Course Details
Subject {L-T-P / C} : HS1317 : Introduction to the Metaphysics of Sanskrit Language { 3-0-0 / 3}
Subject Nature : Theory
Coordinator : Prof. Surabhi Verma
Syllabus
Unit 1: Nature of Language
• What is Language?
• Difference between Bhasa, Vak and Vani
• Spoken and Compositional language
• Effect of orality on the Nature of Language
• The Knowledge disciplines related with discourse of Language
• The Language of the Universe: Nada (Resonance)
Unit 2: Introduction to the components of Sanskrit Language
• Physical aspects
1. Sounds (Dhvani)
2. Syllables (aksara/varna)
3. Sabda (word)
4. Pada (morphological unit)
5. Ukti (utterances)
• Metaphysical aspects
1. Language and Reality (Satta)
2. Mantratmaka and prapañcatmaka
3. Language as an ontological category
4. Discourse of language as Cognitive System
5. Intrinsic property of Language
6. Verb centred Language: Sanskrit
7. Special features of Sanskrit language
a. Metrical (chandas)
b. Figurative (alamkara yukta)
c. Compound (samasa) and assimilation (sandhi) based
d. Coded (inflectional- pratyayanta)
e. Abbreviated (sutra baddha)
f. Generative (derivational)
g. Usage based (loka pramana)
Unit 3: The Discourse of sabda and artha
• Signifier (vacaka), signified (vacya) and the meaning (vacyartha)
• The relationship of sabda and artha and the question of nitya (indestructible)
• Vak and its four levels of manifestation
• The three types of meaning (artha)
• The two possibilities of getting meaning of utterances
• The requirements for constructing meaning of utterances
Unit 4: The Science of Mantra
• Mantra: meaning and dimensions
• Relation between mantra and spanda
• Autonomous spontaneous mantra (ajapajapa)
• Study of Language as an Ontological System
1. The Chapter of energy and consciousness
2. The encapsulation and limitation of energy
3. Manifestation of sound energy as potencies in relation to ontological categories
4. The Transposition Effect during Genesis of Vak
5. The rectification (purification) in reversal
6. Activation of cakras, shape of Kundalini and time travel
Unit 5: The Conception of Language in Indian Knowledge Systems
• The Oral Culture
• The Purpose of Knowledge
• Language and Upanishads
• The Language is communion with Self
• Centrality of Thought
• The Two Choices – Sreya and Preya
• The Language as Primary Science
• Evolution till Modern Indian Languages from Sanskrit
• Language as the Grammar of Reality
Course Objectives
- This course will teach the students the importance of the oral knowledge tradition of India.
- The students will come to know the difference of Speech and script and become able to differentiate the cultural impressions.
- The course will explain the mutual relationship of words and meanings and their existence.
- The students will learn how the language becomes a means to create reality.
Course Outcomes
1. The Course will help the students to know how India is an oral culture, an oral tradition and how it has preserved its knowledge tradition over thousands of years of its existence. <br />2. In this course the students will learn about the various levels of language, the concept of the Self in Indian linguistic tradition and how language was not just a medium of conveying knowledge but was itself treated as a primary science. <br />3. This Course will help the students to understand how the language as a potency is inbuilt and preserved in all the creatures and it is not just a masterpiece of Humans.
Essential Reading
- K. A. Subramania Iyer, The Vakyapadiya of Bhartrhari, Deccan College , Puna, 1971.
- Surendranath Das Gupta, The Mahabhasya of Patanjali, Indian Council of Philosophical Research , New Delhi, 1991.
Supplementary Reading
- Jaideva Singh, Paratrimshika Vivarana, Motilal Banarasidas , Varanasi, 1963.
- Sadhana Parashar, Kavyamimamsa of Rajshekhara, D K Printworld(P) Ltd. , Delhi, 2000.
Journal and Conferences
- S. Verma, "Approaches to study language in the world (In the context of Sanskrit and modern Indian languages)", Chintan Research Journal, vol.2, no.3, pp.78-87, Aacharya Academy, September 2012
- S. Ghosh and S. Verma, "Kashmirashibadwayawade srusterunmilanasya tarkika-bisleshanam", Shodh Navneet (International Refereed Research Journal), vol.vol - xii, pp.23-32, STUTI PRACHYAVIDYA SAMITI, GONDA (U.P.) 2019