Critical Studies in Indian Grammarians: The Theory of Homogeneity [Savarnya]

In the historical study of the Indian grammarian tradition, a line of demarcation can often be drawn between the conformity of a system with the well-known grammar of Panini and the explanatory effectiveness of that system. One element of Panini’s grammar that scholars have sometimes struggled to bring across this line of demarcation is the theory of homogeneity, or savarnya, which concerns the final consonants in Panini’s reference catalog, as well as phonetic similarities between sounds. While modern Sanskrit scholars understand how to interpret and apply Panini’s homogeneity, they still find it necessary to unravel the history of varying interpretations of the theory in subsequent grammars.

Madhav Deshpande’s The Theory of Homogeneity provides a thorough account of the historical development of the theory. Proceeding first to study this conception in the Paninian tradition, Deshpande then passes on to other grammatical systems. Deshpande gives attention not only to the definitions of homogeneity in these systems but also the implementation of the theory in those respective systems. Even where definitions are identical, the concept may be applied quite differently, in which cases Deshpande examines by considering the historical relationships among the various systems.