Sanskrit (samskrta), literally "refined" or "cultured," is one of the oldest and most important languages of the Indo-European family.

Traditionally referred to as the language of the gods (devabhasa), Sanskrit has produced some of humanity's most significant classical works. Notable examples include the Vedas and Upanishads, the great epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, the poems of Kalidasa, the mythological-historical Puranas, philosophical texts by leading Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist philosophers such as Patanjali, Sankaracarya, Abhinavagupta, and Nagarjuna, as well as numerous works covering nearly all areas of the human spirit, including literature, music, medicine (ayurveda), astrology, politics, aesthetics, and more.

Knowledge of Sanskrit is an essential asset for linguists and scholars of Indian philosophy and religions, as well as for those who wish to truly understand the refined spirit of Sanskrit culture by studying the original texts.