Thanks Rajaraman for sending this info. In my opinion all of us have to take advantage of this easy way of learning this great language….Rs 300 is nothing in today’s world – we spend in thousands at restaurants etc….
Samskruta Bharati is a voluntary organization for teaching and propagating Samskritam. It is now in a campaign (called “Samskruta PraveshaH” ), for reaching out the mass, encourage and enroll them for the Study of Samskrutam.In High-level, Samskruta pravesha means:
- Step by Step Learning of Samskritam through Tamil (English and other mediums are also available)
- Study materials provided.
- Free Contact classes in various parts of city (though the material is good enough for self-study)
- All, but above age 12 are eligible
- Donation of Rs. 300/- for enrollment (covers all including course materials, classes etc.)
Your participation is requested in all/any of ways given below (or more):
- Enroll you and your family members for Samskuta Pravesha
- Encourage your friends/neighbors/… for enrollment
- Sponsor needy (sponsor for 5 , 10 ……, )
To enroll:
- Can mail me details (format is given in attached xl, can send in plain mail also)
- E Mail the details to: samskritapravesham@gmail.com
- Online registration: http://samskritabharati.in/course-registration
Expecting your participation…..
Categories: Announcements
How many books(study materials) are included in Pravesha the first part
Good Initiative. There is a similar organization “GGSS (Geetha Govinda Samskrita Sangha)” based out of Bangalore and has few branches outside Bangalore as well. Proud to say that my father became a student of this organization (from Chennai) after his Retirement from service. Request you to spread this message as well.
http://54.221.214.133/GGSS/index.html
http://54.221.214.133/GGSS/About%20GGSS-Our%20Mother.html
Excellent gurunatha sharanam
Excellent idea. What a blessing for people like us who didn’t have the opportunity to learn earlier! Looking forward to join the online course. All best wishes. Vasantha
Good. I want to learn language of samskritham. Specific line of study can
Follow later.
all ,but above age 12 are eligible : what but means? except or only?
It is nice that serious efforts are being made to teach and propagate Samskritam on a voluntary basis. In the 70s, there was a similar effort under the name “Samskrita Sri”.In a way, it is good to have many such efforts, approaches,methods etc.independently.
As one who has been trying to learn Samskritam on my own, without undergoing a regular academic course,i would like to share some experiences/ thoughts/suggestions in the matter.
1.It is important to decide why we want to study Samskritam.The language contains three broad areas: religious and philosophical literature, kavya and other classical literature, and other secular literature. Each area is an ocean, a lifetime is not sufficient to truly master any one, and without focus we will feel lost.
2.Once we decide the focus, we should choose an appropriate method of study. The standard method is to start with kavya and grammar. This is how we got the lessons from Samskrita Sri by post. If we have enough time to devote, this is the ideal method. However, to day. we study Samskritam along with other preoccupations and this old method may not suit all..
3. As astikas, our main focus is on religion and philosophy. Even here, the area is so vast. A practical approach would be.to take up one scripture for detailed study- like Valmiki Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam or the Bhagavad Gita etc according to our preference or need,.and learn Samskritam as we go along, based on that very scripture! In this way, in say 3 to 5 years, we will learn a basic scripture, plus enough Samskritam.
4. It will be good if we can locate one old Master who is well versed in any one of these scriptures so that we can obtain practical guidance. I got one who had himself learned Samskritam and Ramayanam-Bhagavatam from Brahmasri Vazhuthur Rajagopala Sarma., after he retired from AG’s office in a very senior position.
5.Old translations of these scriptures are an excellent intermediate source for Tamilians as they employ many original words and concepts and expressions. Examples are Ramaswamy Iyer Memorial edition of Valmiki Ramayana ( 4 volumes); Kadalangudi Natesa Sastrigal’s translation of Bhagavatam (it contains as a bonus Narayaneeyam slokams)-7 volumes,; Srimad Bhagavatam was also rendered in a word for word translation by Sri Somasundara Dikshitar and others long ago and it has been published again recently by Rama Nama Bank in 7 volumes.. it is a great help in study, though it does not explain the nuances.; Anna Subrahmanya Iyer’s translation of the Gita , supplemented by two editions of translation and commentary by Jayadayal Goyandka and Swami Ram Sukh Das.; the former has been beautifully translated into Tamil by Swaminatha Atreya, while the latter contains notes on Samskrita grammar also!. I also found Sri.S.V.Radhakrishna Sastrigal’s commentary on Vishnu Sahasranamam .outstanding, and very helpful. He brings out not only the meaning of each nama, but explains the nuances. He also gives copious references to Upanishads for almost each nama.. it is a thrilling experience to study this book.( I have been careful to mention only those sources which accord with the orthodox spirit and tradition).
6. Since mention is made of the Upanishads above, I must clarify that we should not read the Upanishads from books, but learn it direct from a qualified Vedic Scholar. In any case we should remember that Veda and Upanishad do not employ ordinary literary Samskritam. Their study constitutes a distinct discipline, not to be mixed up with learning Samskritam.in general.
7.I am also not touching on Vedanta proper. This too is a specialised,technical field, and general knowledge of Samskritam may only be of marginal help..
8. Lest I should be misunderstood, let me clarify: There is no substitute for learning Samskritam formally , in the prescribed manner. This is the way to study and master the language and its literature. However, people who do not have that kind of time or need, need not avoid studying it altogether. They can do it profitably,by studying it through a scripture of their choice. A senior person studying classical Sanskrit will be somewhat like what Acharya Sankara said in the first sloka of Bhajagovindam!
9. Samskritam is called Devabhasha not because it is spoken by God or the gods but because it enables us to realise the divine truths the language embodies.- the Samskrit words are ripe with divine truths. Judith M.Tyberg has brought out the essence of this Devabhasa in her book titled “The Language of the Gods”.Let me give just one quotation:
” Sanskrit is rich with words dealing with the inner mysteries and workings of the mind,heart, soul and spirit, with many states of consciousness in waking,sleeping and after-death life, with the origin,evolution and destiny of beings of all realms and with the glorious descriptions of the Divine in Its infinite manifestations…..
….a great enlightenment will dawn with an ever increasing intuitive faculty as a result of being able to delve deeper into the wisdom-treasury of Divine Revelation”
Those who can and feel like it may read the book. It is an excellent introduction to our Devabhasha, though written in English..
10.Our elders made a clear distinction between Samskritam and the common spoken languages-called Prakritam .We must therefore be cautious in trying to popularise Samskritam..it is tough to learn and like classical music and other classical arts, can never become mass-based. it is enough if it reaches a target audience and serves the chosen purpose.Numbers do not matter much. After all, when we say the lamp burns,it is only the tip of the wick which burns!
Very well analysed and reflected. Thanks for voicing your analysis.
Online course is yet to be launched. It will take some more time. The other course is to be launched on Guru Poornima.
Excellent assistance, especially when there is no encouragement for this Divine language, particularly from TN Govt. My grand-daughter (11 + yrs. 6th Std.) has taken Sanskrit as an optional subject in her School in Bangalore and we would like to provide her extra support. Please let me know if her name could be enrolled and how we can go about it. Thanks