• Why this session ?

• Context and background

• Basic Pronunciation Rules

• Mechanics of articulation

• Alphabet groups and pronunciation

• Pronunciation exceptions

• Examples and vernacular influence

• Chanting if time permits

• Devotion vs pronunciation vs meaning 1sribharati.org

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• अमं�त्रमंक्षरं� नास्ति�� नास्ति�� मं लमंना�षधमं� । अयो�ग्यो� पु�रुष� नास्ति�� यो�जक��त्र दुल�भः� ॥

• Pronunciation / Sound – Life Breath• Grammar – Mouth• Meter ( Chandas ) – Feet• Meaning – Ears

• Sadba and Artha – 2 wings

• Body is called Daivi Veena – the unique gift of speech must be put to good use for the well-being of the world.

Sanskrit Phonetics - Context

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Sanskrit Phonetics - Context• Veda is the root of all knowledge

• Vedic language is called chandas

• Rishis authored the 6 vedangas to unlock the Veda

• Shiksha is the first vedanga which deals with Vedic phonetics

• PrAtishAkhya rules govern the pronunciation in each of the 1131 branches of the Veda

• Chandas gave rise to Classical sanskrit

• 50 Sanskrit letters have been derived from Vedic Sounds3sribharati.org

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Sanskrit Phonetics• What guides the right pronunciation ?

• Each of the 1131 branches of Veda has its own “right” pronunciation, guided by the prAtishAkhya texts

• Depending on which branch of the Veda is popular in a certain region, that region picked up that pronunciation

• e.g agnimeeLe vs agnimeezhe vs agnimeeDhe

• Yat puruSheNa haviShA

• Since 1 classical sanskrit has been derived from many vedic branches, many “right” pronunciations are in vogue for it

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Shiksha rules

• VarNa – Enunciation of letters in isolation and in groups

• Svara – Tonal Accuracy ( High, Medium , Low )

• MAtrA – Duration ( 1/8 – 3 )

• Balam – Pitch / effort ( 7 notes )

• SAma – Evenness, melody , free of errors

• SantAna – Compounding of independent letters ( Sandhis )

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Production of Sound

•Air Stream Mechanism

•Organs of Speech

•Points of articulation• Immobile Mobile

•Manners of articulation• Internal External

•Position of Glottis• Open Closed• Semi-Closed Whisper

•Position of Velum• Open Closed• Semi-Closed

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Swara

Vyanjana

-V-A -V+A +V-A +V+AAnunaa

asikaAntastha Ushman

Alphabet Groups and Pronunciation

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• AnusvAra – Pure nasal

• Visarga• Visarjaneeya - Visarga• UpadhmAneeya – Visarga + p or ph• JihvAmUlIya – Visarga + k or kh• Visarga + ksha

• Avagraha – e.g : क�ऽपिपु

• La , Ksha , Tra , J~na

व्याघ्री% योथा हरं(�� पु�त्रना� दं�ष्ट्राभ्यो� ना च पु%डयो(�� ।भः%� पु�नाभः(दंभ्यो� �द्वदं� वर्णा�ना� प्रयो�जयो(�� ॥

Delicate + Firm

Pronunciation rules – contd….

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• UpadhmAnIya - f

• Brahma, Vahni, madhyAhnam, Ahnikam

• Svara bhakti• e.g : indra vs. ind’ra

• la vs. La• Nalini , kala , kalika, pralaya

• anusvAra + Consonant = Corresponding AnunAsika• शङ्� करं - श�करं• अञ्जना - अ�जना• ब्रह्माण्ड - ब्रह्मा�ड• अन्�क - अ��क• पुरंम्परं - पुरं�पुरं

Pronunciation exceptions

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TamilVernacular influence

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Accurate Inaccuratealpa prANa, mahA prANa

kara, khara , cala,chala , paTa,paTha , dAma, dhAma

ph Phalam Falam

th,dh Ratha, Katham, dAsarathi

Radha, Kadham, dAsaradhi

r karma kaRma No rolling / Hypercorrection

R Amrta Amrita,hridaya, Amruta,hrudaya

Between I and u

ai Saraswatyai ( NI ) Saraswatyai ( SI )

sha Like cha Shiva,shankara ,Tapaschame, Rashana,rasana

Sha Like Ta dhanuShTankara, uShas

sa Like ta manastApam, salilam

visarga Kavihi v kavihi’

halanta Rama Ram

Jna Yajna, jnanam Yegna, gnanam, gyan

dy Vidya Vijya

ty Atyanta Achyanta

Na , na sarvANi bhUtAni sarvAni bhUtAni

Common mistakes

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