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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