संस्कृतम् - How to learn it?

For the last 2 years, the author has been exploring several avenues of learning this absolutely wonderful and beautiful language that is the nerve center of the Indian civilization. It is not a coincidence that the highest Indian institutions have drawn upon this language and the philosophical foundation laid down for millennia in संस्कृतम् to craft their mottos. It is tragic, however, that this vibrant and extremely useful language is not getting the care and attention it deserves, from Indians themselves. In the information age, the internet has made learning excessively easy. संस्कृतम् is no exception to this rule. After spending more than a year learning basic संस्कृतम् - Here is a list of the author's findings that may help others in the journey to learn the language as well. Also, please note that the focus here is on "courses" and not necessarily "books".

१. संस्कृतभारती (पत्रालयद्वारा) (Samskrita Bharati - Correspondence)

This is, by far, the most comprehensive and structured way to learn संस्कृतम् and the best part of this course is that the focus is NOT on mindless memorization (note that does not mean there isn't any memorization - any language will require memorization). Some of the features of the course are:

1. Amazing network of teachers and volunteers who speak Sanskrit!

2. Affordable courses - a lot of the volunteers even conduct support sessions for free!

3. Starts from level zero - no pre-requisites needed.

4. Comprehensive book selection with emphasis on language structure and vocabulary.

5. Practice tests, and LOTS of exercises.

6. Exams to help test your level of expertise.

२. चिन्मयानन्द मिशन् (अन्तर्जालकक्षायाम्) (Chinmaya Mission - Online)

Chinmaya Mission is another great resource with a series of courses specifically intended to walk the student across multiple levels of expertise in the language. While the engagement with sanskrit speaking community isn't as reachable as it is with Samskrita Bharati, it is still an excellent choice for those who wish to self-study. Here are some advantages of learning from Chinmaya Mission:

1. Starts from level zero - no pre-requisites needed.

2. High level of engagement from the instructors, and high quality video content.

3. Video lectures can be completed at your own pace.

4. Good book selection, although not as comprehensive as Samskrita Bharati.

5. Other introductory courses on न्याय, साङ्ख्य, other darshanas, and वेदान्त।

6. Exams and home works to help test your level of expertise.

३. यूट्यूब मध्ये (in YouTube)

YouTube classes are the norm these days, for learning anything new. It is free, we can learn at our own pace, there are a lot of options. The downside is that there isn't a community to interact with and also it is hard to gauge our own knowledge with exams. So, here is a list of excellent playlists that teach संस्कृतम्

1. Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan

2. Sanskrit.Today uses the Bhagavad Gita to teach Sanskrit (Samskrita Bharati)

3. Brilliant playlist covering all the basics from Samskrita Bharati correspondence course

4. Prof. Narsing Rao from Advaita Academy covers introductory Sanskrit at an easy pace

5. A great course in Spoken Sanskrit by Advaita Academy

6. Fantastic way to learn Applied Sanskrit from Dr. K. Aravinda Rao

And there are many many more... Hope you enjoy this collection and it inspires you to explore your interests even deeper.

७. मित्रैः परिवारजनैः सह (with friends and family)

Finally, it is important to mention that the best way to learn any language is to converse in it with a group of friends. Until we use a language, the connections between vocabulary and grammar don't become clear to our brain. The more we use it, the more the brain naturally understands the grammar. In the case of संस्कृतम्, the added advantage to Indian language speakers is that the understanding of our own languages deepens incredibly and we won't need to use English as a crutch for words like "curtain". So, find people among your friends and family who share your interest and embark on this journey together!

Good news about support-sessions!

We are very passionate about our culture and preserving our roots. So, Online Veda Classes is now offering FREE support sessions to introduce you to the basic language (at the Level 1 of Samskrita Bharati Correspondence - प्रवेशः), over Microsoft Teams. Submit the contact form here to schedule your sessions and pursue your interest! Let us learn, speak, and teach संस्कृतम् to protect our own culture!

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