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Complete Sanskrit Pronunciation

Nityānanda Dāsa

  • Learn the tricks to tune your tongue and body to perfect Sanskrit phonetics, regardless of your native language. This practice will help you to minimize your accent to the minimum.

  • Practice individual sounds and sound groups with real examples from Sanskrit language. More than 300 word and 50 verses/mantras will boost your vocabulary as well.

  • Listen, watch, and repeat: With 5.5 hours of video and audio material you will be guided in each step of your journey to perfect Sanskrit sound - with no single detail left out.

Read more

  • Learn the tricks to tune your tongue and body to perfect Sanskrit phonetics, regardless of your native language. This practice will help you to minimize your accent to the minimum.

  • Practice individual sounds and sound groups with real examples from Sanskrit language. More than 300 word and 50 verses/mantras will boost your vocabulary as well.

  • Listen, watch, and repeat: With 5.5 hours of video and audio material you will be guided in each step of your journey to perfect Sanskrit sound - with no single detail left out.

  • Understand the science behind the Sanskrit alphabet - the most systematically arranged alphabet in the world. Being aware of its various sound groups will tremendously help you to perfectly reproduce in sound what you see on paper.

  • Don't know the traditional Sanskrit script? No problem - learn everything through the Romanized Sanskrit system (Latin/English letters). For those familiar with the देवनागरी script, the whole course is optionally presented in the देवनागरी as well (each version is 5.5 hours long).

  • Ask questions - post your questions on any of the classes and receive a prompt reply.

  • Receive personal feedback on your progress from the instructor - just send your recording when prompted and know what you are good at and where to improve.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Precise & authentic articulation of all sanskrit sounds, with ample practice
  • Eliminating your native accent from sanskrit pronunciation
  • Practice on 300 sanskrit words & 50 ślokas, with instructor's feedback
  • 2 identical course versions - in latin or in devanāgarī script. 5.5 hours each!

Syllabus

Students will learn and be able to explain to others about: 1) Romanized Sanskrit script and its special features; 2) Structure of Sanskrit alphabet; 3) Difference between vowels and consonants
Read more

In this class we will discuss the importance and the benefits of pronouncing Sanskrit correctly.

Know in advance about the content of the course, resources available to you, as well as ways to interact with the instructor.

A brief overview of the Sanskrit alphabet and Romanized Sanskrit script, which will be used thoughout the course.

Get introduced to Sanskrit alphabet and its special features

Students will be able to correctly pronounce all the vowels

Learn to correctly pronounce the short and long 'a' ( a / ā ).

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 1

Assessment 1 - a / ā

Learn to correctly pronounce the short and long 'i' ( i / ī )

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 2

Assessment 2 - i / ī

Learn to correctly prnounce the short and long 'u'.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 3

Assessment 3 - u / ū

Learn to correctly prnounce the short and long 'ṛ' and 'ḷ'.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 4

Learn to correctly pronounce the long sounds 'e' and 'ai'.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 5


Assessment 4 - e / ai

Learn to correctly pronounce the long sounds 'o' and 'au'.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 6


Assessment 5 - o / au
Test your learning
Students will be able to correctly pronounce Anusvāra & Visarga

Learn to correctly pronounce the anusvāra - 'ṁ'.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 7

Grammatical background of the anusvāra and how it can revert to consonant 'm'

Learn to correctly pronounce the visarga - 'ḥ'.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 8

Learn to correctly pronounce the visarga (ḥ) when reading verses/mantras/sūtras.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 9

Send the recordings via: 1) email - nityananda@sanskritsense.com ; 2) Whatsapp - +91 9870762685

Mantra Practice 1 - closeup video
Student will be able to correctly pronounce all the consonants

Learn about the five places of articulation for Sanskrit sounds and about the five groups (vargas) of consonants

Learn to correctly pronounce the guttural consonants.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 10

Learn to correctly pronounce the palatal consonants.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 11

Learn to correctly pronounce the cerebral consonants.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 12

Learn to correctly pronounce the dental consonants

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 13

Learn to correctly pronounce the labial consonants.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 14

Learn to correctly pronounce the semivowels (y, r, l, v).

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 15

Learn to correctly pronounce the sibilant consonants (ś, ṣ, s).

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 16

Students will be able to correctly pronounce the optional sounds for the anusvāra and visarga

Learn a few optional ways to pronounce the anusvāra.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 17

Learn how to pronounce the anunāsika sound in conjunction with the anusvāra.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 18

Learn a few optional ways to pronunce the visarga.

