Arya Samaj

Shishya · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:02 am Post subject: Sanskrit Lessons

Namaste Members,

As we all know, a working knowledge of Sanskrit is vital if we are to come to a deeper, more personal understanding of Vedic Literature. Without it, we are always bound to the translations and interpretations of others. With it, we are capable of forming a direct relationship with the texts and their meaning, and we are enabled to use them for the purpose of reflection, contemplation and meditation in their own context. This is surely something worthy of striving towards.

Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to initiate a series of short and (hopefully) simple lessons which will enable an individual to acquire a working knowledge of Sanskrit. Primarily, the lessons will focus upon Classical or Laukika Sanskrit, but notes will also be made upon some of the rules of Vaidika Sanskrit as well.

The links below will redirect you to PDFs of the first two lessons in the planned series. These are:

Lesson 1: Devanagari and IAST Transliteration

Lesson 2: Principles of Pronunciation

Please download them and give me your feedback. Criticism is welcome as long as it is constructive.

I don't know how regularly I will be able to post new lessons. It depends upon my time, which is rather limited these days. But I will try to post them as often as I can.

namaste

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Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Prabhat · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shis,,
nice topic.

but for me it would be nice to HEAR how it sounds. i see underlines in few letters and than i see strips above the letters. and i know they sounds different.

thats all.

btw, i like this Wink

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Namaste,
Prabhat

Shyena · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, I began my "classes" yesterday - where my brother and I, through a popular book series called "Learn Sanskrit in 30 days" [although its for other languages too], we're posing each other statements which the other translates. If we can complete basic grammar of laukik sanskrit then that's good enough for me, I may pick up the rest.. Such as reading what you're posting Very Happy

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Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Shishya · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject:

Namaste Prabhat,

The next lessons (probably 3 and 4) will go into actual pronunciation. Lesson 2 is the theoretical framework of how the individual sounds are produced. It will prove important for understanding the nature of each of the sounds. For example, when we say ga is the sonant form of the surd ka and that gha is its corresponding aspirate, or that the semivowel ya is allied to simple vowel i through a modification of the manner of articulation (i.e. non-contact vs. slight contact in the same place of articulation, in this case palatal), then you will understand what is meant. It may seem abstract now, but these designations play a central role in properly understanding how the rules of sandhi or euphonic combination work.

I'm glad to hear you like them so far. Very Happy

_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Prabhat · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shis,

i think i get it, i hope Confused

you mean KA sounds like GHA, etc etc.

and is KANTHYA, KANTH-YA or is it KAN-THYA, see what i mean.
and what thus SPRSTA means.

i think my problem is to udersteand the words in hindi Exclamation

_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat

Prabhat · Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:24 am Post subject:

Namaste,

just wondering. sanskrit was spoken in India. so was it that spoken in north and south, because now we have so many dialects. and where dos the dialects come from
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Namaste,
Prabhat

Shyena · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:29 am Post subject:

Namaste Prabhat,
Do you mean languages or dialects? Anyway, when there is a 'scholarly' language from what I noted, there tends to develop a rift in language through dialects and accents, and finally becomes another language.
_________________

Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Prabhat · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:54 pm Post subject:

Namaste,

wel if you say it like that, than it would be oke. but that is what i meant where dos all the language/dialect come from. who is responseble for it??
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Namaste,
Prabhat

Sunita · Arya Ladies Forum Moderator Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 542

Namaste!

I cannot download the file. Sorry for being behind. Could u please upload it.

thanks,
Sunita
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Namaste!