Learning Sanskrit

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Presence

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good resource for learning Sanskrit. I have searched and found many different ones, and I don't know how to choose. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Why do you want to learn Sanskrit?

Are you looking at Vedic Sanskrit or are you looking at Classical Sanskrit?

[Kioma]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Why do you want to learn Sanskrit?

Are you looking at Vedic Sanskrit or are you looking at Classical Sanskrit?

"Sanskrit is the language of the soul."
~Joseph Campbell

[ajay00]

It is said that Sanskrit is structured in such a way as to enable the expansion of the consciousness for those hearing or speaking it.

This is also said of Indian classical music as well. Experiments have shown that plants respond positively to western classical music and especially Indian classical music and recorded healthy growth. Negative responses were recorded for rock music and heavy metal.

https://www.gardenguides.com/1342830...cal-music.html

All this shows that nature is favorable to that which results in expansion of consciousness.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by ajay00

It is said that Sanskrit is structured in such a way as to enable the expansion of the consciousness for those hearing or speaking it.

This is also said of Indian classical music as well. Experiments have shown that plants respond positively to western classical music and especially Indian classical music and recorded healthy growth. Negative responses were recorded for rock music and heavy metal.

https://www.gardenguides.com/1342830...cal-music.html

All this shows that nature is favorable to that which results in expansion of consciousness.

Precisely!

Although I am much better at reading written, Vedic Sanskrit than listening to spoken, Classical Sanskrit...

There is an online radio station from the Aurobindo Ashram...and I know enough Sanskrit to understand what they are talking about (the whole gist of it), but not the fine details thereof ..but if it were written and I was reading it and not being spoken where I was listening to it, I would be able to understand a lot more than I do.

However, I still listen to it from time to time because it is indeed the "language of my soul" and the vibration is exquisite, even if I miss every second word and have to mentally "fill in the blanks". LOL

Here we go, a treat for you all:

Divyavani.org
https://divyavani.org/

Aum Namah Shivaya

[BigJohn]

......................Here are some Sanskrit vowels and their transliterated sound


╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║aaaअaaaआaaaइaaaईaaaउaaaऊaaaऋaaaॠaaaलृaaaएaaaऐaaaओaaaऔ║
║................................................a. ..........................................║
║aaaannnnānnninnnīnnnnunnnūnnnṛn,nnṝnnnḷnnnennnainnnonnnau.║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

[Kioma]

In my experience the best books to teach yourself Sanskrit are "Introduction to Sanskrit", Books one and two, by Thomas Egenes.

https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Sanskrit-Part-Thomas-Egenes/dp/8120838149/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=thomas+egenes&qid=1571416759&s =books&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Sanskrit-Part-Thomas-Egenes/dp/8120816935/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=thomas+egenes&qid=1571416759&s =books&sr=1-4

You will also eventually need a Sanskrit dictionary. Try to get as nice of one as you can. You can at times find them pretty inexpensively, but know that the cheap ones will have ridiculously thin pages and the printing can be pretty sloppy.

These flash cards are very helpful for learning Devanagari, and the CD very helpful for correctly pronouncing the sounds:

https://www.amazon.com/Sanskrit-Flash-Cards-Nicolai-Bachman/dp/188372502X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Nicolai+Bachman&qid=1571416882 &s=books&sr=1-3

If you feel something more formal might help, these people have a wonderful home Sanskrit course:

https://www.americansanskrit.com/study-at-home-1

[BigJohn]

There has been done some research to see if Sanskrit was a tonal language. If it was originally a tonal language, it might give credence to its ancientness but also rises the question if the original languages were tonal.