word ‘sanskrita’ means purified or refined. Historians generally regard it as the world’s oldest and most systematic language. Linguist Max Müller (1862) referred to it as the “language of Languages” (p. 203), and Sir William Jones (1786) in his third discourse to the Asiatic Society said Sanskrit was, “more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either.” Some feel the precise and systematic grammatical structure of Sanskrit makes it a perfect fit for computer-oriented analysis. In a richly detailed and scholarly article, NASA researcher Rick Briggs (1985) said Sanskrit grammar is “identical not only in essence but in form with current work in Artificial Intelligence.” Beyond the technical analysis of Sanskrit lies a beautifully conceived language that does justice to the pure essence of Vedic Literature. For those who venture to learn even the basic sounds that constitute the alphabet, a joyous experience awaits. Opening one’s awareness to the primordial sounds of nature that were cognized by the ancient seers creates a link to the organizing power of nature itself. This has been my experience. Learning the Vedic alphabet and applying those syllables to form the words and phrases contained in the Vedic Literature has been an exercise in pure joy. Every step of the learning process was natural, fulfilling and without strain. I could feel a deep sense of personal discovery within myself as each new sound and its corresponding form resonated in my physiology3. Learning the Sanskrit alphabet and reading Vedic Literature was a continuation of the same natural experience I found in my practice of Transcendental Meditation – the effortless flow of thought, Vedic mantras resonating in 3
Sanskrit letters are written in Devanāgarī script. While it is possible to read Vedic Literature using Roman transliteration, the name (sound) and form relationship would be removed. To produce the maximum effect in the physiology it is highly recommended to read in Devanāgarī.