Sanskrit Language and Literature
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing the students with the fundamentals of Sanskrit Grammar and the main topics of Sanskrit Literature.
Expected learning outcomes
Essential notions on: phonological features and morphosyntactic structures of Sanskrit; literary categories of ancient and classical India; history of writing.
Ability to: correctly read a classical Sanskrit text both in IAST (International Alphabet for Sanskrit Transliteration) and devanāgarī script; master some basic vocabulary; translate simple Sanskrit passages through morphosyntactic analysis; contextualize literary works in ancient and classical Indian cultural history.
Ability to: correctly read a classical Sanskrit text both in IAST (International Alphabet for Sanskrit Transliteration) and devanāgarī script; master some basic vocabulary; translate simple Sanskrit passages through morphosyntactic analysis; contextualize literary works in ancient and classical Indian cultural history.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The main topics discussed in the course are as follows:
- Introduction to the Sanskrit Literature: introduction to Vedic Literature and Epic Literature.
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: phonology, introduction to nominal morphology, introduction to verbal morphology, nominal composition, main syntactic structures.
- History of the Sanskrit Language: excursus about the definition of the Sanskrit bhāṣā; orality and literacy: points at issue.
- Translation and linguistic comment of stanzas from the Bhagavadgītā
- The Bhagavadgītā 'Blessed's Song': warrior ethics, saṃkhyā and devotion (bhakti)
- The Devanāgarī script
The aforementioned topics will be organized in three sections, 20 hours each, as follows:
Section A (20 hrs.)
- Introduction to the Sanskrit Literature: Introduction to Epic Literature.
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: phonology; basic lexicon; Devanāgarī script
- History of the Sanskrit Language: excursus about the definition of Sanskrit bhāṣā; orality and literacy: points at issue.
Section B (20 hrs.)
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: introduction to nominal morphology, introduction to verbal morphology, nominal composition, main syntactic structures
- Translation and linguistic comment of stanzas from the Bhagavadgītā
- History of the Sanskrit Language: excursus about the definition of Sanskrit bhāṣā
- Elements of Epic Literature, and Vedic Literature.
Section C (20 hrs.)
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: nominal morphology, verbal morphology, nominal composition, main syntactic structures: continuation
- Translation and linguistic comment of stanzas from the Bhagavadgītā
- The Bhagavadgītā 'Blessed's Song': warrior ethics, saṃkhyā and devotion (bhakti): reading and comment of texts.
- Introduction to the Sanskrit Literature: introduction to Vedic Literature and Epic Literature.
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: phonology, introduction to nominal morphology, introduction to verbal morphology, nominal composition, main syntactic structures.
- History of the Sanskrit Language: excursus about the definition of the Sanskrit bhāṣā; orality and literacy: points at issue.
- Translation and linguistic comment of stanzas from the Bhagavadgītā
- The Bhagavadgītā 'Blessed's Song': warrior ethics, saṃkhyā and devotion (bhakti)
- The Devanāgarī script
The aforementioned topics will be organized in three sections, 20 hours each, as follows:
Section A (20 hrs.)
- Introduction to the Sanskrit Literature: Introduction to Epic Literature.
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: phonology; basic lexicon; Devanāgarī script
- History of the Sanskrit Language: excursus about the definition of Sanskrit bhāṣā; orality and literacy: points at issue.
Section B (20 hrs.)
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: introduction to nominal morphology, introduction to verbal morphology, nominal composition, main syntactic structures
- Translation and linguistic comment of stanzas from the Bhagavadgītā
- History of the Sanskrit Language: excursus about the definition of Sanskrit bhāṣā
- Elements of Epic Literature, and Vedic Literature.
Section C (20 hrs.)
- Elements of Sanskrit Grammar: nominal morphology, verbal morphology, nominal composition, main syntactic structures: continuation
- Translation and linguistic comment of stanzas from the Bhagavadgītā
- The Bhagavadgītā 'Blessed's Song': warrior ethics, saṃkhyā and devotion (bhakti): reading and comment of texts.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission
Teaching methods
The course consists both of taught classes and participative classes. The former ones are adopted for learning theoretical subjects (Introduction to the Sanskrit Literature; History of the Sanskrit Language; Monographic Subject), and are supported by Power Point slideshows, whereas the latter ones are based on linguistic exercises: they especially aim at the linguistic learning (Elements of Sanskrit Grammar; Devanāgarī script; Translation and linguistic comment of stanzas from the Bhagavadgītā). The attendance is mandatory especially for this section of the course: linguistic exercises, made lesson by lesson, are extremely important for the basic learning of the Sanskrit language, and for developing the expected skills.
For other initiatives and news, students should also regularly refer to the Sanskrit Language and Literature page of myAriel, and the website of the Indological courses of our university (https://sites.unimi.it/india/).
