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SV 301 | Workshop:
Sanskrit Chanting
2-week online course
taught by Luke Gibson
Course Overview
From the sacred Vedic hymns to the ancient Buddhist gāthā-s and the impassioned songs of the Bhakti movement, communal recitation of verse texts has always played a vital role in South-Asian religious life—an oral tradition that continues to contribute to the enduring appeal of the Sanskrit language today.
The key to proper recitation and to a greater enjoyment of this musical dimension of the language is an understanding of Sanskrit prosody (chandaḥ-śāstra)—the study of the various rythmic patterns used in verse texts. As the literary theoritician Daṇḍin (c. 7th century) famously put it in his Kāvyâdarśa (“Mirror of Poetry”):
sā vidyā naur vivikṣūṇāṃ gambhīraṃ kāvyasāgaram |
“That science [of prosody] is a boat for those who wish to enter the deep ocean of poetry.”
This intensive workshop develops your ability to recite and enjoy Sanskrit verses, offering a systematic introduction to the basics of Sanskrit prosody that will cover some of the most common metrical patterns used in Sanskrit poetry, including devotional literature.
Course Features
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Interactive Learning Environment
Students take turns reciting the text, receiving guidance from the instructor to refine their pronunciation and gradually master each melody. Participants are encouraged to ask questions freely and embrace making mistakes as an essential part of the learning process.
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Sound and Meaning
The enjoyment of recitation is hightened by an understanding of the text’s meaning and cultural or philosophical background. Alongside regular recitation practice, time is set aside for brief grammatical analysis and explanation of each verse discussed in this workshop.
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Sanskrit Aphorisms and Devotional Hymns
Our primary materials consist of subhāṣita-s—versified maxims or single-stanza poems—primarily drawn from Buddhist sources. Besides these, we also explore examples of Hindu stotra-s or “hymns of praise” composed in the same metrical patterns, making use of the rich array of contemporary renditions available online.
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Extensive Course Materials
Students receive printable PDF files containing all the texts discussed in the worshop, formatted with generous line spacing to make note-taking easier, together with complete vocabulary lists and translations for each verse. Students have access to high-quality recordings of each lesson for review.
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śrutaṃ mayā devadevāt tattvataḥ śaṅkarād dhitam |
snānajapyasahasrebhyaḥ pavitraṃ gītavāditam ||
“From Śaṅkara, the Supreme Divinity, have I learned this: that chanting and music are, in truth, more beneficial and purifying than thousands of ritual baths or muttered mantras.”
—Bharata Muni, Nāṭyaśāstra 36.27
The Teacher
Luke Gibson has been teaching Sanskrit for over a decade. With a background in French, Mandarin, Classical Chinese, and Pāli as well as Sanskrit, his passion for language learning and pedagogy inspired him to develop his own Sanskrit textbook and launch the Śabda·vidyā Sanskrit Studio, an online platform designed to share his passion with a diverse global audience of Sanskrit enthusiasts. As a relatively young teacher, he retains a vivid understanding of the challenges faced by beginner students. His interests span early Buddhist (Pāli) texts, Mahāyāna philosophy, Advaita Vedānta, Sanskrit poetry (kāvya), as well as the transmission and adaptation of South Asian traditions in East Asia—particularly Chan/Zen Buddhism—and the West.
Audio sample from the teacher—A saying from Kṣemendra’s Bodhisattvāvadānakalpalatā (“Wish-Fulfilling Vine of Bodhisattva Tales”):
ālokas timire vipadviṣamaṇiḥ pāte karālambanaṃ
yācñākalpatarur jagajjayarathaḥ pātheyam antye pathi |
duḥkhavyādhimahauṣadhaṃ bhavabhayodbhrāntāśayāśvāsanaṃ
tāpe candanakānanaṃ sthirasuhṛd dharmaḥ satāṃ bāndhavaḥ ||
“A lamp amid darkness, a magic jewel that banishes misfortune,
a helping hand when one stumbles, a wish-fulfilling tree,
a chariot that subdues the world, provisions for the final journey,
a wondrous medicine that heals the illness of displeasure,
a balm for hearts distressed by the perils of cyclical existence,
a sandalwood grove in scorching heat, a faithful ally—
Dharma is the true companion of the virtuous.”
Teaching Assistant
Xinqiang Wang (王昕嬙) graduated from Beijing Normal University in 2015 with a master’s degree in psychology. Driven by a deep interest in Buddhist teachings, languages, and history, she began studying Sanskrit with Luke in 2019 at the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. She also studied Sanskrit at Hangzhou Buddhist Academy and took part in the Second Ancient Languages Summer Program organized by the Guangqi International Center for Scholars at Shanghai Normal University, where she earned a completion certificate and a scholarship. In recent years, her work has focused on teaching English and Sanskrit, providing mental health counseling, and leading mindfulness meditation workshops.
Course Information
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Class Schedule: TBA.
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Class Format: All sessions will be conducted live online via Zoom.
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Teaching Material: Printable PDF prepared by the teacher, containing all course readings.
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Language of Instruction: English.
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Tuition: $100. Ordained monastics are eligible for a 30% discount.
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Pre-requisites: Students should have a basic grasp of Sanskrit pronunciation.
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Enrollment Limit: To create a more intimate, interactive learning experience, enrollment is capped at 25 students.
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Contact: If you have any questions about the course, feel free to contact the TA or the teacher:
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Teaching Assistant: info@sanskritstudio.com
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Teacher: luke.gibson@sanskritstudio.com
How to Enroll
This course is not open for registration yet. If you’d like to be notified as soon as registration begins, please subscribe to our newsletter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Banner image:
Sarasvatī, 19th century painting by Raja Ravi Varma