Learn Sanskrit through self-study
Interactive
on-line lessons
The information
provided in this page is a revised version of the text presented at this
site when the Learn Sanskrit through Self Study series was started in October
1997. Though at that time the members of Samskritapriyah were very optimistic
about completing the series within a few months, several factors resulted
in delays that amounted to almost three years. The Multilingual software
from IIT Madras was being enhanced to provide additional flexibility in
viewing the text on a web page and also get quality printouts. The members
felt naturally that giving a complete series was important, even if it
meant delays.
The encouraging responses
which continued to be received had established the usefulness of
the first four lessons but many had wondered if Samskritapriyah had given
up on completing the lessons. Fortunately, the lessons had all been
prepared and were only waiting to be displayed in the new format.
The full set of twelve
lessons is now presented along with a lot of reference information and
glossaries. An on-line Sanskrit dictionary is also included as well as
the full text of the Bhagavadgita with concordances and word meanings.
Off-line
reading of the lessons is also provided for to help those who may not
have direct access to the Internet. Viewers may download the lessons in
an appropriate form.
The first of these
Lessons was put on the web on Oct.11, 1997, which was Vijayadasami
Day, probably the most appropriate day to begin the lessons.
Considering the fact that the series is now complete, the delay of three
years may kindly be condoned.
Note
on Sound files
For the benefit of
the students, we have tried to make available sound files which can be
heard on systems supporting sound. Typically, this means that you should
have a sound card or appropriate sound hardware on your computer.
The web browsers are
capable of automatically invoking the sound playing programs when you click
on the links for sound. It is possible that your web browser is already
configured to correctly identify this program and so you should hear the
sound when you click on the sound links.
However, owing to
the variety of sound file formats, it is possible that what you hear is
not what was intended to be heard! Such problems continue to confront us
since very few agree on what we would like to call "people's standards".
Sound files in the Real Audio format are now reasonably standard and most
web browsers can invoke the Real player program to play the audio files.
The sound files included here conform to the Real Audio format. Please
make sure that your web browser is configured to handle this format.
The sound files in
mp3 format have now been included (April, 2006)
Interactive
Quiz
A few of the lessons
include interactive quizzes. This has been possible through the use of
PHP, a method used with web servers to create dynamic content with user
interaction.
Significance
of Vijayadasami
Vijayadasami Signifies the
culmination of nine days of Pujas (offerings) familiar to many as "Navaratri"
or "Dussera". In the Southern states, it is customary to start schooling
for a child on this day. This practice continues, albeit symbolically,
in many families.
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Contents
Introduction
to the Devanagari Script: (Oct.11, 1997)
Revised
: Feb. 2001
Lesson
1: (Oct.30, 1997)
Revised:
Feb. 2001
Lesson
2: (Nov.14, 1997)
Revised:
Feb. 2001
Lesson
3: (Dec.24, 1997)
Revised:
Feb. 2001
A
very short quiz
Revised
Mar. 2006
Lesson
4: (Feb.27,1998)
Revised:
Feb. 2001
Lesson
5: (Aug. 8, 2001)
First
version
Lesson
6: (Aug. 10, 2001)
Revised
Mar., 2006
Lesson
7: (Aug. 29, 2001)
(First
Version)
Lesson
8: (Aug. 31, 2001)
(First
Version)
Lesson
9: (Sep. 30, 2001)
(First
Version)
Lesson
10: (Oct.25, 2001)
(Revised
Mar.,2006)
Lesson
11: (Oct. 22, 2001)
(First
Version)
Lesson
12: (Oct. 22, 2001)
(First
Version)
(The first twelve in the
originally envisaged set of lessons have now been placed here in these
pages. The members of Samskritapriyah express their gratitude to all the
readers who sent messages of encouragement. We started the lessons on Vijayadasami
Day in 1997. We are fortunate in that we are able to offer the full series
on a Vijayadasami Day again (Oct.27, 2001).
The presentation of the lessons
has been enhanced through the use of PHP to permit better control of dynamic
content generation (March 2006)
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