For other initiatives and news, students should also regularly refer to the Sanskrit Language and Literature page of myAriel, and the website of the Indological courses of our university (https://sites.unimi.it/india/).
Teaching Resources
6 ects (Sections A-B)
· A. Pelissero, Letterature classiche dell'India, Brescia: Morcelliana, 2007, pp. 67-93; 19-63.
· C. Della Casa, Corso di Sanscrito, Milano: Unicopli, updated edition 2021: Phonetics; sandhi, Nominal and Verbal Morphology, Nominal Composition, main syntactic structures;
· J. E.M. Houben, Linguistic Paradox and Diglossia: the emergence of Sanskrit and Sanskrit Language in Ancient India, in Open Linguistics, DE GRUYTER OPEN, 2018, Historical Sociolinguistic Philology, 4 (1), pp. 1-18. https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01807465
· B. Lo Turco, Il suono della conoscenza. Oralità, scrittura e pensiero in India, Milano: ed. Unicopli, 2023, pp.17-136.
· R. Salomon, Indian Epigraphy, Oxford University Press, 1998; pp. 7-56; 72-94.
· P. Sylvain-Lévi, La dottrina del sacrificio nei Brāhmaṇa, Milano: Adelphi, 2009 [Italian translation of La doctrine du sacrifice dans les Brâhmanas, Paris 1898].
· Arjuna e l'uomo della montagna (dal Mahābhārata), a cura di A. Pelissero, Torino: Il leone verde, 1997.
· Rāmāyaṇa: il grande poema epico della mitologia indiana, Milano: Mimesis, 2018: vol. II Araṇyakāṇḍa, pp. 17-47;
· Didactic material delivered during the course (Cf. myAriel Platform).
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: in addition to the program for attending students:
· Sh. Pollock, "The Sanskrit Cosmopolis, 300-1300: Transculturation, Vernacularization, and Question of Ideology", in Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, in (ed.) J. E.M. Houben, Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, Leiden-New York-Koln: E.J. Brill 1996, pp. 197-247.
· A. Aklujkar, "The Early History of Sanskrit as Supreme Language", in (ed.) J. E.M. Houben, Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, Leiden-New York-Koln: E.J. Brill 1996, pp. 59-85.
· B. Lo Turco, Il suono della conoscenza. Oralità, scrittura e pensiero in India, ed. Unicopli, Milano, 2023, testo integrale.
· Rāmāyaṇa: il grande poema epico della mitologia indiana, Milano: Mimesis, 2018: vol. II: Kiṣkiṇḍhyākāṇḍa, pp. 204-225.
9 CFU (Parte C)
· C. Della Casa, Corso di Sanscrito, Milano: Unicopli, edizione aggiornata 2021
· Bhagavadgītā. Traduzione di Bianca Candian. A cura di Anne-Marie Esnoul, Milano: Adelphi.
· G. Flood, L'induismo. Temi, tradizioni, prospettive, Torino: Einaudi, 2006, pp. 139-172; 317-322.
· G. R. Franci, La bhakti. Mistica e devozione nelle tradizioni indiane, a cura di S. Marchignoli, ed. Milano: Unicopli, 2020, pp. 48-76.
· K. K. Saxena, "Growth of the Cult of Vāsudeva-Kṛṣṇa", in Before Kṛṣṇa : Religious Diversity in Ancient Mathura, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 162-182.
· Didactic material delivered during the course (Cf. myAriel Platform).
9 ects (Section C): NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: as alternative to the program for attending students
· Bhagavadgītā. Traduzione di Bianca Candian. A cura di Anne-Marie Esnoul, Adelphi: Milano.
· G. R. Franci, La bhakti. Mistica e devozione nelle tradizioni indiane, a cura di S. Marchignoli, ned. Unicopli, Milano: 2020, pp. 48-76.
· K. K. Saxena, "Growth of the Cult of Vāsudeva-Kṛṣṇa", in Before Kṛṣṇa : Religious Diversity in Ancient Mathura, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 162-182.
· J, C. Heesterman, Il mondo spezzato del sacrificio. Studio sul rituale nell'India antica, Milano: Adelphi.
· A. Malinar, The Bhagavadgītā : doctrines and contexts, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
· S. Castelli, Il genio e la ballerina. Psicologie e filosofie dell'India, Roma: Editori Riuniti.
· A. Pelissero, Letterature classiche dell'India, Brescia: Morcelliana, 2007, pp. 67-93; 19-63.
· C. Della Casa, Corso di Sanscrito, Milano: Unicopli, updated edition 2021: Phonetics; sandhi, Nominal and Verbal Morphology, Nominal Composition, main syntactic structures;
· J. E.M. Houben, Linguistic Paradox and Diglossia: the emergence of Sanskrit and Sanskrit Language in Ancient India, in Open Linguistics, DE GRUYTER OPEN, 2018, Historical Sociolinguistic Philology, 4 (1), pp. 1-18. https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01807465
· B. Lo Turco, Il suono della conoscenza. Oralità, scrittura e pensiero in India, Milano: ed. Unicopli, 2023, pp.17-136.
