Paṇḍita

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Paṇḍita, paṇḍit, or pundit (Skt.). A Hindu scholar, learned man, teacher, or philosopher. Paṇḍitas are those who conserve the Sanskrit tradition, specialists in memorization of the classical traditions of Indian philosophy and literature. Paṇḍitas are often associated with particular philosophical schools, and attempt to live as a separate community of literati, cultivating the Sanskrit language as a lingua franca for communication with paṇḍitas from all of India.