“काणादं पाणिनीयं च सर्वशास्त्रोपकारकम्”

(Tarka and Vyakarana are helpful for the study of all shaastras)

This is a popular saying which highlights the importance of studying Paninian Grammar. A basic knowledge of grammar is essential for all students who wish to study any literature or shaastra in Sanskrit. Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi by Varadaraja is one of the most popular entry level texts for Paninian Grammar.

Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi was authored by Varadaraja, a student of Bhattoji Dikshita. Bhattoji Dikshita’s monumental work, Vaiyakarana Siddhanta Kaumudi, is one of the foundational texts of Vyakarana, where all the sutras of the Ashtadhyayi are discussed with explanation and examples.

Varadaraja condensed and abridged the elaborate and detailed Siddhanta Kaumudi to create the Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi, for the use of beginners and students of other shaastras who wish to gain basic knowledge of Paninian system. Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi contains 1270 sutras (about 30% of the total number), and covers the basics of all prakaranas/topics. Therefore, it is popularly included in the syllabus of many undergraduate courses in Sanskrit.

This course is the first part of a series on Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi, and will cover the following 4 chapters.

1. संज्ञाप्रकरणम् – Covers the basic technical terms of Vyakarana, including इत्संज्ञा, division of svaras, स्थान-प्रयत्न elaboration for all letters, concept of सवर्ण

2. अच्सन्धिप्रकरणम् – covers rules concerned with modification of अच् letters. 7 sandhis – यण्सन्धि, यान्तवान्तादेशसन्धि, गुणसन्धि, वृद्धिसन्धि, पररूपसन्धि, पूर्वरूपसन्धि and सवर्णदीर्घसन्धि are covered, including some rules on prohibition of Sandhi (प्रकृतिभाव)

3. हल्सन्धिप्रकरणम् – covers aadeshas and aagamas for consonant letters, with detailed rules for श्चुत्वसन्धि, ष्टुत्वसन्धि, जश्त्वसन्धि, अनुनासिकसन्धि, परसवर्णसन्धि, पूर्वसवर्णसन्धि, चर्त्वसन्धि, छत्वसन्धि, अनुस्वारसन्धि, कुक्-टुक्-धुट्-तुक्-ङमुट्-सुट् आगमाः

4. विसर्गसन्धिप्रकरणम् – covers the modifications of visarga, and also sandhis which don’t involve visarga directly but are commonly identified as visargasandhi.

Note – Further portions of Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi are planned to be covered in other parts, which will be announced as separate courses post-completion of Part 1.

Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi is prescribed as part of the syllabus for various exams in the Prak Shastri, Shastri Setu and Shastri Levels in Mukta Swadhyaya Peetham, RSVP Tirupati and KSU BA. This course covers the initial chapter of the technical terms that is संज्ञाs and then three सन्धिs – अच्, हल् and विसर्ग.

Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi along with Ashtadhyayi is also suggested as the primary vyakarana text for people studying Vedanta as their main subject in many of the vedantic traditions.

Learning outcomes –

1. Refine your language skills through Grammar.
2. Learn the basic terms of Paninian Grammar, and Sharpen your understanding of Sandhis through exact rules.
3. Learn to unlock the coded information held in Sutras and apply them to examples from literature.
4. Equip yourself for the study of literature and shaastras.
5. Appreciate the structure and depth of Ashtadhyayi – the oldest “programming language” of the world.

Unique Features of the Course –

1. Detailed Sutra by Sutra explanation
2. Focus on Conceptual clarity and application of sutras
3. Extensive exercises for practice, dedicated sessions for solving exercises and clearing doubts
4. Study material – Handouts and Charts
5. Emphasis on Oral practice to aid memory and understanding

Live Classes

An Entrance Test was conducted on 9th August 2020. If you have cleared the Entrance Test, you should have received an Email with Live class registration link. If you have not received the link, please write an Email to sowmya.krishnapur@vyomalabs.in

For accessing the recordings and other Course materials

1. 1. Log in to your account and visit – https://www.sanskritfromhome.in/course/laghu_siddhanta_kaumudi_part_1
   2. Click the ‘Take this Course’ option below this course description (Red-coloured button). This will allow you to access all materials of the course.

