Fundamentals of Sanskrit, in two parts

Course Overview

This course is designed for Sanskrit teachers and Philosophers of Language. It is meant to highlight the linguistic paradigm and the use of language concerning the spiritual experiences of the Vedic Rishis and Sri Aurobindo. It introduces the relations of meaning and word in the Vedic Mantras, presenting the fundamentals of Sanskrit Etymology in the light of Sri Aurobindo.

Join this course to

• understand the Vedic Mantras, the Vision of the Word in the system of Vedic Knowledge.
• understand the fundamentals of the Sanskrit Language and the intrinsic relationship between language and knowledge.
• have an introductory overview of Sri Aurobindo’s Vedic and Philological Studies.

Methodology

• Self-paced study of the topics presented.
• Reading the recommended material

Suggested reading

1. Vedic and Philological Studies, VOLUME 14 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 2016, Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department Printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry
2. The Secret of the Veda, VOLUME 15 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1998, Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department Printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry
3. Theory of Transparent Etymology, by Vladimir Yatsenko, a research paper, Sept., 2021

Weekly Schedule:

1 The Concept of the Word in the Veda. The Vedic Rishis and their Mantras.

2 Philological and Psychological Methods of the Vedic Rishis. The Fundamentals of Etymology.

3 Varna-Mala, Alphabet and the System of simple roots or Sound-Ideas and Basic Etymological system. Sri Aurobindo on the relation of Artha, meaning, and Vak, sound.

4 Three levels of meaning and three powers of the Word in Tantra. Varna Mala is the basic etymological system of meanings.

5 Fundamentals of Sphota theory as a ‘discloser of meaning’

6 The building blocks of the relation of sound and meaning in the light of Sri Aurobindo.

7 Basics of morphology concerning the grammatical significance and meaning of the word. Analysis of prefixes, roots, suffixes, and endings, their roles, and meaning.

8 The Varna Sphota, fundamentals of articulation and related meaningful state of consciousness. Simple root-ideas, the System of Etymons in the Sanskrit Language.

9 Fundamentals of Sanskrit: Nouns and Verbs and their grammatical role and significance.

10 Fundamentals of Sanskrit: Verbs and Adverbs. Swadhyaya – a spiritual practice.

Part 2

1. Prātiśākhyas, the most ancient treatises of Śikṣā, Phonetics. Ṛk Prātiśākhya and Taittirīya Prātiśākhya, their differences in treatment of varnas, and in styles of recitation of the Ṛgveda Samhitā and Taittirīya Samhitā.
2. Overview of Etymology concepts from Niruktam of Yāska, ancient etymologists and their views on the words in Nirukta, different approaches to nouns and verbs, nāma and ākhyāta; etymology of ancient Gods in the Veda.
3. Introduction to Pāṇini’s Vyākaraṇam: Maheśvara Sūtras, Metalanguage of Panini, Composition of Aṣṭādhyāyī, Eight books of Grammar.
4. Mahābhāśya of Patañjali, commentary on Pāṇini Aṣṭādhyāyī; discussions about the role of language and meaning of words, the beginning of Sphoṭa Theory.
5. Bhartṛhari’s Vākyapadīya, the Philosophy of Language, the concept of Śabda Brahman; Sphoṭa theory; Varṇa, Pada and Vākya Sphoṭa.
6. Kashmirian Shaivism, Abhinavagupta’s views on the Word, Prakāśa and Vimarśa Transcendental Word, Ahantā and Idantā, vākya and vacaka, and the four levels of Speech: Parā, Pasyantī, Madhyamā and Vaikharī Vāk.
7. The Origins of Aryan Speech, by Sri Aurobindo, the vision of the oneness of Language.
8. The Word as the self-expressive power of Consciousness: A Theory of Transparent Etymology.