Editor's note: Just like the Sanskrit numbers article the author sends you into an amazing plane of stories where the world is yet to experience Sanskrit Alphabets. In this article, the author has given you a live experience of how the letters of the natural languages and particularly Sanskrit Alphabets must have came into existence. In this article however, the author has also given you a task to recite some terms as you read. It's an amazing experience in itself. Try doing it as you read along!
People say, Sanskrit helps with improved brain functions, speech corrections, memory recall etc. I say, experience it and figure out for yourself, aatmapramaana (आत्मप्रमाण) as it is called.
But first, you should know what are the letters of the Sanskrit language called?
Ans: They are called अक्षराणि (Aksharāni).
Sanskrit Alphabets: Experientially understanding
You are standing on top of a hill with the most picturesque view, and you scream aaaaaaaaa.
What do you feel? Let that feeling sink in…. Was it freedom? Did you get the feeling of letting go? Did you experience relief?
What do you say when you express a sigh of relief— aaaaah! A cry that you are most likely to let out when in pain.
Understanding (akāra) अकार
Think of a birthing mother. That is, it! The very first letter of the Sanskrit language is अ called अकार perhaps signifying the freedom with which you will be expressing your thoughts or the releasing of your pain or joy.
Now notice as you say अ, where is this sound originating in your mouth?
Do you realise that it comes from your throat? The throat is called कण्ठ (kaṇṭhá). It’s the first point of your vocal apparatus from where you can make sound. This is important. Keep this in mind. We will come back to this later.
It’s as if the अकार encompasses the whole language without which the language itself wouldn’t be born. And therefore, we can understand why Krishna in Geeta considers himself as अकार.
अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि
Of the letters, I am the letter अ says Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 10:33
Sanskrit is a very beautiful language in all sense and the core reason for this is the usage of अकार in Sanskrit throughout. You can read more here about the beauty of the Sanskrit language is .
Understanding (ukāra) उकार
Now moving on. What is the other end of your mouth which acts in the creation and modification of a sound? Your lips (óṣṭha ओष्ठौ) of course. There are several sounds that you can make here but उकार is a free-flowing sound. By that I mean, there is no touch anywhere in the mouth but only making a shape by your lips. try saying oooooo… (like in too without t-).
Understanding ओ
The first free sound अ and the last free sound उ combined gives you ओ.
अ + उ = ओ
Pronunciation: Try speaking aaaaa…. and ooooo…. in a single note and focus on the sound created during the transition from aaa to ooo. That is ओ sounds somewhat like the pronunciation of the letter ‘O’.
Adding nasal to it and you thus get ॐकार (omkāra). That needs no introduction at all.
Now from अ to उ if you hold a rubber band, where on the band do you think, you should strike to obtain the highest resonance?
ओ is the sound with the highest resonance that our vocal apparatus can make. Hence, another reason why chanting omkāra helps you tune into the universe with the highest frequency.
We now move on to see what the other free sounds are that we can make.
Sanskrit letters of free sound
In between the कण्ठ and ओष्ठौ, right at the centre of the upper palate called the मूर्धा you get the sound ऋ called ऋकार (rikāra).
The sound इ or इकार originates at the तालु (Tālu) which is in between the कण्ठ (kaṇṭhá) and the मूर्धा (Moordhā) and the sound ऌ originates near the दन्ता: (teeth). Remember there is no touch by the tongue whatsoever.
Check this post to know fruits name in Sanskrit.
Root Sanskrit letters
Thus far, we got the following letters
अ इ उ ऋ लृ
a i u ṛ ḷ
and ओ.
In Sanskrit, there are 14 Vowels and 42 Consonants.
Sanskrit Vowels
Vowels in Sanskrit are known as “svara” or “swar” ( स्वराः ). These letters represent the pure, unmodified sound of the human voice and are not obstructed by the mouth, teeth, or tongue.
The Maheshwara Sutra provides the technical details of how to pronounce the various sounds of the Sanskrit language, including the pronunciation of Vowels.
In the context of the 14 pratyahars or retractions of Sanskrit vowels, the Maheshwara Sutra provides specific instructions for each of the pratyahars. For example, the Maheshwara Sutra specifies the exact position of the tongue, lips, and other parts of the mouth when pronouncing the vowel “A”.
Here are the 14 Sanskrit Vowels:
| अ | आ | इ | ई | उ | ऊ | ऋ | ॠ | लृ | ॡ | ए | ऐ | ओ | औ |
| a | ā | i | ī | u | ū | ṛ | ṝ | ḷ | ḹ | e | ai | o | au |
Following are the instructions as per the Maheshwara Sutra, through which you can learn the correct pronunciation of Sanskrit Vowels. Here is a little explanation.
