Layout for the Class
Sanskrit sounds are like the elements of the periodic table.
They are the fundamental sounds of creation. The soul resonates with this sounds.
It is spiritual practice, (sadhana).
Prabhat
Prabhat means sun. Suprabhat means good morning
Even if you pronounce badly a mantra, the Deity will understand ;)
There are different accents in India. For example, Krishna is pronounced Kreshna, Krushna (Oriya), etc.
Scientific Language
Sanskrit uses right amount of prana to communicate with less effort.
Sounds
In Sanskrit there are 50 sounds not 26 like English or French and they cover all possible sounds that can be made in the mouth.
Where sounds are produced
The "a" sound is produced in the part close to the mouth, "i" in the middle part and "u" in the interior part
Vowels
"A" is closed and short like in French, or long (2 times the lenght and open. You reach that when you just open your mouth more.
There are i and ii, u and uu (short and long).
"O" is a combination of "A" and "U"
"E" is a combination of"A" and "I"
All "e" and "o" are long (double time)
S sh ss
S (normal),
sh like shhhh
s with dot under is s uttered with tongue in the soft palate.
Cerebrals
D, Dh, T, Th, d, t. All these letters with the dot under are pronounced with tongue in the soft palate.
Normal T and D are pronounced with tongue touching teeth.
Visnu SN
ah
namah te becomes namaste (sandhis)
Maha mantra
Om A U M auṁ consists of 5 parts: a-u-ṁ-nasal reverberation and silence.
Read various verses of Bhagavada gita, practice.
om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā / chakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Why not Ram, Krishn, etc? This comes from Hindi, is not Sanskrit.
Bengali accent: they make sound all "a" like "o" and all "s" as "sh". Also Ks like K.