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Class 19

Practice all the sounds of Sanskrit with well-known verses/mantras

A mouth closeup video of all the examples used in Mantra Practice 2

Download PDF in Resources!

Explore the spiritual properties of the Sanskrit sounds
Vowels & Consonants - a different angle
Sounds & Planets - cosmic relationships
A few suggestions for perfecting your Sanskrit pronunciation skills.
Conclusion
Additional materials (IAST version)

You will be able to recognize the accents in Sanskrit that originate from various Indian languages.

Practice your pronunciation skills on the ancient eight-verse poem "Sudarśanāṣṭaka".

Sanskrit texts - great online sources
Course exercises - complete PDF
SECTION 2 (DEVANAGARI): Vowels (स्वर)
अ / आ - short and long 'a'
अ / आ - closeup video
Assessment 1 - अ / आ
इ / ई - short and long 'i'
इ / ई - closeup video
Assessment 2 - इ / ई
उ / ऊ - short and long 'u'
उ / ऊ - closeup video
Assessment 3 - उ / ऊ
ऋ / ल - short and long 'ṛ' and 'ḷ'
ऋ / ल - closeup video
ए / ऐ
ए / ऐ - closeup video
Assessment 4 - ए / ऐ
ओ / औ
ओ / औ - closeup video
Assessment 5 - ओ / औ
SECTION 3: Special sounds: Anusvāra & Visarga
Anusvāra: अं
अं - closeup video
Visarga - अः
अः - closeup video
Visarga in verses
Visarga in verses - closeup video
Mantra Practice 1

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides instruction in both Romanized Sanskrit and Devanāgarī script, catering to learners with varying levels of familiarity with Sanskrit scripts
Includes ample practice with over 300 Sanskrit words and 50 verses, which helps learners build vocabulary and improve pronunciation simultaneously
Offers personalized feedback from the instructor on pronunciation, allowing learners to identify areas for improvement and refine their skills
Features mouth closeup videos demonstrating the correct articulation of each sound, which is helpful for visual learners and those seeking precise guidance
Explores the spiritual properties of Sanskrit sounds and their cosmic relationships, which may appeal to learners interested in the cultural context
Requires learners to send recordings via email or WhatsApp, which may pose a barrier for those concerned about privacy or without access to these platforms

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Complete Sanskrit Pronunciation with these activities:
Review Basic Phonetics
Reviewing basic phonetics will provide a solid foundation for understanding the nuances of Sanskrit pronunciation.
Browse courses on phonetics
Show steps
  • Study the IPA chart and its symbols.
  • Practice producing sounds from different places of articulation.
  • Listen to examples of various phonetic sounds.
Read 'Teach Yourself Sanskrit'
Reading an introductory Sanskrit textbook will provide context for the pronunciation exercises.
View Complete Sanskrit on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the introductory chapters on Sanskrit grammar.
  • Familiarize yourself with common Sanskrit vocabulary.
  • Pay attention to the pronunciation guides provided in the book.
Record and Compare Pronunciation
Practicing pronunciation drills and comparing your recordings to native speakers will improve accuracy.
Show steps
  • Record yourself pronouncing specific Sanskrit sounds.
  • Compare your recording to the instructor's examples.
  • Identify areas where your pronunciation differs.
  • Repeat the recording process, focusing on correcting errors.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice with a Language Partner
Practicing with a language partner provides immediate feedback and helps identify areas for improvement.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner who is also learning Sanskrit.
  • Take turns pronouncing Sanskrit words and phrases.
  • Provide constructive feedback to each other.
  • Focus on the sounds covered in the current course module.
Create a Pronunciation Guide
Creating a pronunciation guide for a specific set of Sanskrit sounds will solidify your understanding.
Show steps
  • Choose a set of Sanskrit sounds to focus on.
  • Research the correct pronunciation of each sound.
  • Create a written guide with clear explanations and examples.
  • Record yourself pronouncing each sound and include the audio in the guide.
Study 'Sanskrit Sounds for English Speakers'
Studying a book specifically designed for English speakers learning Sanskrit sounds will address common pronunciation challenges.
View Language of the Snakes on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters focusing on sounds that are difficult for English speakers.
  • Practice the exercises provided in the book.
  • Compare your pronunciation to the audio examples.
Help Other Students with Pronunciation
Mentoring other students reinforces your own understanding and provides valuable practice.
Show steps
  • Offer to help other students who are struggling with pronunciation.
  • Provide feedback on their pronunciation and offer tips for improvement.
  • Answer questions about Sanskrit phonetics in online forums.

