The Beginning Sanskrit – Script & Sounds course is designed to introduce students to the Devanagari script and acoustic roots of the Sanskrit language. The course includes pronunciation of vowels and consonants, as well as greetings, songs, short stories, and easy-going introductions. Etiquette phrases for easy discussions and basic numbers in Sanskrit are also covered.
This course is a required component for students enrolled in the Introductory Phase of the Certificate Program in Sanskrit Proficiency. It is based on the curriculum and textbooks designed by Samskrita Bharati USA (SBusa.org) and draws from the SB – USA – published books “ARUNA,” “UDAYA,” & “AYANAM,” along with additional relevant course content. The course is structured in one quarter, equivalent to one unit, spanning 10 weeks with 1.5 hours of instruction per week. A final test is administered during the 11th and final week of the course.
The course is designed in a simplified series of practices, enabling students with no prior experience in the Devanagari Script to begin listening, writing, and reading. Its primary objectives are for students to gain an understanding of the roots of various sounds used in Sanskrit, and to learn the pronunciation and writing of the Sanskrit script, which is composed of single letters that can be either vowels or consonants. Students will also learn the pronunciation and writing of Sanskrit combination letters and word formation using these letters.