Lesson 4

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Writing सम्युक्ताक्षर-s (samyuktaakShara-s)
• Extension of verb knowledge with first, second and third person forms
  

Home Work:

• Practice writing स्वरयुक्त व्यञ्जन-s (swara-yukta vyanjana-s) from त् to ह्

Topic Details:

We have seen the making of syllables, by blending consonants with the vowels.  Another way of making syllables is, consonants with consonants. A vyanjana in the pure form is only in क् form.  When a vyanjana in its true form comes in the middle of a word, it is represented differently.  The general rule for those with an ending vertical line is that, it drops the vertical line when in conjunction with another vyanjana.  Examples are -

ख् becomes ख्‍
ग् becomes ग्‍
च् becomes च्‍
छ् becomes छ्‍
ज् becomes ज्‍
झ् becomes झ्‍

so on and so forth.  (See samyuktaakShara list for more examples.)  This will be followed by the next vyanjana, when in the middle of a word.  For example,

गच्छति (goes)
Here, a च् is followed by a छ, hence becomes च्छ

आगच्छति
Here also, a च् is followed by a छ , hence becomes च्छ 

कृष्णः
Here, a ष् is followed by a ण, hence becomes ष्ण


The verbs for third person singular, end with -ति.  We saw examples in the previous lesson.  To use the same dhaatu-s (verb roots) for second person singular, the suffix would be -सि.  The suffix for the first person singular is -आमि.  Examples are in the verb list.  

We shall see more examples of syllables made of consonants with consonants in the next lesson.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 3

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Understanding swara-yukta vyanjana-s
• Basic verbs
  

Home Work:

• Practice writing स्वरयुक्त व्यञ्जन-s (swara-yukta vyanjana-s) from क् to ण् 

Topic Details:

With the knowledge of the set of alphabet, the next step is to learn making syllables out of them.  A syllable can be made with a combination of vyanjana-s  and swara-s.

When consonants are joined with vowels, they make swara-yukta vyanjana-s (literally meaning, vyanjana in union with a swara).  It is like a simple math equation that can be shown as below -

क् + अ = क
व् + अ = व
ल् + अ = ल

क् + उ = कु
व् + उ = वु
ल् + उ = लु

क् + ओ = को
व् + ओ = वो
ल् + ओ = लो

Note that when we write the vyanjana-s in the alphabet, they are already combined with the first of the swara-s, अ, for the ease of pronunciation.  All the combinations can be seen in the swarayukta vyanjana-s list.  This helps in making syllables easily.  Next lesson, we shall see how consonants can be combined with consonants, to make complex syllables!

With the knowledge of alphabet learnt so far, we shall see some very basic verb forms.  The verbs are derived from a root.  The 'root verb' is called a धातु (dhaatu).  The verbs do not change forms based on the gender but change their ending suffix based on the first/second/third person.  So also, the singular and plural.  'Dual' is a special number in Sanskrit.  We shall see that as we go.


The verbs for third person, singular, end with -ति

Check the verb list for examples.

We shall see the first and second person verbs in the next lesson.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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Lesson 2

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Writing vyanjana-s
• Understand the grouping of vargIya vyanjana-s

Home Work:

• Practice writing vyanjana-s dealt so far, along with swara-s

Topic Details:

After learning the set of vowels, the next step is, learning the consonants (vyanjana-s).  The consonants are separated into two categories - vargIya (grouped) and avargIya (ungrouped) vyanjana-s.  In the 'grouped consonants' there are 5 different groupings and they are written on different lines as per their grouping.  There is a very important reason for such grouping.  Can not emphasize enough, how complex and avant-garde the entire language is!!  Beginning from the arrangement of the alphabet, the language is highly linguistic and phonetic.  There is science behind the language which comes as naturally as leaves to a tree!  To see the specialty of it one needs to see how the alphabet are categorized!

• The first varga (group), consisting of क, etc., are all pronounced from the base of the throat.

• The second varga (group), consisting of च, etc., are all pronounced by touching the tongue to the front of the palate. 

• The third varga (group), consisting of ट, etc., are all pronounced by rolling the tongue all the way, as if towards the head.

• The fourth varga (group), consisting of त, etc., are all  pronounced by touching to tongue to the teeth.

• The fifth varga (group), consisting of प, etc., are all pronounced by touching the lips to each other.

 If not pronounced from the right spot, the sound the comes cannot be accurate!  Even the avargIya vyanjana-s can be identified similarly, as per the origination of their sounds.  See alphabet grouping for the same.

This very science behind the arrangement of the alphabet becomes the foundation for a lot of linguistic intricacies of the language. 

While learning to write the alphabet, it is very essential to follow the right order for the set of strokes that make each alphabet.  Remember, we are not writing some random designs!  It is not only important for the alphabet to look a certain way, it is essential to be written a given way as well.  The one common rule for all alphabet is, the line on the top, is written last of all.  After writing the entire alphabet, the top line is written.  Another general rule is, if there is a small circle at the beginning of the alphabet, that part of the alphabet does not get the line on top.

Happy practicing! While writing always sound out the alphabet.  That is the only way it can be reinforced in the mind and make the practice worthwhile!  We will see the avargIya vyanjana-s in the next lesson.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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