Career center

Learners who complete Complete Sanskrit Pronunciation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Language Instructor
A language instructor teaches a language to students of varying levels. The systematic approach of this course, which covers the structure of the Sanskrit alphabet, the difference between vowels and consonants, and the practice of individual sounds using various examples may help an instructor. The course provides a great model for teaching pronunciation, as it includes both audio and video materials, focuses on detailed articulation, and provides individualized feedback, all of which are useful to a language instructor. The course focus on minimizing accents may be useful for instructors who wish to teach a more neutral dialect.
See salaries and explore the career path for Language Instructor
Linguist
A linguist studies language, including its structure, history, and social context. This career often involves analyzing phonetics and phonology, which are heavily emphasized in this course on Sanskrit pronunciation. The detailed instruction on articulating sounds, practicing with real-world examples, and understanding the science behind the Sanskrit alphabet helps build a strong understanding of how languages work, which may be useful for a linguist. The course may be particularly helpful for linguists interested in historical or comparative linguistics, given Sanskrit’s significance to the Indo-European language family.
See salaries and explore the career path for Linguist
Religious Studies Scholar
A religious studies scholar researches and interprets religious texts, practices, and traditions. This course, with its focus on the precise and authentic articulation of Sanskrit sounds, and its practice with verses and mantras, may be highly beneficial to a scholar in this field. Since many religious texts and practices in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism use Sanskrit, the ability to accurately pronounce and understand these texts, as emphasized in this course, may help a religious studies scholar. The course may also help one understand the traditions and contexts surrounding these utterances.
See salaries and explore the career path for Religious Studies Scholar
Voice Coach
A voice coach helps individuals improve their speaking abilities, often focusing on articulation, resonance, and clarity. This course’s emphasis on precise and authentic articulation of all Sanskrit sounds, along with the practice of individual sounds and sound groups, makes it a great way to hone your skills in speech production. The course’s focus on eliminating accents and delivering specific sounds may provide a framework for helping others with their pronunciation, which is often the work of a voice coach. Furthermore, the focus on mouth positioning videos in the course serves as good examples of how a voice coach might present visual aids.
See salaries and explore the career path for Voice Coach
Phonetics Researcher
A phonetics researcher focuses on the study of speech sounds, including their physical properties, production, and perception. This course's deep dive into the articulation of Sanskrit sounds, using both video and audio examples, may be quite relevant to this field. Detailed work with individual sounds and sound groups, as well as the course's exploration of the science behind the Sanskrit alphabet may help build an understanding of how sounds are produced, which is central to the work of a phonetics researcher. The course may be especially useful for those interested in cross-linguistic research.
See salaries and explore the career path for Phonetics Researcher
Audiobook Narrator
An audiobook narrator reads books aloud for listeners. The detailed focus on Sanskrit pronunciation, including individual sounds and sound groups and how to eliminate the influence of one's native language, may help an aspiring narrator. The emphasis on clear articulation and vocal precision, combined with practice on 300 Sanskrit words, may help an audiobook narrator produce high quality recordings. The course's structure and use of repetition and video examples may be helpful to an audiobook narrator.
See salaries and explore the career path for Audiobook Narrator
Speech Pathologist
Speech pathologists work with individuals who have speech, language, and communication disorders. The intense practice of articulating specific sounds and understanding the mechanics of speech, as offered in this Sanskrit pronunciation course, could be a building block to understanding the complexity of speech production. Though the course focuses on Sanskrit, the principles of articulation and sound production practiced in the course may help a speech pathologist. The attention to detail with mouth close up videos and the emphasis on feedback may help this career.
See salaries and explore the career path for Speech Pathologist
Content Creator
Content creators produce various forms of digital content, including videos, podcasts, and articles. This course, with its deep dive into Sanskrit pronunciation, could be helpful for creating educational or cultural content related to language learning, religion, and history. The ability to accurately articulate Sanskrit sounds, along with the knowledge of the science behind the Sanskrit alphabet, as explored within the course, may help a content creator. Additionally, the course's use of audio and video resources may be useful for a content creator making materials on pronunciation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator
Yoga Instructor
Yoga instructors lead students in physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Many yoga classes incorporate Sanskrit terms, mantras, and chants. This course may aid a yoga instructor in learning proper pronunciation, increasing confidence when speaking Sanskrit, and enhancing the spiritual quality of their classes. The course may be especially helpful in understanding how the sounds themselves are spiritual. The course could thus be useful to a yoga instructor wanting to improve their practice and instruction.
See salaries and explore the career path for Yoga Instructor
Translator
A translator converts written or spoken material from one language to another. While this course focuses on pronunciation, not translation, the deep understanding of Sanskrit phonetics and vocabulary gained through this course may help a translator of Sanskrit. Specifically, mastering the correct pronunciation, understanding subtle differences in sound, and building a vocabulary through the practice of words and verses in the course may benefit a translator. Though this course does not directly address translation skills, the course may be helpful for the type of work performed by a translator.
See salaries and explore the career path for Translator
Meditation Teacher
A meditation teacher guides individuals or groups in mindfulness and meditation practices. Many forms of meditation use Sanskrit mantras, and therefore mastering the correct pronunciation is often considered important for effectiveness. The intense focus on articulation, practice, and sound groups in this course may help a meditation teacher in the proper pronunciation of such mantras and in understanding the spiritual qualities of those sounds. This course may thus be useful for this career.
See salaries and explore the career path for Meditation Teacher
Cultural Heritage Specialist
Cultural heritage specialists work to preserve and promote cultural traditions. The skills gained in this course may aid in understanding and preserving the proper pronunciation of Sanskrit as part of a broader cultural tradition. Given that Sanskrit is an ancient language with significant religious and historical importance, accurately pronouncing its words and verses, as taught by the course, would be helpful for a cultural heritage specialist focused on certain regions and cultures. The course may help this career field by providing key knowledge.
See salaries and explore the career path for Cultural Heritage Specialist
Vocal Performer
A vocal performer uses their voice to create musical or spoken performances. The highly detailed instruction on how to produce Sanskrit sounds, and the emphasis on accurate pronunciation through practice and feedback may be helpful for a vocal performer. The practice of producing sounds with accuracy may translate to other performance contexts, and the focus on mastering a language’s phonetics with correct breath control can help a vocal performer. A vocal performer interested in performing Sanskrit compositions should take this course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Vocal Performer
Ethnomusicologist
An ethnomusicologist studies music in its cultural context, often looking at the technical aspects of performance as well as its social role. The precise and authentic articulation of all Sanskrit sounds taught in this course, and the practice with real examples may help an ethnomusicologist interested in the musical traditions involving Sanskrit. The course provides a strong understanding of how individuals pronounce and produce these sounds, which often play a large part in many forms of music. The course may be helpful for those interested in the performance of Sanskrit chants.
See salaries and explore the career path for Ethnomusicologist
Actor
An actor performs in a variety of media including film, television, and theater. This course's emphasis on precise pronunciation of Sanskrit with 300 word examples, and specific sounds may assist actors interested in performing roles requiring this skill. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on speaking with clear diction and minimizing one's native accent may assist an actor in general. The articulation skills practiced here may be helpful to an actor, and thus this course may be useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Actor

