhyayi in eight chapters. Sanskrit Grammar is considered as one of the most technically correct grammars of the world by the Western and Indian researchers. Sanskrit as a whole is suited very well to the present day computer technological sciences.

The two great epics of India, namely the Ramayana and the Mahabharata were composed by Valmiki and Vyasa respectively in Sanskrit language. The Ramayana is considered as the first ornate poetry composed in Sanskrit. Valmiki is hailed as Adikavi (the first poet) of Sanskrit.

Several other great poets lived during different periods of the Classical Era of Sanskrit. Kalidasa who is believed to have lived during the 1st Century AD wrote two Mahakavyas called Raghuvamsam and Kumarasambhavam. Bhasa, a great dramatist is believed to have written 13 dramas, most of them based on the epics of India. He is a pre-Kalidasa author. Many other writers of the Classical period through the 17th Century AD include Ashvaghosha, Dandin, Bana, Bhavabhuti, Vishakhadatta, Murari, Bharavi, Magha, Sriharsha and Vedanta Desika. Banabhatta of the 7th Century AD had written the first ever novel 'Kadambari'!