Pali facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pali |
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| पालि Pāli | ||||
| Native to | Indian subcontinent | |||
| Era | 5th–1st century BCE now only used as a liturgical language |
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| Language family |
Indo-European
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| Writing system | Brāhmī, Kharosthi, Khmer, Burmese, Thai, Sinhala, other Brahmi-derived scripts such as Devanagari, and transliteration to the Latin alphabet. | |||
| Linguist List | pli | |||
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Pali is a very old language that was once spoken in India. It is quite similar to another ancient Indian language called Sanskrit. Today, Pali is mainly used in religious ceremonies by followers of Theravada Buddhism. The important holy books of Theravada Buddhists, known as the Pali Canon, are written in this language. Because it's not spoken in everyday life anymore, Pali is often called a dead language. The modern Bengali language has some roots in Pali.
Contents
Pali: An Ancient Language
Pali is part of the Indo-Aryan language family. This family includes many languages spoken in India today. Pali developed from even older languages spoken in ancient India. It was used around 2,500 years ago.
Where Pali Was Spoken
Pali was likely spoken in the central part of ancient India. This area is known as the Magadha kingdom. It's where Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, lived and taught. So, Pali is closely linked to the early days of Buddhism.
How Pali is Different
Pali is often compared to Sanskrit. Both are ancient Indian languages. However, Pali is considered a simpler form of language. It was more like the everyday language of people. Sanskrit was often used for more formal texts and by scholars.
Pali and Buddhism
Pali is very important for Buddhism, especially for the Theravada branch. This is the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism. It is mainly practiced in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
The Pali Canon
The most important collection of texts in Pali is the Pali Canon. This is the complete collection of holy scriptures for Theravada Buddhists. It includes the teachings of the Buddha. Monks and scholars have studied these texts for centuries. They help people understand Buddhist philosophy and practices.
Why the Canon is Important
The Pali Canon is like a historical record. It tells us about the Buddha's life and his ideas. It also shows how early Buddhist communities lived. Studying the Canon helps preserve ancient Buddhist traditions.
Pali Today
Even though Pali is not a spoken language for daily use, it is still very active. It is used in Buddhist monasteries and temples. Monks learn Pali to read and chant the ancient texts. Many people also study Pali to understand Buddhist teachings better.
Learning Pali
People around the world still learn Pali. They do this to access the original Buddhist texts. It helps them connect directly with the ancient wisdom. Studying Pali is a way to keep this important language alive.
Images for kids
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Burmese Kammavaca manuscript written in Pali in the 'Burmese' script.
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19th century Burmese Kammavācā (confession for Buddhist monks), written in Pali on gilded palm leaf
See also
In Spanish: Pali para niños