- अ (a) – This vowel is pronounced with an open mouth and without much use of the lips or tongue. The sound is similar to the “a” in “father”.
- आ (ā) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly more open than for the previous vowel, and with the tongue positioned slightly higher in the mouth. The sound is similar to the “a” in “car”.
- इ (i) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth closed and the tongue positioned near the roof of the mouth. The sound is similar to the “i” in “bit”.
- ई (ī) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly more open than for the previous vowel, and with the tongue positioned slightly higher in the mouth. The sound is similar to the “ee” in “sweet”.
- उ (u) – This vowel is pronounced with the lips rounded and the tongue positioned near the roof of the mouth. The sound is similar to the “u” in “put”.
- ऊ (ū) – This vowel is pronounced with the lips rounded and the mouth slightly more open than for the previous vowel, with the tongue positioned slightly higher in the mouth. The sound is similar to the “oo” in “moon”.
- ऋ (ṛ) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth closed and the tongue positioned slightly curled, with the tip touching the palate. The sound is similar to the “ri” in “ripe”.
- ॠ (ṝ) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly more open than for the previous vowel, and with the tongue positioned slightly higher in the mouth. The sound is similar to the “ree” in “tree”.
- ऌ (l̥) – This vowel is pronounced with the tongue positioned near the roof of the mouth, with the sides of the tongue touching the molars. The sound is similar to the “l” in “love”.
- ॡ (l̥̄) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly more open than for the previous vowel, and with the tongue positioned slightly higher in the mouth. The sound is similar to the “lee” in “free”.
- ए (e) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly open and the tongue positioned near the palate. The sound is similar to the “e” in “pet”.
- ऐ (ai) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly open and the tongue positioned near the palate. The sound is similar to the “i” in “pie”.
- ओ (o) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly open and the lips rounded. The sound is similar to the “o” in “hot”.
- औ (au) – This vowel is pronounced with the mouth slightly open and the lips rounded. The sound is similar to the “ow” in “cow”.
Read more about Hrasva Swara, Deerga Swara & Plut Swara.
Sanskrit Consonant:
The Sanskrit consonants are called vyanjanaani (व्यञ्जनानि) in Sanskrit. There are 42 consonants in the Sanskrit alphabet. These consonants are categorized based on the place of articulation and the type of sound produced when pronouncing them. The place of articulation is classified into five categories: guttural, palatal, retroflex, dental, and labial. Each of these categories consists of a different set of sounds produced in different parts of the mouth.
To understand the pronunciation of the Sanskrit consonants, it is important to understand the anatomy of the mouth and the various parts involved in speech production. The different parts of the mouth involved in speech production are the lips, tongue, teeth, hard palate, soft palate, and uvula.
Here are the examples of how the Sanskrit consonants are pronounced based on the different parts of the mouth:
- Guttural consonants (कवर्ग): Sounds produced at the back of the throat. Example: “ka” (क)
- Palatal consonants (चवर्ग): Sounds produced using the front part of the tongue touching the hard palate. Example: “cha” (च)
- Retroflex consonants (टवर्ग): Sounds produced using the tongue touching the roof of the mouth. Example: “ta” (ट)
- Dental consonants (तवर्ग): Sounds produced using the tongue touching the upper front teeth. Example: “da” (द)
- Labial consonants (पवर्ग): Sounds produced using the lips. Example: “pa” (प)
| कवर्ग | चवर्ग | टवर्ग | तवर्ग | पवर्ग |
| क (ka) | च (ca) | ट (ṭa) | त (ta) | प (pa) |
| ख (kha) | छ (cha) | ठ (ṭha) | थ (tha) | फ (pha) |
| ग (ga) | ज (ja) | ड (ḍa) | द (da) | ब (ba) |
| घ (gha) | झ (jha) | ढ (ḍha) | ध (dha) | भ (bha) |
| ङ (ña) | ञ (ña | ण (ṇa) | न (na) | म (ma) |
And more here:
| य | (ya) |
| र | (ra) |
| ल | (la) |
| व | (va) |
| श | (śa) |
| ष | (ṣa) |
| स | (sa) |
| ह | (ha) |
| क्ष | (kṣa) |
| त्र | (tra) |
| ज्ञ | (jña) |
| श्र | (śra) |
| ट्ट | (ṭṭa) |
| ड्ड | (ḍḍa) |
| ढ्ढ | (ḍḍha) |
| छ्य | (chya) |
| ठ्य | (thya) |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the pronunciation of the Sanskrit consonants depends on the place of articulation and the movement of different parts of the mouth. To properly pronounce the Sanskrit alphabet, it is important to practice and develop a good understanding of the sounds produced by each of the consonants.
Read more here:
