|
Event
INTRODUCTION TO SANSKRIT
A 4 CLASS COURSE with VASUDEVA DAS
SUNDAYS 2:00-4:00PM JANUARY 23-FEBRUARY 13
THE BHAKTI CENTER 25 FIRST AVENUE NYC
ADMISSION: $80 FOR 4 CLASSES
Sanskrit, the classical language of the Indian subcontinent, literally means "refined" or "cultured." Modern scholars hypothesize its origins stem from an Indo-European proto-language circa 3000 BC, but traditionalists revere Sanskrit as a divinely-revealed language, with roots that are timeless. It is therefore also known as deva-vani, "the language of the gods."
Until just a few hundred years ago, all important Indian theologians, scholars, philosophers, writers, and poets predominantly wrote in Sanskrit, contributing to a vast body of literature. The most important Sanskrit works are the four Vedas, the Upanishads, the Ramayan, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.
This introductory course, divided into two parts, aims to familiarize students with some basic concepts of Sanskrit, which will help them in their study of sacred bhakti texts like the Bhagavad-gita and the Bhagavata-purana. Additionally, the course will help students properly recite sacred verses (or mantras), an ancient practice that seeks to awaken our original spiritual nature through divine sound.
In this brief, introductory course students will learn:
the importance of Sanskrit as a phonetic language
to pronounce the Sanskrit alphabet
to read and write the Devanagari script
the etymology of important Sanskrit words
to recite verses of the Bhagavad-gita in proper rhyme and meter.
No prior knowledge of Sanskrit is required to take the course, but some familiarity with the Bhagavad-gita (original Sanskrit and Engish translation) will be helpful.
Study Materials: All materials will be handed out during the course.
For more information, please contact Vasudeva dasa:
vasudeva@bhakticenter.org
Vasudeva das has been studying classical languages since the tender age of twelve in his hometown near Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In 1998 he became a committed practitioner of bhakti-yoga, marking the beginning of 16 years of monastic life, dedicated to the study of Sanskrit texts and the teachings they imparted. In 2001-2002, he had the privilege of being under the tutelage of the late Gopiparanadhana dasa, a well-respected Sanskrit scholar in Vrindavan, India. Today, Vasudeva serves as the head pujari (priest) at The Bhakti Center, overseeing the temple worship, and regularly conducts classes on the Bhagavata-purana and the Bhagavad-gita.
|
|
 |
LocationTHe Bhakti Center (View)
25 First Avenue
New York, NY 10003
United States
Categories
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
|
Contact
|
