Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c8.s3.t5.2

v1.c8.s3.t5.2

The earliest record of legend of Panini was in volume two of Xuanzang's *Travelling Notes of the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty*. He was born in Salatura, Gandhara (Lahor/Lavor near Ohind, Pakistan). He followed the classical traditions of the Sanskrit grammar established by Brahma and Sakra (Indra) and learned grammatical knowledge from Shiva. He then wrote his famed grammar book, *Panini-sutra*. This book was based on his profound understanding of the relevant literature of the ancient time which made him a world-famous grammarian. Volume three of *A Biography of the Tripitaka Master of the Great Ci en Monastery of the Great Tang* recorded that Sanskrit grammar books expounded by Brahma had over 1,000,000 *slokas*. Sakra simplified the size into 100,000 *slokas*, Fairy Gunabhadra further reduced it into 12,000 *slokas*, and Panini simplified it into 8,000 *slokas*. In Indian tradition, Panini was also called Salaturiya. His alternative name was Daksiputra which may hint that his mother was Daksi. According to the information contained in the opening chapter of Somadeva's Kathasaritsagara, Panini was enlightened by Shiva, created a new grammar book and beat the grammar system of the Indra school.