Why is Sanskrit only spoken by 0.02% of the Indian population, even though we have a lot of priests and Sanskrit schools?

 Shivam Chaurasia,

1. Sanskrit is one of the classic languages of this holy land, developed in North West corner of Indian Subcontinent, like another language Tamil, developed in Southern Peninsula Tip.
2. The beauty of this literary language is that it connected scholars, particularly elite scholors, from distant parts of the Indian subcontinent, from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to LOC in Kashmir and beyond- Gilgit Baltistan; from Arunachal to beyond Kutch.
3. Down to 0.02% of Native speakers, due to its systematic destruction from its own First Language speakers in Northern and Eastern Parts of the Subcontinent; because of change in political and religious environment in 3rd and 13th century.
4. However it still enjoys royal patronage from Empires in different point in time as well as Successive Governments after independence.

Here is my version of Sanskrit Story:

The Sanskrit spoken colloquelly is called “1.Laukita” and Sanskrit used in Vedas are “2.Vaidika”. Now both are rare, - unfortunately Indo Aryan language speakers claim what they spoke has its roots in Sanskrit after made the classics RIP.

In order to understand “laukita” better, I am reproducing below the origin and decline of Sanskrit:

1.Natives: Sanskrit was the mother tongue of North West Part of the Indian Subcontinent in the distant past. We can conveniently say, in Aryavardha country (the region of Sindhu river), and/or Kashmir and adjacent regions.

2.Grammer: The grammer was written by Panini in 5th century BCE.

3.Loka and Vedic: The Sanskrit spoken colloquelly is called “Laukita” and Sanskrit used in Vedas are “Vaidika”

4.Too Strict: It is expected that one should learn Grammer First to learn Vedas. These are not followed as many argue, that if I can speak in the world (loka) and can read vedas, what is the need for learning Grammer.

5.Rituals: With the spread of Sanskrit south of himalayas and north of vindhyas, Brahmins adopted the strict grammarian version for rituals. Sanskrit then become the second langauge for Brahmins in the East and the Western regions, leading to dialects with regional accents. Various regional scripts including the Grandha were in use in various geographic regions. Use of Devanagiri is generally used fairly in recent times.

6.New Religions: Shramanic Religions (Budhdhism Jainism and Aseevagam/ Ajvika), developed in the East, stressed the use of Pali, Magadh and Ardhmagadh (collectively we mention as Prakrit). With the dominance of Maurya Empire, these religions put Kshatriyas dominance over Brahmins. Ardhmagadh is considered as the superior langauge than Sanskrit.

7.Revolt: The spread of the new religions, set the revolt through out the country in 3rd century. The endownments to temples were stopped and the Brahmins were excuted. Prakrit was made compulsary as Court language. The literary work in classic languages Tamil and Sanskrit come standstill. Especailly in South, people were clueless who were the rulers and from where they come- and the period from 3–7 th century is the darkest period in Tamil History.

8.Resurrection Efforts: With the Bhakti Movement and efforts of 64 Nayanmars and 12 Azhvars in Tamil countries, the spread of Saivism and the new found Sri Vaisnavism took deep roots in 7th century. They converted a Pallava ruler and made Sanskrit and Tamil as court languages of Kanchi.

9.Replication: Similar efforts were made and Sanskrit become again the Court language of kingdoms in North. Prakrit is considered as low commoner language by the Brahmins.

Not withstanding, Ardhmadh gave birth to languages like (now Second widely spoken) Bengali in the eastern region.

10.Actual Decline: But the actual decline of Sanskrit started with the fall of Kashmir around the 13th-century, a premier center of Sanskrit literary creativity, Sanskrit literature there disappeared. This coincides with the beginning of Islamic invasions of the Indian subcontinent to create, thereafter expand the Muslim rule in the form of Sultanates and later the Mughal Empire.

11.Refugee: During the same time, Hinduism has reached its peak in Tamil Country. With the new Temples built, Old Temples expanded using Dravidian Architect during 300 year rule of Hindu Vijayanagara and Naicker Empires in Tamil Country (13th to 17th Century). Conservative Hindus found it as a safe place. In order to preserve Sanskrit, the ruling Kings introduced Sanskrit hymns and verses in Towering Temples ( Sanskrit Schools within Temple Premises) in addition to Tamil holy texts (like Nalyayira Divya Prabhandam, Tevaram, Thiru Pugazh etc). This is the reason we have a lot of Sanskrit Schools and Sanskrit Priests in TN, as you have mentioned in your question. At the time of independance Madras State had the highest Sanskrit First language speakers (though miniscule in %). Though their pronounciation lead to another peculiar dialect with tamil (still confusing with Ka, Kha, Ga, Gha…)or telugu accent. The migration of Tamil Ayyers lead to Palakkad dialect and Habbar Ayyangars migration to Karnataka lead to another dialect.

12.Cultural Bond: Whether one accept it or not, Sanskrit created a cultural bond across the subcontinent even with never bothered various laukita dialects and in future also it will continue to do so.

However it connected scholars, particularly its elite scholors, from distant parts of the Indian subcontinent, from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to LOC in Kashmir and beyond- Gilgit Baltistan?