Sanskrit is the language of yoga.
All subjects of study have a language of their own. Sanskrit is the original language of yoga as well as many other philosophies and religions that originated in India.
Sanskrit is affectionately known as “the language of the gods” because of its spiritual influence. The recitation of Sanskrit mantras creates harmonious vibrations, bringing peace and tranquility to the mind. Sanskrit chants, sung with concentration and feeling, evoke a sense of indescribable Divine presence.
A Brief History of Sanskrit
Yogic practices and philosophies originated thousands of years ago, even predating the written word. Vedic teachings were passed down by oral tradition from teacher to student. Great care was given to precision and perfection.
Sanskrit is one of the ancient languages that forms the roots of many other languages of today. Not long ago, it was considered a dead language, no longer in common use. However, there has been some recent interest in its revival in India. Some communities in India consider Sanskrit to be their primary tongue. A few newspapers and magazines are being published in Sanskrit, and since 2002 Sanskrit composition contests have been held.
My Experience with Sanskrit
I originally heard the Sanskrit language during my first series of hatha yoga classes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. An Indian teacher was a guest at our little class. In those days, the early 1970s, such visitors were rare. Though long ago and in a humble setting, I remember it as clearly as if it were yesterday. The sounds of the language gave me goose bumps, awakening something within that I didn’t know existed. It was so beautiful, clean, and deep. It was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the language.
You might think my love of the Sanskrit language has made me a great scholar, able to speak and translate the great Indian texts. But that’s far from what actually developed. I realized, very early in my yoga studies, that I was more interested in the sounds and vibrations inherent in the language, and their effects, than in the study of its grammatical rules. A verse from Shankaracharya’s famous poem Bhaja Govindam supported my leaning:
Love the Lord, serve the Lord in your Guru’s dear form.
Don’t delay. Precious time is a-wasting.
When the servant of Death has his noose ‘round your neck,
Sanskrit grammar won’t aid your escaping.
Learning Sanskrit Today
Sanskrit is a difficult and complicated language to learn. It requires volumes of memorization and years of study. Even then, when a Sanskrit scholar pursues the translation and study of the ancient spiritual texts, a knowledge of the subject matter is just as important as technical knowledge of the language. You might think a Sanskrit dictionary or one of the online references or translation services would suffice. However, you would soon discover that a single Sanskrit term can have many synonyms, causing confusion and misinterpretations. A simple, single-word translation is uncommon. Again, knowledge of the subject matter is crucial.
If you’re interested in Sanskrit for the beauty of its sound, its spiritual benefits, and the basic understanding of common words and phrases, I recommend that you learn to pronounce the alphabet properly. The best way to do this is by learning to read Devanagari, its traditional script. Having done so myself, I can tell you that it’s not difficult. The script is entirely phonetic, and once the characters are memorized along with proper pronunciation, you can read any word or phrase with a little effort and practice.
There’s a wealth of Sanskrit chants available online. Some of them are sung in a very traditional style. Others are more modern. If you sample several videos, you’re bound to find a musical style that sounds pleasant to your ears. Here’s one that I selected as a good introduction:
Transliteration
Transliteration changes Devanagari into the Roman characters that we recognize in our common writing today. Although many styles of transliteration have been proposed over the years, the most common is IATA (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration). The characters must still be memorized with their corresponding sounds, but it’s easier for most students.
The problem with depending on transliteration instead of Devanagari is that we slip more easily into our old habits of pronunciation. Soon, the language declines from the beauty of Sanskrit to an English-based pronunciation, losing the purity of its the sounds and vibrations. For example, the vowel a is pronounced in two distinct ways in Sanskrit: a is pronounced as the vowel sound in sun or but; and ā, is pronounced as the vowel sound in far or calm. It is never pronounced like the a in cat or hat. Thus the word Sanskrit is pronounced Sunskrit.
Quiet Karma and the Use of Sanskrit
The subject of yoga can’t be separated from its original language. The word yoga itself is a Sanskrit term, as are many of the most common yogic terms, like guru, prana, or karma. Understanding yoga’s terms will greatly enhance your understanding of its principles and practices.
The Sanskrit terms used on Quiet Karma will always be defined in the glossary. Quiet Karma also offers a simple Sanskrit pronunciation chart, based on the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST).
Your Attitude Counts Most
Just as you don’t need to be a scholar of Aramaic or Latin to talk to Jesus, it’s not necessary to read, write, or speak Sanskrit to be a yogi. Treading a spiritual path requires a sincere heart—in any language. Knowing Sanskrit is not a requirement for meditation or enlightenment.
