Sahitya – III

Sahitya 3

Course content:

This course explores the landscape of drama literature, theories of sentiments and the goals of the art form along with illustrations from classical dramas based on varieties of plots.

In this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand the framework of drama literature among the classical Sanskrit literary works
  2. Observe the social diversity depicted through the usage of language, its state of refinement, description of social stature and ways of life of the different characters through a play
  3. Understand the treatment of a plot by the naṭyakara – the dramatist to create a stimulating story narration and depiction

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Completion of Sahitya – I

Faculty / Instructor:  Prof Soorya Hebbar

Start Date:

End Date:

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Quarter Offered:  Fall Quarter

Sahitya – IV

Sahitya – IV Course content:

In the Hindu literary tradition, literary compositions inculcate awareness and sensibility of Dharma in the minds of both the commoner and the connoisseur. As with all śāstras in the Indic knowledge traditions, kāvya and kāvya-śāstra, i.e. literary composition and the theory of composition have a well instituted and standardized methodology, structure and system. This is the fourth and final course in a sequence of four courses in Sahitya – Classical Sanskrit literature.

Excellence in prose composition is considered as the gold standard of literary creativity in the Sanskrit literary world. Prose compositions are far less common in comparison to poetry in Sanskrit literature. The mixed medium of campū also has a lesser presence but nevertheless has a distinct identity from the prose and poetry literature, from which it draws its structure, as well as from drama.

This course explores the features of prose and campū literature in Sanskrit and provides an illustration of each of the two types. The course also introduces the dialectics and critical analysis that the theorists of Sanskrit literature engaged in.

In this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand the critical inquiry involved in the construction of theories in the Hindu knowledge traditions.
  2. Observe how the standards of creative writing were evaluated differently in the case of prose and campū compositions.

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites:  Completion of Sahitya – III

Faculty / Instructor:  Prof Madhusudan Penna

Quarter Offered:  Winter Quarter

Sahitya – Padya

Sahitya Padya

Course content:

The Sahitya Padya course elucidates the basics of Sanskrit poetics, focusing on the purposes of literary composition, standards and the nature of the verbal and semantic elements that constitute literary compositions.

In this course students will be able to:

  1. Review a literary work based on the knowledge of theories of poetics and its technicalities to evaluate and better appreciate it
  2. Understand the various potencies of words and how their significance and meaning is the kavi’s masterstroke in literary works
  3. Enjoy reading context-based and non-context-based literature

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Completion of Sāhitya Landscape

Faculty / Instructor:  Mr. Surya Hebbar

Quarter Offered:  Spring Quarter

Sahitya Landscape

Sahitya Landscape

Course content:

This course explores the landscape of Sanskrit literature, theories of literary composition as well as specific authors and their works. The fundamental features, classifications, and theories of prose, poetry, drama, and campu (mixed medium) literature are explored in this course along with illustrations of poetic elements from the epic poetries of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

In this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand the landscape of classical literature and poetics in Sanskrit
  2. Understand the elements of aesthetics and its experience according to the Indic theories in poetics
  3. Independently identify the type and nature of a kavya and appreciate the elements of aesthetics and poetics imbued in it

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites:  Admission into the Masters Certificate or MA in Sanskrit Program

Faculty / Instructor:  Prof Madhusudan Penna

Quarter Offered:  Every Summer