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Complete Sanskrit Pronunciation.
Cover image
Language of the Snakes
Save
Directly addresses the challenges faced by English speakers learning Sanskrit pronunciation. It provides detailed explanations of the differences between English and Sanskrit sounds, offering practical tips and exercises for overcoming common difficulties. This book is particularly valuable as additional reading, helping students refine their pronunciation and minimize their accent. It offers a focused approach to mastering Sanskrit phonetics.
Language of the Snakes
Paperback
Check
Language of the Snakes
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Complete Sanskrit
Save
Provides a comprehensive introduction to Sanskrit grammar and vocabulary. While the course focuses on pronunciation, a basic understanding of the language's structure can enhance the learning experience. This book is particularly helpful for those with no prior experience in Sanskrit, offering a gentle introduction to the language's complexities. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding the context of the sounds being practiced.
Complete Sanskrit
Paperback
Check
Complete Sanskrit
Kindle Edition
Check

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Effort
11 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Nityānanda Dāsa
Language
English
Good to know
Provides instruction in both Romanized Sanskrit and Devanāgarī script, catering to learners with varying levels of familiarity with Sanskrit scripts
Includes ample practice with over 300 Sanskrit words and 50 verses, which helps learners build vocabulary and improve pronunciation simultaneously
Offers personalized feedback from the instructor on pronunciation, allowing learners to identify areas for improvement and refine their skills
Features mouth closeup videos demonstrating the correct articulation of each sound, which is helpful for visual learners and those seeking precise guidance
Explores the spiritual properties of Sanskrit sounds and their cosmic relationships, which may appeal to learners interested in the cultural context
Requires learners to send recordings via email or WhatsApp, which may pose a barrier for those concerned about privacy or without access to these platforms
Share and help others discover this course.
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