© DrSurabhi Verma

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha

Course ID: HS 1317

INTRODUCTION TO THE METAPHYSICS OF

SANSKRIT LANGUAGE

Course Co-ordinator: Prof. Surabhi Verma

1
© DrSurabhi Verma

• Unit 1: Nature of Language

❖ What is Language?

❖ Difference between Bhāṣā, Vāk and Vāṇī

❖ Spoken and Compositional language

❖ The Knowledge disciplines related with discourse of Language

❖ Effect of orality on the Nature of Language

COURSE ❖ The Language of the Universe: Nāda (Resonance)
OUTLINE • Unit 2: Introduction to the components of Sanskrit Language

❖ Physical aspects

1. Sounds (Dhvani)

2. Syllables (akṣara/varṇa)

3. Śabda (word)

4. Pada (morphological unit)

5. Ukti (utterances)

2
© DrSurabhi Verma
❖ Metaphysical aspects

1. Language and Reality (Sattā)

2. Mantrātmaka and prapañcātmaka

3. Language as an ontological category

4. Discourse of language as Cognitive System

5. Intrinsic property of Language

COURSE 6. Verb centred Language: Sanskrit

OUTLINE
7. Special features of Sanskrit language

▪ Metrical (chāndas)

▪ Figurative (alaṃkāra yukta)

▪ Compound (samāsa) and assimilation (sandhiḥ) based

▪ Coded (inflectional- pratyayānta)

▪ Abbreviated (sutra baddha)

▪ Generative (derivational)

▪ Usage based (loka pramāṇa)

3
© DrSurabhi Verma
• Unit 3: The Discourse of śabda and artha
❖ Signifier (vācaka), signified (vācya) and the meaning (vācyārtha)
❖ The relationship of śabda and artha and the question of nitya (indestructible)
❖ Vāk and its four levels of manifestation
❖ The three types of meaning (artha)
❖ The two possibilities of getting meaning of utterances
❖ The requirements for constructing meaning of utterances
• Unit 4: The Science of Mantra
COURSE ❖ Mantra: meaning and dimensions

OUTLINE ❖ The Accents in Vaidika mantra

❖ The Purpose of Mantra
❖ Relation between mantra and spanda
❖ Autonomous spontaneous mantra (ajāpajāpa)
❖ Study of Language as an Ontological System
1. The Chapter of energy and consciousness
2. The encapsulation and limitation of energy
3. Manifestation of sound energy as potencies in relation to ontological categories
4. The Transposition Effect during Genesis of Vāk
5. The rectification (purification) in reversal 4
 5
UNIT -4
© DrSurabhi Verma
© DrSurabhi Verma
3. The Purpose of Mantra
• Iśvarapratyabhijñā-vimarśinī, explains that mantra is the
essence (ātmā) of the power of thought (vimarśa śakti) and
thinking capability is a power of Consciousness. Thus, the
real property of mantra is to review oneself. Mantra can be
classified in two categories-
1. Sāñjana (effectivity of mantra to achieve worldly benefits)
2. Nirañjana (effectivity of mantra to realize one’s own
transcendental form)
• When the mantra functions to provide worldly benefits, the
power inherent protects the practitioner (sādhaka) and when
it functions to enlighten the self, the process of speculation
(manana) dominates.
• Kashmir Śaiva darśana explains the power inherent in
mantra is none other than the Śakti herself. Śakti is titled in
this system to show the power of Consciousness. In general
understanding, we can equate her with energy.
• The energy or the power of Consciousness when conceals
her real form and potency, the mantras create a particular
effect. This means that convergence or contraction of energy
at a fixed target produces the effect and this effect is brought
about through mantra. When the same energy or power of
Consciousness reveals herself, the real form of
Consciousness shines and this become experienced to
practitioner (sādhaka) as Self-realization through recitation
of mantra. Thus, there are two approaches of mantra
practice-
1. Expansion of Self (Ātma-vibhava)
2. Contraction of Self (Ātma-saṁkoca)
• In Tantrāloka, Ācārya Abhinavagupta says that the person is
engaged there only wherever he/she wants to enjoy the
world, similarly, wherever the effect of mantra is desired, it
is engaged there only. If the desire is to consume the
worldly benefits then the power of Consciousness will
conceal herself to produce the desired effect. And, if the
desire is to realize oneself dominates, the power of
Consciousness will reveal herself.
6
 7
THANK YOU.
© DrSurabhi Verma