Sanskrit

Sanskrit at ANU is now available to students anywhere in the world in 2013!

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR 2013 WITH mccomas.taylor@anu.edu.au

Classical Sanskrit is the key to the treasure-trove of South Asian cultures, spirituality and wisdom. It is the primary language of classical Indian art, music, dance, literature and religion. It is also of interest to students of historical and comparative linguistics and provides a basis for the study of modern Indian languages. Many of our students are yoga teachers or practioners, adherents of Indian spiritual traditions, and students of South Asian heritage who wish to learn more about their cultural roots.

The first year is devoted to the study of grammar, chanting and singing, introductory Spoken Sanskrit, and the reading of selections from easy prose texts. Works studied in the second and third years represent a diversity of styles and subject matter, and may include extract from the Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa, the Bhagavadgītā, Kālidāsa and Buddhist texts.

My eductional philosophy is simple: while maintaining the highest standards of academic rigour, I ensure that learning is student-focussed and enjoyable. I make extensive use of role-play, games and other non-traditional learning activities to foster and engaged and engaging learning environment.

For most students the best option is to enrol in either our Masters of Asia-Pacific Studies, or our Diploma of Asia-Pacific Studies, but there are other options as well. Cross-institutional enrolments for students from other tertiary institutions are welcome.

Watch a Sanskrit class video excerpt - click on this link here.

Two third year Sanskrit students, Annie McCarthy and Patrick McCartney have produced this stop-animation of this famous 4th-century play, Abhijnāñaśakuntalam.

Third-year Sanskrit students Lucinda Strauss and Jarrah Sastrawan perform the Prologue of Abhijnāñaśakuntalam , a famous 4th century work by India's beloved national playwright, Kālidāsa . ANU prides itself on teaching Sanskrit as a living tradition, in which performance and production of language are valued alongside the traditional requirements of grammar and reception.The course if flexibly delivered to students all over the world. The later years are team-taught with the University of Sydney. Inquiries: mccomas.taylor@anu.edu.au

Some interesting examples in Sanskrit:

• Sample Spoken Sanskrit Exercise [pdf]
• Sample Sanskrit Verse [pdf]

"Comparing my new online studies with my more traditional undergraduate career, a number of things jump out. Firstly, how we use our time better this way. Going to lectures and tutorials used to involve buses, long walks across town, hanging around endlessly in canteens or on the quad. Now I am literally at workin 30 seconds, in my own front room. Since I can access lectures and recorded tutorials at any time, I am able to structure the work any way I wish, which is particularly useful for someone who has to work long and irregular hours. And most importantly, due to the cleverness of the technology, the contact with my teacher is a lot closer and more creative than it ever was at [my former institution], despite the fact that we have never met." - Feedback from Sanskrit student, Stephen Johnson.

To find more information regarding Admission and Enrolment, please see 'Sanskrit Admission and Enrolment'.