SANSKRIT - The Language of Ancient India, a classical language of Indian Art, Culture, and Philosophy, and is the oldest and the most systematic language in the world. It is a 'living' language and is taught at Bhavan at various levels.
Dr M N Nandakumar MBE heads the Sanskrit department at The Bhavan London.
We offer various levels of Sanskrit study. Students may make enquiries as to which level is suitable by contacting the Bhavan. All classes are suitable for all ages.
I LEVEL 1 - Sanskrit Class – September to July – Saturday 09.30am-10.30am | NUTAN GHELANI (OPEN LEVEL - SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS)
L1 is an Open Sanskrit class for beginners to give students an opening to learn basic Sanskrit Language over a year covering 3 terms. The Tutor will adopt an Interactive Teaching Style and the participants are expected to engage fully to enhance their learning. No books are recommended for this level, but the tutor will provide study materials and handouts. At the end of the academic year, participants will, with their individual effort and tutor input, master the following
- Able to write, read and pronounce the Alphabets in Devanagari Script.
- Learn conjugation of verbs and declensions of nouns; and recite these to aid their learning.
- Learn new words and their meanings to build on simple vocabulary.
- Learn to construct simple sentences applying their learning.
- Read the Devanagari Script from simple text.
- Learn some Shlokas
- Learn simple grammar - Sandhi
II LEVEL 2 - Sanskrit Class – September to July – Monday 6.30pm – 8.00pm | NUTAN GHELANI (ZOOM ONLY)
L2 is an extension of L1 for returning students. The teaching will follow on from L1 and students will be guided to choose their learning from various study books available in the market with Tutor’s own supplementary information.
III LEVEL 3 - ADVANCED LEVEL SANSKRIT CLASS (Timing on individual arrangement) | NUTAN GHELANI
After completing L2 year, participants who wish to continue learning will be given options and encouragement and support to continue this rich language at advanced levels including GCSE syllabus (offered on request) and one-to-one learning (on request and individual arrangement).
IV SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA Chanting class – September to July - SATURDAY - 11.30AM – 12.30PM | Dr. Radha Bhat
A general level class to learn the chanting of the verses from The Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
V Advance – September to July - SATURDAY - 12.30PM – 1.30PM | Dr. Radha Bhat
The Bhagavad Gita (The Song by God), often referred to as the Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture, which is part of the epic Mahabharata. It forms the chapters 23–40 of book 6 of the Mahabharata called the Bhishma Parva. The work is dated to the second half of the first millennium BCE. It is considered one of the holy scriptures of Hinduism. The Bhagavad Gita is set in a narrative framework of dialogue between the Pandava prince Arjuna and his charioteer guide Krishna, an avatar of lord Vishnu. In this class, learn to read, and decipher the meaning of Gita shlokas and relevant grammar.
VI RAMAYANA - SATURDAY - 1.30PM – 2.30PM | Dr. Nandakumara MBE
The Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic from ancient India, one of the two important epics of Hinduism, the other being the Mahābhārata. The epic, traditionally ascribed to the Maharishi Valmiki, narrates the life of Rama, a prince of Ayodhya in the kingdom of Kosala. The epic follows his fourteen-year exile to the forest urged by his father King Dasharatha, on the request of Rama's stepmother Kaikeyi; his travels across forests in the Indian subcontinent with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana; the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the king of Lanka, that resulted in war fought with the help of Hanuman and Sugriva; and Rama's eventual return to Ayodhya along with Sita to be crowned king amidst jubilation and celebration.
In this class, learn to read, and decipher the meaning of Ramayana shlokas and grammar which includes ‘Sandhis’ and ‘Samanas’. To get familiar with the Sanskrit language, there is no book that is more suitable than the Ramayana. Arguably the most fluent usage of Sanskrit language is seen in the Ramayana text.
About the Tutors
Dr NANDAKUMARA MBE
Born and raised in the village of Mattur in Karnataka, one of the leading places for Sanskrit in India, he went on to study at Mysore University and then undertake PhD at SOAS in London. He has a distinguished career rooted in Indian classical Arts and languages for more than 40 years. He is highly regarded as an authority in Hindu scriptures, Vedic philosophy, Mythology, and rituals. He is regarded as a dedicated and respected teacher of Sanskrit. Over the last four decades he has served as the Executive Director of The Bhavan, London, spearheading its rise to become the leading Institute of Indian Classical Arts, Culture, and Languages.
RADHA BHAT
Radha Bhat has played a key role in helping to establish Sanskrit studies at Bhavan for well over 35years and taught a very diverse group of students. She focuses on teaching from a wide array of Sanskrit literature such as Bhagavad Gita, Neetishatakam, Panchatantra, and Hitopadesha. Radha also assists with teaching of Ramayana to advanced groups of students. She is a medical practitioner specialised in mental health, works for the public and private health sectors, and has also dedicated a regular time for voluntary service to Bhavan, London over the past several decades for teaching and promotion of Sanskrit.
NUTAN GHELANI
Nutan obtained certificate in Sanskrit from SOAS University, and attends various Sanskrit classes at The Bhavan, London. She has covered various levels of study materials and syllabuses by self-learning and input from various visiting tutors. Nutan says 'it is an honour to continue advancing this excellent subject under the guidance of Nanda ji’, who in turn has inspired her to extend her teaching. She is keen to tutor this rich language in a structured way and already does one-to-one tutoring and supports levels 1 & 2 teaching at The Bhavan. Previously, she has enjoyed her professional career in Accountancy & Finance, obtaining an MBA.