Sanskrit Language and Literature

A.Y. 2023/2024
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-OR/18
Language
Italian
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.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

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; Epic Literature, and Dramatic 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
- Ritual, narrative, and dramatic performances in ancient India: notes on the foundation myth of the Indian theatre; reading and comment of texts.
- 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 Dramatic 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
- Ritual, narrative, and dramatic performances in ancient India: notes on the foundation myth of the Indian theatre; 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 Ariel, 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; 387-398; 415-419.
· C. Della Casa, Corso di Sanscrito, Milano: Unicopli, edizione aggiornata 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.
· Kālidāsa, Il riconoscimento di Śakuntalā, a c. di V. Mazzarino, Milano: Adelphi.
· Storia di Śakuntalā. Mahābhārata I, 62-69, a cura di D. Sagramoso Rossella, Venezia: Marsilio.
· Didactic material delivered during the course (Cf. Ariel 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 (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.
· A. Pelissero, Letterature classiche dell'India, Brescia: Morcelliana, 2007, pp. 387-435.
· Poesia Indiana Classica, a cura di S. Lienhard e G. Boccali, Venezia: Marsilio, 2009.


9 ects in aggiunta (Section C)

· C. Della Casa, Corso di Sanscrito, Milano: Unicopli, edizione aggiornata 2021
· A. Pelissero, Letterature classiche dell'India, Brescia: Morcelliana, 2007, pp. 19-63.
· Selezione di inni da S. Sani, Ṛgveda. Le strofe della sapienza, Marsilio, Venezia, 2000: in particolare, gli inni dialogati indicati durante il corso.
· P. M. Rossi, "Madhu[c]chandas: dalla performance compositiva alla performance rituale. La R̥gvedasaṃhitā tra poetica e compilazione". In (a cura di) I. Spanò, Il corpo della parola. Inni, poemi e performance nell'India antica e contemporanea, Palermo: Edizioni Museo Pasqualino, 2021, pp. 47-72.
· V. Hämeen-Anttila, "Back to Śunaḥśepa: remarks on the gestation of the Indian literary narrative", in Studia Orientalia Electronica 94 (2001), pp. 181-213:
https://journal.fi/store/article/view/43970
· V. Mazzarino, "Nāṭyaśāstra, I ADH.: la leggenda sull'origine del teatro", in (a c. di) O. Botto, I. Piovano, V. Agostini, Atti dell'ottavo convegno nazionale di studi sanscriti (Torino, 20-21 settembre 1995), AISS, Torino, pp. 69-80.
· Ch. Malamoud, "Rito, simulacro, teatro", in La danza delle pietre, Milano: Adelphi, 2005, pp. 217-249.
· Didactic material delivered during the course (Cf. Ariel Platform).

9 ects (Section C): NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: as alternative to the program for attending students

· A. Pelissero, Letterature classiche dell'India, Brescia: Morcelliana, 2007, pp. 19-63
· P. Sylvain-Lévi, La dottrina del sacrificio nei Brāhmaṇa, Milano: Adelphi, 2009 [Tr. italiana di La doctrine du sacrifice dans les Brâhmanas, Paris 1898].
· Atharvaveda. Il Veda delle formule magiche, a cura di P.M. Rossi, Milano: Mimesis: SOLO EDIZIONE 2020; solo Premessa (pp. 9-64).
· S. D'Intino, "Alterity and Poetry. The Ṛgveda and the Invention of Indian Theatre", in Cracow Indological Studies (2018), pp. 69-80: https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=731144
· Inni III. 33; X. 95; X. 10; I. 179; I. 165; IV. 42; X. 51; VII. 18 da S. Sani, Ṛgveda. Le strofe della sapienza, Marsilio, Venezia, 2000.
· A.B. Keith, The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development. Theory and Practice. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924.
· Rāmāyaṇa: il grande poema epico della mitologia indiana, Milano: Mimesis, 2018: volume II, Araṇyakāṇḍa, Sundarakāṇḍa (pp. 15ss.; pp. 333ss.).
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 explained 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.
L-OR/18 - INDOLOGY AND TIBETOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Educational website(s)