What is sanskrit?

Sanskrit is the name given to ancient classical language of the Hindu inhabitants of India. It was introduced into India probably about 1500 B.C. and was for a time the spoken language as well as the literary language. The sacred Hindu books – the Vedas – were written in Old Sanskrit, but the name really apply only to the form of the language defined by the Indian grammarian Panini about 400 B.C. He wished to teach the correct form of speech of the learned men of his day and to protect the language from popular corruptions.