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Course Name: Sanskrit

Introduction

We integrate traditional Indian and Western methods to provide an interactive experience of learning Sanskrit. This course is ideal for beginners and those with some experience who would like to reinvigorate their studies. We focus on pronunciation and learning through sound, as well as reading, writing, and a little grammar using chapters from Yogāvatāraṇam: The Translation of Yoga. Joining theory with practice, this course is taught through video lectures, audio, and written material, with weekly assignments to help you learn at home.

Books of Sanskrit

Introduction to Sanskrit, in two volumes, is designed to open the door to India`s rich spiritual literature. This self-teaching guide presents Sanskrit pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary in simple and systematic steps, allowing students to easily master the fundamentals of this enchanting language. Each lesson includes instruction in alphabet, grammar, and vocabulary, with concise explanations and easy practice exercises. Also included in Part One is a reading from the Bhagavad-Gita and sanskrit quotations from the Rk Samhita, Upanisads, Yoga, Sutras, Brahma Sutra, and Manu Smrti. Part Two uses verses from the Bhagavad-Gita to teach principles of grammar, and includes additional essays on Sanskrit pronunciation and grammar.

Spread of Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a classical language of South Asia belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late Bronze Age. Sanskrit is the sacred language of Hinduism, the language of classical Hindu philosophy, and of historical texts of Buddhism and Jainism. It was a link language in ancient and medieval South Asia, and upon transmission of Hindu and Buddhist culture to Southeast Asia, East Asia and Central Asia in the early medieval era, it became a language of religion and high culture, and of the political elites in some of these regions. As a result, Sanskrit had a lasting impact on the languages of South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, especially in their formal and learned vocabularies.

Vedic Sanskrit

Sanskrit in terms of its literary association is classified into two different periods, the Vedic and Classical. Vedic Sanskrit is found in the Vedas sacred texts, especially the Rig Veda, the Puranas, and the Upanishads, where the most original form of the language was used. The composition of the Vedas is traced to the period of 1000 to 500 BCE, until when Sanskrit had a vigorous tradition of being used consistently through oral communication. This early Sanskrit is rich in vocabulary, phonology, grammar, and syntax, which remains undiluted in its purity to this day. It consists of 52 letters in total, 16 vowels and 36 consonants. These 52 letters have never been tweaked or altered and are believed to have been constant since the beginning, thus making it the most perfect language for word formation and pronunciation.


The Sanskrit language has been the traditional means of communication in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Sanskrit literature holds the privilege of being used in ancient poetry, drama, and sciences, as well as religious and philosophical texts. The language is believed to have been generated by observing the natural progression of sounds created in the human mouth, thus considering sound as an important element of language formation. This is one of the prime reasons why Sanskrit has been rich in poetry and its expressive quality of bringing out the best meaning through perfect sounds that are soothing to the human ear. Vedic Sanskrit also contains abstract nouns and philosophical terms which are not to be found in any other language. The consonants and vowels are flexible enough to be grouped together to express nuanced ideas. In all, the language is like an endless ocean without a base due to its reach, complexity, and hundreds of words to express a single meaning or object.

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We integrate traditional Indian and Western methods to provide an interactive experience of learning Sanskrit. This course is ideal for beginners and those with some experience who would like to reinvigorate their studies. We focus on pronunciation and learning through sound, as well as reading, writing, and a little grammar using chapters from Yogāvatāraṇam: The Translation of Yoga. Joining theory with practice, this course is taught through video lectures, audio, and written material, with weekly assignments to help you learn at home.

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