· R. Salomon, Indian Epigraphy, Oxford University Press, 1998; pp. 7-56; 72-94.
· P. Sylvain-Lévi, La dottrina del sacrificio nei Brāhmaṇa, Milano: Adelphi, 2009 [Italian translation of La doctrine du sacrifice dans les Brâhmanas, Paris 1898].
· Arjuna e l'uomo della montagna (dal Mahābhārata), a cura di A. Pelissero, Torino: Il leone verde, 1997.
· Rāmāyaṇa: il grande poema epico della mitologia indiana, Milano: Mimesis, 2018: vol. II Araṇyakāṇḍa, pp. 17-47;
· Didactic material delivered during the course (Cf. myAriel Platform).
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: in addition to the program for attending students:
· Sh. Pollock, "The Sanskrit Cosmopolis, 300-1300: Transculturation, Vernacularization, and Question of Ideology", in Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, in (ed.) J. E.M. Houben, Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, Leiden-New York-Koln: E.J. Brill 1996, pp. 197-247.
· A. Aklujkar, "The Early History of Sanskrit as Supreme Language", in (ed.) J. E.M. Houben, Ideology and Status of Sanskrit. Contributions to the History of the Sanskrit Language, Leiden-New York-Koln: E.J. Brill 1996, pp. 59-85.
· B. Lo Turco, Il suono della conoscenza. Oralità, scrittura e pensiero in India, ed. Unicopli, Milano, 2023, testo integrale.
· Rāmāyaṇa: il grande poema epico della mitologia indiana, Milano: Mimesis, 2018: vol. II: Kiṣkiṇḍhyākāṇḍa, pp. 204-225.
9 CFU (Parte C)
· C. Della Casa, Corso di Sanscrito, Milano: Unicopli, edizione aggiornata 2021
· Bhagavadgītā. Traduzione di Bianca Candian. A cura di Anne-Marie Esnoul, Milano: Adelphi.
· G. Flood, L'induismo. Temi, tradizioni, prospettive, Torino: Einaudi, 2006, pp. 139-172; 317-322.
· G. R. Franci, La bhakti. Mistica e devozione nelle tradizioni indiane, a cura di S. Marchignoli, ed. Milano: Unicopli, 2020, pp. 48-76.
· K. K. Saxena, "Growth of the Cult of Vāsudeva-Kṛṣṇa", in Before Kṛṣṇa : Religious Diversity in Ancient Mathura, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 162-182.
· Didactic material delivered during the course (Cf. myAriel Platform).
9 ects (Section C): NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: as alternative to the program for attending students
· Bhagavadgītā. Traduzione di Bianca Candian. A cura di Anne-Marie Esnoul, Adelphi: Milano.
· G. R. Franci, La bhakti. Mistica e devozione nelle tradizioni indiane, a cura di S. Marchignoli, ned. Unicopli, Milano: 2020, pp. 48-76.
· K. K. Saxena, "Growth of the Cult of Vāsudeva-Kṛṣṇa", in Before Kṛṣṇa : Religious Diversity in Ancient Mathura, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2021, pp. 162-182.
· J, C. Heesterman, Il mondo spezzato del sacrificio. Studio sul rituale nell'India antica, Milano: Adelphi.
· A. Malinar, The Bhagavadgītā : doctrines and contexts, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
· S. Castelli, Il genio e la ballerina. Psicologie e filosofie dell'India, Roma: Editori Riuniti.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral, and lasts approximately for 30 minutes. Normally, it consists of two sections: the former one aims to verify linguistic knowledge and skills, the latter one aims to ascertain knowledge and skills about literary subjects and further topics, delivered during the course. As to the first section, linguistic knowledge and skills will be evaluated through reading, translation and grammarian comment of texts, translated and analysed during the course. As to the second section, it consists no less than two questions regarding the topics covered by the program, with a peculiar focus on the monographic part.
Grading, on a scale of 30 (minimum passing grade 18), will take into account: the student's general preparation, and the familiarity with the bibliography of the course; linguistic knowledge and skills; understanding and command of fundamental historical and cultural concepts; capacity for synthesis and critical analysis in the presentation; use of appropriate language; accuracy and relevance in the oral presentation.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also, students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Grading, on a scale of 30 (minimum passing grade 18), will take into account: the student's general preparation, and the familiarity with the bibliography of the course; linguistic knowledge and skills; understanding and command of fundamental historical and cultural concepts; capacity for synthesis and critical analysis in the presentation; use of appropriate language; accuracy and relevance in the oral presentation.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also, students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
L-OR/18 - INDOLOGY AND TIBETOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Rossi Paola Maria Antonietta
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)