Sanskrit: SAN

Lower-Division Courses

SAN 506. First-Year Sanskrit I.

Introduction to basic grammatical principles, with reading of Ramayana episodes as illustrations. Five class hours a week for one semester.

SAN 507. First-Year Sanskrit II.

Detailed study of problems of grammar and syntax; reading of extracts from Hitopadesha and the Bhagavad Gita. Five class hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 506 with a grade of at least C.

SAN 312K. Second-Year Sanskrit I.

Introduction to classical Sanskrit prose literature; readings from the Epics and Kathasaritsagara. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 507 with a grade of at least C.

SAN 312L. Second-Year Sanskrit II.

Introduction to classical Sanskrit poetry and philosophical literature; readings from the Upanishads and Kalidasa's Meghaduta. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312K with a grade of at least C.

SAN 119S, 219S, 319S, 419S, 519S, 619S, 719S, 819S, 919S. Topics in Sanskrit.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Asian Studies. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.

Upper-Division Courses

SAN 325K. Advanced Sanskrit Readings and Composition I.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

SAN 325L. Advanced Sanskrit Readings and Composition II.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 325K with a grade of at least C.

SAN 129S, 229S, 329S, 429S, 529S, 629S, 729S, 829S, 929S. Topics in Sanskrit.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Asian Studies. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer work is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.

SAN 330. Topics in Sanskrit Language and Literature.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

Topic 1: Sanskrit Drama. Provides students with a firmer foundation in Sanskrit grammar, syntax, and vocabulary; and an appreciation of the aesthetics of Sanskrit drama. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: Sanskrit Drama) and 330 (Topic 1) may not both be counted.
Topic 2: Vedic Poetry. Religious and literary features of Vedic poetry, the development of Vedic Sanskrit, and the relation of Vedic to Classical Sanskrit. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: Vedic Poetry) and 330 (Topic 2) may not both be counted.

SAN 330C. Bhagavata Purana.

Examine the famous Bhagavata-Purana, a collection of stories and theologies of Vaisnava Hinduism, with a focus on selected readings from the tenth book or canto of the text, which contains a theological biography of Krsna. Develop both broad and deep knowledge of the text, and explore its significance within Sanskrit intellectual, literary, and religious histories. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: Bhagavata Purana) and 330C may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

SAN 330D. Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa.

Focus on the third and fifth cantos of the Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa, a poetic masterpiece of Sanskrit literature. Consider the poetics and compositional style of the text, the style of Sanskrit commentary, and the translation of complex Sanskrit verse into English, as well as the mythological assumptions, social perspectives, and cultural concerns that inform the text. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa) and 330D may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

SAN 330E. Dharmasastra.

Examine selected topical readings from the genre of Sanskrit literature called Dharmasastra, also known loosely as Hindu law, with focus on legal and religious topics of dharma from the earliest sutras to the smrtis to the later commentaries and digests. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: Dharmasastra) and 330E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

SAN 330F. Buddhist and Jain Sanskrit.

Examine selections from important texts of Buddhist and Jain traditions with a focus on the Sanskrit vocabulary and style of these traditions, as well as their conceptual, doctrinal, and narrative foundations. Focus on both systematic expositions of religious doctrine (sastra, darsana), and on narrative theologies (katha, carita, avadana) to facilitate comparison between the two religious traditions. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: Buddhist and Jain Sanskrit) and 330F may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

SAN 330G. Purva-Mimamsa.

Examine the Purva-Mimamsa, the system of hermeneutics developed to interpret the intricate ritual prescriptions of the Brahmana texts in the Vedic corpus. Explore this system through study of a primer of Mimamsa hermeneutics in Sanskrit, and through secondary readings providing context and broader background to the influence of Mimamsa. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: Intro to Purva-Mimamsa) and 330G may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

SAN 330U. The Upanishads.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sanskrit 330 (Topic: The Upanishads) and 330U may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Sanskrit 312L with a grade of at least C.

SAN 360. Conference Course in Sanskrit Language and Literature.

Supervised individual study of selected problems in Sanskrit language or literature. Conference course. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, Sanskrit 312L, and written consent of instructor on form obtained from the undergraduate adviser.

Graduate Courses

SAN 381. Conference Course in Sanskrit Language and Culture.

Supervised individual study in Sanskrit language or culture. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and written consent of instructor on form obtained from the graduate coordinator.

SAN 384S. Topics in Sanskrit Language and Culture.

Study of various aspects and periods of Sanskrit language and culture. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Sanskrit 325L, 330, or the equivalent, or consent of instructor.

Topic 1: Advanced Readings in Sanskrit.
Topic 2: Readings in Classical Sanskrit Prose and Literature.
Topic 3: Sanskrit Drama. Provides students with a firmer foundation in Sanskrit grammar, syntax, and vocabulary; and an appreciation of the aesthetics of Sanskrit drama. Sanskrit 384S (Topic: Sanskrit Drama) and 384S (Topic 3) may not both be counted.
Topic 4: Vedic Poetry. Religious and literary features of Vedic poetry, the development of Vedic Sanskrit, and the relation of Vedic to Classical Sanskrit. Sanskrit 384S (Topic: Vedic Poetry) and 384 (Topic 4) may not both be counted.
Topic 5: The Upanishads. Sanskrit 384S (Topic: The Upanishads) and 384S (Topic 5) may not both be counted.
Topic 6: Bhagavata Purana. Examine the famous Bhagavata-Purana, a collection of stories and theologies of Vaisnava Hinduism, with a focus on selected readings from the tenth book or canto of the text, which contains a theological biography of Krsna. Develop both broad and deep knowledge of the text, and explore its significance within Sanskrit intellectual, literary, and religious histories. Sanskrit 384S (Topic: Bhagavata Purana) and 384S (Topic 6) may not both be counted.
Topic 7: Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa. Focus on the third and fifth cantos of the Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa, a poetic masterpiece of Sanskrit literature. Consider the poetics and compositional style of the text, the style of Sanskrit commentary, and the translation of complex Sanskrit verse into English, as well as the mythological assumptions, social perspectives, and cultural concerns that inform the text. Sanskrit 384S (Topic: Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa) and 384S (Topic 7) may not both be counted.
Topic 8: Dharmasastra. Examine selected topical readings from the genre of Sanskrit literature called Dharmasastra, also known loosely as Hindu law, with focus on legal and religious topics of dharma from the earliest sutras to the smrtis to the later commentaries and digests. Sanskrit 384S (Topic: Dharmasastra) and 384S (Topic 8) may not both be counted.
Topic 9: Buddhist and Jain Sanskrit. Examine selections from important texts of Buddhist and Jain traditions with a focus on the Sanskrit vocabulary and style of these traditions, as well as their conceptual, doctrinal, and narrative foundations. Focus on both systematic expositions of religious doctrine (sastra, darsana), and on narrative theologies (katha, carita, avadana) to facilitate comparison between the two religious traditions. Sanskrit 384S (Topic: Buddhist and Jain Sanskrit) and 384S (Topic 9) may not both be counted.
Topic 10: Purva-Mimamsa. Examine the Purva-Mimamsa, the system of hermeneutics developed to interpret the intricate ritual prescriptions of the Brahmana texts in the Vedic corpus. Explore this system through study of a primer of Mimamsa hermeneutics in Sanskrit, and through secondary readings providing context and broader background to the influence of Mimamsa.

Professional Courses