SAIIER 2020:Learning and enlivening Sanskrit in Auroville
Learning and enlivening Topic::Sanskrit in Auroville
The purpose of this project was to increase awareness on the importance of learning Sanskrit and its relevance in realizing Auroville’s goal of human unity and transformation of consciousness. The proposed plan was to organize various workshops and activities for learning Sanskrit language and collective study of sacred texts written in Sanskrit.
Most of you would be aware that on 15 December 1970, The Mother had written about four languages to be studied in Auroville as English, French, Sanskrit and Tamil. The long-term plan is to make Sanskrit a living language in Auroville and also create a team that will focus on offering Sanskrit learning to children in Auroville schools and beyond.
Description of project:
1. Workshops:
On June 1, 2019, we began with monthly workshops facilitated by Dr. Sampadananda Mishra, Director of Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Indian Culture on learning Sanskrit language and also deeper understanding of sacred texts like Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita etc. Each session was attended by participant numbers ranging from 20 to 40 every month. Given below is the list of workshops:
Date Venue Topic June 1, 2019 SAIIER Hall Samskritam – ‘Sculpted to Perfection’ June 29, 2019 Bharat Nivas Sanskrit Varnamala and Chhandas July 27, 2019 Bharat Nivas How to approach the Sanskrit classics August 24, 2019 Bharat Nivas Upanishads September 21, 2019 Bharat Nivas Veda and Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga - 1 October 26, 2019 Bharat Nivas Veda and Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga - 2 November 9, 2019 Bharat Nivas Veda and Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga - 3 December 28, 2019 Savitri Bhavan Veda and Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga - 4 January 25, 2020 Bharat Nivas Vedic Gurukulams in the Present Context March 14, 2020 Bharat Nivas Scientific Heritage of India
2. Weekly classes:
In September 2019, we started a weekly Study Circle on Bhagavad Gita, facilitated by Aravinda. It was held every Thursday from 4:45pm to 5:45pm at the International Zone Hall, Bharat Nivas.
In October 2019, we started weekly classes on learning written and spoken Sanskrit, facilitated by Rajakumari. These were held at Deepanam School every Monday from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.
From 5-10 participants attended these sessions and the classes happened weekly until the Covid-19 lockdown started in mid-March.
3. Mantra chanting:
We were invited several times to offer Sanskrit Mantra chanting at various events. A few examples of events where we offered Mantra chanting were on the August 15th celebration at Bharat Nivas and the AUM Music Festival at Youth Center.
4. One-time events:
We also organized events based on availability of facilitators visiting Auroville. Here are a two examples:
- “How to Memorize Bhagavad Gita Happily, Quickly, Creatively?” by Ojasi Sukhtankar on January 23, 2020
- “Relevance of Sanskrit in Education and Law” by Dr. K. Parameswaran on January 26, 2020
5. Collaboration:
We reached out to all Auroville and Outreach Schools through the School Board and also the Teachers' Center, offering our support and willingness to collaborate in enhancing Sanskrit learning activities and growing together. We were invited to Deepanam School, Isai Ambalam School and NESS, so some of our team members went and attended Sanskrit classes and programs held there. We also offered some regular inputs in the classes held at Deepanam School and they were appreciated.
Children from Udavi School attended the exhibition we had organised on the Scientific Heritage of India at Bharat Nivas in March 2020 and we also did collective Mantra chanting. More schools had scheduled visits to the exhibition and some programs in Sanskrit like songs, poems, short skits, conversation etc. with children were also planned, but had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
We also collaborated with other Aurovilians who were holding classes in Sanskrit and included details of their offerings in our communication. Here are a few examples:
- “Six Principles of Vedic Chanting”, 2nd and 9th November, 2019, facilitated by Sangeetha Sriram
- “Traditional Mantra Chanting”, every Monday (Beginners) and every Friday (Advanced) at Joy Community, facilitated by Sonia Novaes
- “Meditations with Hymns of the Rig Veda”, every Monday at Savitri Bhavan, facilitated by Nishtha
- “Introduction to Sanskrit”, every Saturday at Sri Aurobindo Centre for Studies, Bharat Nivas, facilitated by Angelo
- Sanskrit Learning Resources at Auroville Language Lab (ALL)
- Sanskrit Research Institute (SRI), Auroville
This led to a collaborative and harmonious spirit and it was palpable when we all came together to organise a series of events in March 2020. Details are given below.
6. Confluence:
To take small steps ahead towards learning Sanskrit and making it a living language in Auroville, Samskritam Auroville team and Bharat Nivas organised an exhibition on संविज्ञानम्-- Scientific Heritage of India (developed by Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Indian Culture) and a संस्कृत-सम्मेलनम् Sanskrit Confluence.
The Sanskrit Confluence began with a deeply sacred energy on March 9, 2020 and it was beautifully building up with events every day until March 16, 2020 which was the last public session. From March 17, 2020 Covid-19 lockdown started and we had to cancel some planned sessions. We ended with a small group doing a collective recitation and study of Sri Aurobindo Upanishad and chanting mantras for health and well being of all.
Outcomes:
“Samskritam Auroville” group has been created which is regularly organizing a series of workshops and events for learning Sanskrit. It has brought together many people in Auroville who were interested in learning Sanskrit and collective study of the sacred texts and now they have a feeling of a ‘SamoohikSaadhana’ (Collective Spiritual Practice) through learning Sanskrit.
For instance when the Covid-19 lockdown happened, we experimented with an online study circle on Bhagavad Gita from April 24, 2020 to May 4, 2020. It ended up being a very deep and sacred gathering with around a dozen of us in Auroville and a few more from outside committed to learning the Sanskrit slokas of Bhagavad Gita and Sri Aurobindo’s interpretations in English. Many participants reflected that it was like a collective ‘yajna’ which gave a lot of strength and courage.
Reflections:
The most meaningful aspect of this project was to witness how through learning Sanskrit our commitments towards the spiritual aspect of our life and work in Auroville increased. It has been a reflection of several people that “to be a willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness” became more natural while learning and communicating in Sanskrit. What is also very meaningful is the harmony and joy with which the Samskritam Auroville team is working together and openly sharing and collaborating with all who are working towards realising the wish of the Mother to have Sanskrit as one of the four key languages in Auroville.
One of our guiding principles has been to not put a price-tag on any of our learning programs. People can offer contributions at the end of the program if they wish to do so but they are not obliged to do so. The participants really appreciate this ‘offering’ made in the spirit of gift and when their cup of gratitude overflows, they come forward and support the work in multiple ways. So it has become a collaborative effort with a very good community spirit.
The challenge is to sustain the initial enthusiasm of learning Sanskrit and transforming the aspiration into a commitment of regular practice. What we are learning is that even if a small group sustains with commitment, eventually it will spread to a larger group when the time ripens. We are learning to trust in the power of Sincerity, Perseverance and Surrender.
Conclusion:
We feel deeply committed to continue this Sanskrit learning यज्ञ in Auroville as willing servitors of the Divine Consciousness.