Among the contributions that India has made to the world, the language of Sanskrit would rank the highest.  It’s the mother of most Indian languages and has influenced the development of most European languages.  Its grammar is the oldest in the world and is considered a reference grammar for all languages.  The precision of the grammar has mathematical significance and has lately influenced the development of new computer languages and compilers.  The Sanskrit language sustained the development of Indian arts, literature, music, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, sciences, medicine and the rules of conduct from the early Vedic times to the colonial period.  Though subdued during the period of foreign occupation, Sanskrit survived in scriptural poetry, temple hymns and philosophical texts.  While much of the knowledge material is continuing to be translated into other languages, the diction, the rhythm, the precision and the literary style of Sanskrit is irreproducible in any translation.   Sanskrit is the basis of the culture of India.

Like all immigrants from India I had some exposure to Sanskrit through my school years, but developed further interest with my association with Harvard University and encouragement of local scholars like Swami Sarvagatananda of Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of Boston and late Dr. V. S. Rao of High-Tech Yoga Institute of Lowell.  Having noticed the beauty in the literature and the language, I spent time in understanding the sounds and put more attention to the precision of the language.  Eight years ago, through the encouragement of the Trustees at the SriLakshmi Temple, we undertook the effort of building a Sanskrit educational group at the Temple and I took my first students to teach the Sanskrit language.   The core group of students continued with me for several years and gradually we expanded to take more students to share our experience with the interested persons in the community.  We now offer six levels of classes and over the years, we might have served more than a hundred students.  A spoken Sanskrit group initiated by Samskrita Bharati from India has evolved meanwhile and has begun to offer classes in using the language in daily communication.

The Temple classes are free and are offered on Sundays.  Since Sanskrit is a disciplined language, we expect students to be disciplined, regular and diligent in their studies.  Since most students wish to gain expertise in reading and comprehension, we suggest a minimum period of three years in our cultivation to be able to attain a preliminary milestone.  Regular home works and periodic tests check student progress and all our teachers have been laudable in their efforts to work with our students and make the instructions and interaction highest compared to any academic pursuit.  Interest, enthusiasm and diligence have been cornerstones of the student progress.  Our other teachers - Mr. Giri Bharathan, Dr. K.L.Kodandapani, Mr. S. Chandramouli, Mr. S. Kanakagiri - and myself are grateful to all our students for letting us walk along with them and helping us learn in our walk.

For the past two years we have been lucky to get the help of a local Sanskrit scholar Dr. Charles Lindley who had spent years in India in learning Sanskrit grammar from reputed scholars. With the help of Dr. Lindley we now offer two new classes – one an Overview Grammar and another on the great grammarian Panini’s  Ashtadhyayi.  We are also in the process of taking the help of other scholars in the area to offer classes on Sanskrit prosody, poetics and literature.

The Temple classes are offered in two semesters – Fall and Spring, each comprised of sixteen weeks.  While student placements are done through personal interviews, a full test is offered on the last day of the classes to monitor student progress and placement.  The students are permitted to repeat a level if they personally desire, promotion without understanding is discouraged. Too young children are permitted along with one or both parents learning together.

Our opening day assembly and registration for the classes is scheduled for Sunday, September 28 at 10 AM at the Temple.  Please visit Temple website at http://www.srilakshmi.org next week for details on the schedule and room locations.  Our last day of classes this semester will be February 15, 2009 and the Spring Semester will begin on February 22, 2009.

Interested students can contact Dr. Bijoy Misra at bmisra@fas.harvard.edu or Sri Giri Bharathan at gbharathan@yahoo.com with any other questions or for any further details.

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