Course Description & Course Contents

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

      Sanskrit has a rich and long literary tradition starting from Rgveda to the present times spanning more than three millenia. It has been the lingua franca of India's cultural and intellectual tradition for much of this period. For the very reason everyone interested in India's history and its traditions is drawn towards Sanskrit literature.

     This course gives an introduction to Sanskrit literature throwing a glimpse on its vast and formidable range. It starts with an overview of the various genres of Sanskrit literature, followed by selected readings from some of those. The selections include a sample of dialogues from Kathopanishad, a story from Mahabharata, description of seasons in Ramayana and Kavyas and at the end some excerpts from technical works of Ganita and Ayurveda.

II. COURSE CONTENTS

Unit-I: Overview of Sanskrit Literature

Samskrtam and its Sahitya: Vaidika & Laukika, Shastra & Kavya.

Unit-II: Select Readings from Veda, Itihasa & Kavya

Kathopanishad: Valli I, Mantras -

Mahabharata Akhyana:

Ramayana: Kanda- Sarga- Shlokas-

Kumarasambhava: Sarga III, Shlokas -

Unit-III: Select Readings from Technical Works: Ganita & Ayurveda

Lilavati:

Charaka Samhita:

III. RECOMMENDED READINGS

1. Evolution of Sanskrit Literature: A Reappraisal by N.P.Unni, in Glimpses of Sanskrit Literature edited by A.N.D. Haksar, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi, 1995.

2. A Short History of Sanskrit Literature by T.K.Ramachandra Iyer, Published by R.S.Vadhyar & Sons, Palghat, 2002.
   
   
3. Commentary on the Katha Upanishad by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh
   
   
4. The Ramayana of Valmiki, translated by Hari Prasad Shastri
   
   
5. Mahabharata of Vyasa, English Translation by K.M.Ganguli
   
   
6. Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava edited by M.R. Kale, MLBD, Delhi
   
   
7. Lilavati of Bhaskaracharya: A Treatise of Mathematics of Vedic Tradition, Translated by Krishnaji Shankara Patwardhan, Somashekhara Amrita Niampally, Shyam Lal Singh, MLBD, New Delhi
   
   
8. Caraka Samhita: A Scientific Synopsis, by Priyaranjan Ray & Rirendra Nath Gupta, National Institute of Sciences of India, New Delhi