On the construction of Śivasūtras-alphabets

Abstract

In the present paper, a formalization of the technique used by Pāini in his Śivasūtras for the denotation of sound classes is given. Furthermore, a general notion of Śivasūtras-alphabets and of Śivasūtras-sortability is developed. The presented main theorem poses three sufficient conditions for the Śivasūtras-sortability of sets of classes. Finally, the problem of ordering sets of classes which are not Śivasūtras-sortable is tackled and an outlook on modern problems which could be approached by Pāini technique is given. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.