Pāṇṇini Is Only a Click Away: Introduction to Grammar as a Knowledge System (II)

SANSKRIT 207BR Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Continuation of 207AR. This course introduces the Sanskrit discipline of language analysis (vyākaraṇa) through portions from Varadarāja's Sārasiddhāntakaumudī (17th cent. CE), which is the shortest abridgement of Bhaṭṭoji Dīkṣita's Siddhantakaumudi. Both texts are based on the Aṣṭādhyāyī of Pāṇini (5th cent. BCE), the oldest extant grammar of Sanskrit, and give a topic-based rearrangement of its rules designed for easy derivation of forms. In addition to acquainting themselves with the traditional methods of Pāṇini’s tradition as taught by Varadarāja, students will learn how to use online platforms, multimedia, modern commentaries, and other materials that help find and identify the steps of form derivation (prakriyā). The goal of this course is for students to learn enough of the basics of Pāṇini’s method to be able to start using Pāṇinian grammatical texts and related materials as references for their own research. This will be achieved through a combination of memorizing some of Varadarāja’s derivations and learning to use related websites and published prakriyā materials as a starting point.

Prior Knowledge of Sanskrit Required. Must be taken for a letter grade.