Forty years after my first exposure to Sanskrit, it’s still an integral part of my life. My favorite Sanskrit song, Śri Guru Gita, sung by Baba Muktananda, plays on my alarm clock beginning at 3:30 each morning. As I awaken, I sing along silently and translate as much as I am able. Throughout the day, I remember the Sanskrit mantra given to me by my Guru. That mantra is woven into each breath, and its automatic repetition is present in each step that I take.
It’s my hope that I can kindle an appreciation for Sanskrit in you. May you also experience the peace and joy inherent in the vibrations of the Sanskrit word.
Chityānanda has been a disciple of Svāmī Gurupremānanda Sarasvatī since 1975. She teaches meditation and yoga as a spiritual path in Santa Cruz, California.
The sounds that reverberate from each word of Sanskrit has a vibration of its own. It brings a feeling of peace and joy. It’s very much like when my Guru reads to us, each word is permeated in shakti. It brings a sense of joy really knowing the meaning of the scripture he is reading. Thank you for jogging my memory to remember that.
Thank you for your comment, Sue. For readers who might not be familiar with the term Shakti, it means intelligent spiritual energy. I agree! Shakti permeates each letter of the Sanskrit alphabet. It’s fun to chant the alphabet itself and notice its effects–you reminded me of that! Namaste.
Chanting the Gayatri Mantra gives me a warm loving feeling that I experience from within. This is the very same feeling I got when I first met my Guru. This is the same feeling I got when we went with Gurudev to see Baba in Oakland. And this is the same warm feeling I get when I am with Gurudev and my brother and sister disciples. I love it!
Thank you for commenting (twice), John. I consolidated your comments to make it easier for readers. Sanskrit chants are known to increase devotional feelings. It sounds like you’re quite familiar with those effects. Enjoy!
I found your synopsis on Sanskrit informative and interesting. Which brings to mind, during the 90s, my wife Sue was taking lessons to learn Sanskrit, and at the time she mentioned, that Sanskrit was the oldest written language, and that it was referred to as “the language of the gods.” Upon pondering this, I reasoned, that at the brink of human civilization, they didn’t have all the answers so they must have referred to the gods while developing the elemental words of Sanskrit. Whereupon, civilization progressed, and man became “smarter” (as in smart ass, or more egotistical). Thus, as in the English language, the basis of most of our elemental words relates back to – I, you, he, she, or it. No more gods. My thoughts??
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Tosh. While it is true that man’s “development” has made the human race more egotistical, we always have the power of choice. Namaste.
I will take a look at Devanagari script and see if I can learn to read it. Thanks!
Hello Tim, I’m quite certain that if you apply yourself to learning Devanagari, it will especially easy and satisfying for you. My very best wishes on that endeavor! Namaste.
Thank you for your lovely article. It’s very practical to consider your statement, “The peace and joy inherent in the vibrations of the Sanskrit word.”
Thank you for your comment, Elizabeth, and for making note of the “peace and joy” factor. That’s what we’re seeking in every aspect of our lives. Sanskrit is a special gift because it’s like a fast track to experiencing that inner source of peace and joy. Namaste.
Namaste. I enjoyed the Gayatri Mantra video a lot. I particularly liked the word-by-word translation of the words. Thanks greatly. Om
Hi Janice. You’re most welcome, and I’m glad to know that you enjoyed the video. When I first learned about the Gayatri Mantra YouTube wasn’t there to instruct. I never found a translation of the Mantra that “spoke” to me. This word-by-word translation is a real gift! Namaste.
Swami, this great introduction to this Sanskrit language removes the mystery that often surrounds it. I particularly like your encouragement to us for practicing yoga and progressing in our sadhana
Thank you, Richard. About the “mystery” that you mentioned–good point. Although learning Sanskrit well enough to translate it is a difficult, often lifelong, endeavor, it’s actually quite easy to learn the Devanagari. Doing so assures a much better pronunciation. Namaste.
What is the Sri Guru Gita song that you wake up with? Is it sung in sanskrit or english?
The version that I wake up to is sung in Sanskrit by Swami Muktananda, my Guru’s Guru. I see that Amazon is selling one used copy of the CD, but I don’t see it offered anywhere else.
A Guru Gita with good Sanskrit pronunciation is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7b1keukQi8
You might want to start at 1:42 and avoid the introductory music.
Thank you for asking! Namaste.
Thank you for this article on Sanskrit. It is pretty neat that you were attracted to its sounds and felt resonance within on first hearing the language.
The Gayatri mantra vid is a gem. The way they translate each word as they ‘flip the page’ in the video is great. Everything displays well on my mobile device. Thank you for that too ?✅
Thank you for the feedback, Rob! I agree about the Gayatri Mantra video. I like the in-depth translations of the words. Namaste.