2

Should we pray to gods only in the Sanskrit language and using proper mantras only? Should using other languages be avoided?

CDR
  • 3,403
  • 2
  • 9
  • 32
river
  • 6,675
  • 1
  • 8
  • 26

3 Answers3

2

The Kurma purana states one shouldn't praise deities with other languages.

Kurma Purana, Uttarabhaga, Chapter 16

enter image description here

1

Chapter 5, lines 16/17 of the Kāraṇā Agama say:

आख्याति पूजावेलायां वैदिकं यदूचक्षणः ।
तन्मयैवोदितमिति निर्वहत् स्वप्रयत्नतः ।।१६।।

Sanskrit is the language of Siva, thus only he who speaks Sanskrit or a Vedic language may command the pooja.

अवैदिकस्याख्यातॄणां निकटे नोपवेशयेत् ।
प्रत्याख्यानं न कुर्वीत पिदध्याच्छ्रवणदूयम् ।
नेक्षेत पूजावेलायां नरं देवि बहिष्कृतम् ।।१७।।

The person who does not speak in Sanskrit may not sit near the practioner and must be ignored by the practioner.

So yes, we can only pray in Sanskrit or other Vedic languages during rituals.

CDR
  • 3,403
  • 2
  • 9
  • 32
  • What are the other Vedic languages according to Karana Agama? – ruben2020 Jun 07 '23 at 22:43
  • If we state Sanskrit to be the only divine language, then it implies that God can't/willn't speak in any language other than Sanskrit, which goes against the established notion of the God who can't be restricted by human parameters. I personally opine that language can't be an obstruction while directly communicating with God. There are ample evidences of various sadhus from our religion conversing with God in their native tongues. Most prominent are the Alvars & Nayanmars. – অনু Jun 08 '23 at 07:01
  • @ruben2020 - the Karana Agama doesn't explain. – CDR Jun 09 '23 at 15:22
  • @অনু - yes, there are definitely many examples of what you're saying, and I don't necessarily agree with the view of this Agama. I'm only quoting it because it gives an explicit answer. – CDR Jun 09 '23 at 15:23
1

Try it. Take your desired Sanskrit spiritual prayer and recite it sor some time. Then do the same in your native language and compare the results. You will see that prayers and mantras written in Sanskrit give better results. That's my experience.

Marino Klisovich
  • 88
  • 4
  • Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center. – Community Jun 13 '23 at 19:04