If you are a new user,

1. 1. Visit – www.sanskritfromhome.in/register to register for a free account in our portal and choose a username and password for yourself.
   2. Activate your registration using the link in your confirmation email. [The email will be sent to the id that you provide during registration. If you cannot find the email, please check your Spam or Promotion folders].
   3. Log in to your account and visit – https://www.sanskritfromhome.in/course/laghu_siddhanta_kaumudi_part_1
   4. Click the ‘Take this Course’ option below this course description (Red-coloured button). This will allow you to access all materials of the course.

Do I need any special app for attending the classes?

If you are attending through a Smartphone, please download the free “GoToWebinar” app from the Playstore. Clicking the “Join Webinar” link from your Email will open the GoToWebinar app and take you into the webinar.

GoToWebinar App for Android

GoToWebinar App for iOS

If you are attending through a PC, just click on the “Join Webinar” link from your Email and follow the instructions on-screen.

For help in attending webinars, visit this page – https://support.goto.com/webinar/how-to-join-attendees

1. How are the classes conducted?

The classes will be conducted online through a tool called GoToWebinar. Students can join the classes through their computers or smartphones.

2. Are the classes live?

Yes. Live sessions are conducted weekly between Monday, Friday and Sunday – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM IST. Only those who have cleared the Entrance test can enter the live classes.

Monday and Friday will be teaching sessions. On Sundays, solutions to the exercises will be discussed.

3. Can I ask questions / doubts?

Yes, you can get your doubts clarified during the QA portion of the live sessions.

4. Is attending the live sessions enough, or is any extra work expected?

This is a shaastra course, and requires rigorous, regular study. 3-4 hours of self-study per week is expected, in addition to attending the classes. There will be exercises given in every class, and there will be regular assessments for every unit.

5. I missed the announcement of this course and did not attend the Entrance test. Can I write the Entrance test now for the live classes?

Apologies. The Entrance test procedure is now over. We will not be able to accommodate any more requests for this batch. You can follow the course through recordings and materials posted in the course page.

• Students who have learnt basic language skills and wish to improve their language through a systematic study of Grammar.
• Students who have passed the informal language-learning exams and wish to enter into the study of any shaastras or advanced literature in Sanskrit.
• Students pursuing undergraduate courses in Sanskrit where Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi is part of the syllabus.
• Spiritual seekers and learners of other shaastras like Vedanta, who wish to understand the bhashyas and other commentaries better

Level of Difficulty – Intermediate

1. What will be the language used in the classes?

The lectures will be in Sanskrit. Very good familiarity with Spoken Sanskrit is recommended.

2. How are the sessions structured?

Each session in the course is of 60-70 minutes duration. It will usually have two parts, each part contains explanation, worked-examples, and doubt-clearing/QA.

Every class will have homework exercises. In the exercise discussion session, students will be given an opportunity to share their answers, and ask any doubts.

3. What does the course cover?

संज्ञाप्रकरणम् (Samjna Prakaranam) सन्धयः (Sandhis) (अच्सन्धिः (Achsandhi) हल्सन्धिः (Halsandhi) विसर्गसन्धिश्च (Visargasandhi) [Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi by Varadaraja]

4. What is the fee for this course?

The course is free of cost. Participants may give a voluntary Gurudakshina as donation to Vyoma Labs.

Teacher of the course-

Dr. Sowmya Krishnapur

• Dr. Sowmya Krishnapur is currently the Head of E-learning at Vyoma Linguistic Labs Foundation. She has learnt Sanskrit from Maataa Vid. Ananthalakshmi Natarajan & Sri Venkatasubramanian and Vyakarana shastra from able gurus like Vid. Smt. Vijayalakshmi Mahabaleshwara Bhat, Dr. Chandrashekhar Bhat, Dr. Narasimha Murthy and Dr. Krishnananta Padmanabha.
•  She obtained her Ph.D. in the area of Vyakarana (Department of Sanskrit, University of Madras), after completing Acharya (Vyakarana) at Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Sringeri.
• 15+ years of experience in teaching language and Vyakarana Shastra at various levels

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Click here to know about all her courses on Vyoma portal

Tutorial Assistance (Exercise Discussion sessions)

Smt. Sharada Krishnamoorthy

• Smt. Sharada has completed her Acharya (Sahityashastra) and Shikshashastri degrees from RSVP, Tirupati.
• Has been learning Vyakarana from Dr. Sowmya Krishnapur since over 4 years
• Well-trained in spoken Sanskrit methodology

Click here to view profile

On successful completion of the course, a Certificate will be issued based on Attendance, participation in mid-course tests, and Final assessment.