Hundreds learn Sanskrit

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=235630


Hundreds learn Sanskrit

Rakesh Kumar
Saturday, June 01, 2013

Admita Kumar (middle) joins her aunts Hirdeshni Gautam (left) and Ashodra
Gautam in a Sanscrit reading during classes at the Flagstaff Ashram in Suva.
Picture: JONE LUVENITOGA + Enlarge this image

Admita Kumar (middle) joins her aunts Hirdeshni Gautam (left) and Ashodra
Gautam in a Sanscrit reading during classes at the Flagstaff Ashram in Suva.
Picture: JONE LUVENITOGA

HUNDREDS of people around the country are taking the time to learn Sanskrit
language in seven days.

The free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, describes Sanskrit as a historical
Indo-Aryan language, the primary liturgical language of Hinduism and a
literary and scholarly language in Buddhism and Jainism.

Sanskrit is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, and it is
an official language of the State of Uttarakhand. It also holds a prominent
position in Indo-European studies.

On the invitation of the Fiji Sevashram Sangha, world renowned Sanskrit
scholar Prof Gajendra Punda is now taking classes in Labasa before doing the
same in Lautoka.

Swamy Sanyukta Nanda of the Fiji Sevashram Sangha said classes in Suva were
well attended and participants numbers had to be restricted to 55.

"The group was organised into two smaller ones, one session being run by his
wife and one by Prof Punda. Participants were of all age groups and from all
walks of life such as academics, workers and retired senior teachers," Swamy
Nanda said.

"The way this course was run was easy to understand and it captured the
participants' interest and enthusiasm on the first day and they were
compelled to take time every evening for classes."

Participants who attended classes in Suva, agreed that the Fiji Sevashram
Sangha had provided an opportunity to get them to better understand and
learn conversational Sanskrit.

Many said they never imagined they would be able to speak a word of Sanskrit
in their life.

While closing the course, Swamy Nanda acknowledged Prof Punda's "selfless"
efforts to promote Sanskrit.

He thanked Mr Punda for travelling to Fiji at his own expense to provide
Fijians the opportunity to learn Sanskrit.

He reminded participants that every nation's progress was measured by its
sampati (wealth) and sanskriti (culture), saying "sadly people are
accumulating wealth but losing their culture".

Swami Nanda also said Sanskrit was the symbol of Hindu culture and heritage
and Hindus should revive it.

Classes are now being held in Labasa while the Lautoka session is scheduled
for June 3-10.