Foundations of Sanskrit
September 2013 – June 2014
Meeting on the first & third Friday of the month
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Syllabus:
Date
9/6
Classwork
Introduction to the course
Sanskrit phonetics & phonology I
The alphabet
Homework
Read introduction in textbook
Listen to the first CD tracks 1 – 9
Practice reciting the alphabet aloud
9/20
Sanskrit phonetics & phonology II
Phonemes and Allophones
Listen to the first CD tracks 1 – 9
Practice reciting the alphabet aloud
Practice writing the vowels
10/4
The Prayers of the Tradition
Devanāgari
Writing the vowels
- Long forms and short forms
- Alternate forms
Combining consonants with vowels
Practice writing the vowels
Practice writing the consonants
Practice reciting the prayers aloud
Begin transliteration of the Shiva Sutras
(due 10/18)
Begin Section 1C: Exercise 1
(due 11/15)
10/18
A brief history of the Sanskrit
language
The Food Offering Prayer
Yadakșara Chant
The Shiva Sutras
Listen to first CD track 10
Practice reciting Shiva Sutras
Practice reciting all prayers
11/1
Vocabulary 1: The Yoga Asana
Asana Practice
Listen to first CD track 11
Finish exercise 1
Review exercises 2 & 3
Prepare assigned examples to share with class
(due 11/15)
11/15
Vocabulary 2: The numbers 1 – 10
Section 1C: exercise 2
- Combining consonants and
vowels
Section 1C: exercise 3
- Simple Words
Practice counting
Finish exercises 2 & 3
Listen to first CD track 12
12/6
Vocabulary 3: Chakras & Bandhas
Compound Consonants
Yoga Sutra #2
(the cover of your textbook!)
Read Chapter 1: Section D
Practice examples in text
Listen to first CD tracks 13 & 14
1/3
Vocabulary 4: The 8 Limbs
Compound consonants
Yoga Sutra #1
Prepare your line from the Shivaḥ Shaktyā
Prepare your six names of the Goddess
Prepare assigned examples to share with class
(due 1/17)
Section 1D: Exercise 1
Section 1D: Exercise 2
1/17
Vocabulary 5: The Yamas and
Niyamas
Section 1D: exercises 1 & 2
Start a compound consonant bank
Yoga Sutra #3
Read Section 2A: Nouns
Start Section 2A: Exercise 1
Listen to second CD tracks 1 & 2
2/7
Forming Sentences
Syntax 101
Section 2A – Nouns
Begin exercise 1
Yoga Sutra #4
Finish exercise 1
Read article on the MM mantra:
http://yogainternational.com/article/view/healyourself-heal-the-world-a-mantra-for-peaceand-prosperity
2/21
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Yoga Sutra #5
Section 2A – Verbs
Exercise 2
Listen to second CD track 3
Finish exercise 2
3/7
Yoga Sutra #6
The Bhuta Shuddhi Practice
3/16
Special Class:
Dinner & Devanāgari
with Nicolai Bachman
3/21
Section 2A – Verbs
Exercise 3
Yoga Sutra #7
Vocabulary 6: Expressions
Listen to second CD track 4
Finish exercise 3
Read article on Gayatri mantra:
http://yogainternational.com/article/view/thegayatri-mantra-awakening-to-the-sun
4/4
The Gayatri Mantra
Yoga Sutra #8
Section 2A - Verbs
Exercise 4
Listen to second CD track 5
Finish exercise 4
4/18
Discuss plans for summer and
for year two course
Review vocabulary sheets 1 – 6
Discuss concepts as needed
Yoga Sutra #9
Section 2A - Verbs
Exercise 5
Finish exercise 5
5/2
Asana Class
5/16
Yoga Sutra #10
Yoga Sutra #11
Yoga Sutra #12
6/6
The Agni Hotra fire ceremony
If you miss a class or just aren’t getting something, please talk to me. I am happy
to meet with you for some extra help.
Tracy’s contact information:
Home: (716) 639-7895
Cell: (716) 572-2557
e-mail: draksic@aol.com
Links to the Yoga International articles and Wikepedia articles are available on our
Facebook page.
Resources:
1. Sanskrit Home Study Course
Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
2. Introduction to Sanskrit, volume one
Thomas Egenes
3. 108 Sanskrit Flashcards
Nicolai Bachman
4. The Language of Yoga
Nicolai Bachman
There are numerous online resources. Find the links to the good ones on our Facebook group
page. If you aren’t a member, let me know so I can add you!