Sanskrit, Prakrit & Pali

Sanskrit belongs to the Indo Iranian branch of Indo European family. For centuries it has been accepted as the language of administration and learned communication in India. Therefore it comprises of a vast variety of literature. It includes epics, dramas, erotic poetry, devotional poetry, treatises on administration, politics, and modern sciences such as chemistry and so on. This ancient language has acquired more importance as the borders between different nations shrunk due to globalization.

About Location

The Sanskrit Language Program is located in Pune (erstwhile Poona), which is considered to be a seat of learning. It is also considered as the cultural and educational capital of Maharashtra. It boasts of a prestigious university, i.e. University of Pune, and many an institution of eminence. It has a special place in the development of Maharashtra and of India.

Pune's population is 3.5 million. Local language is Marathi, common language is Hindi, and English is also understood. Mid-June to mid-September is the Monsoon season. After monsoon comes Post-monsoon (Oct-Nov) with little rain and warm weather, Winter (Nov-Feb), Spring (Feb-March), Summer (April-May).

Elementary

9-10 10-11 15 minutes 11.15-12.15 12.15-1 1.00-1.15 1.15-2.15 2.15-3.15
Monday Grammar Grammar Break Reading /Dictation Translation Memorization /Recitation Lunch
Tuesday Grammar Grammar Break Vocabulary Speaking Memorization /Recitation Lunch Zero Hour
Wednesday Grammar Grammar Break Reading /Dictation Listening Memorization /Recitation Lunch -
Thursday Grammar Grammar Break Vocabulary Journal Writing and correction Memorization /Recitation Lunch Zero Hour
Friday Grammar Review Grammar Review Break Weekly Test Weekly Test and Teachers students Meet Memorization /Recitation Lunch

*Local trips will be post-lunch, and field trips will be on weekends.

Intermediate

9-10 10-11 15 minutes 11.15-12.15 12.15-1 1.00-1.15 1.15-2.15 2.15-3.15
Monday Grammar Textual Reading Break Textual Reading Translation Memorization /Recitation Lunch
Tuesday Grammar Textual Reading Break Textual Reading Speaking Memorization /Recitation Lunch Zero Hour
Wednesday Grammar Textual Reading Break Personal Tutorial Listening Memorization /Recitation Lunch
Thursday Grammar Personal Tutorial Break Personal Tutorial Journal Error Correction Memorization /Recitation Lunch Zero Hour
Friday Grammar Review Vocabulary Break Weekly Test Weekly Test and Teachers students Meet Memorization /Recitation Lunch

*Local trips will be post-lunch, and field trips will be on weekends.

Advanced

9-10 10-11 15 minutes 11.15-12.15 12.15-1 1.00-1.15 1.15-2.15 2.15-3.15
Monday Pāṇiniya Grammar Textual Reading Break Textual Reading Content Writing Memorization /Recitation Lunch -
Tuesday Pāṇiniya Grammar Textual Reading Break Textual Reading Speaking/ Discussion in Sanskrit on a particular topic Memorization /Recitation Lunch Zero Hour
Wednesday Pāṇiniya Grammar Textual Reading Break Textual Reading Listening Memorization /Recitation Lunch
Thursday Personal Tutorial Personal Tutorial Break Review of Weekly Reading Journal Error Correction Memorization /Recitation Lunch Zero Hour
Friday Pāṇiniya Grammar Review Personal Tutorial Break Weekly Test Weekly Test and Teachers students Meet Memorization /Recitation Lunch

*Local trips will be post-lunch, and field trips will be on weekends.

The syllabus is flexible. After receiving students' CVs and the statement of purpose, necessary changes are made taking into consideration students' interests, and their proficiency level. All classes are held in Sanskrit to the extent possible. The program aims at developing students proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Reading:

Textual Reading: Passages from a variety of Sanskrit literature are selected.

Personal Tutorial: Students read the text of their choice.

Magazine Reading and Modern Literature: Passages from Sanskrit magazine and modern literature are read.

Writing: Students write journal every week, They also translate different passages from English to Sanskrit.

Listening: Different audio material is played and students try to comprehend it.

Speaking: Activities, such as picture narration, story telling, debate, role play etc are undertaken.

Grammar Review: The applied grammar is reviewed along with different drilling exercises.

Vocabulary: The vocabulary of the week is reviewed and the peculiar usages are discussed.

Verse Recitation: Students recite and memorize different verses.

Local and Field Trips: Students visit Sanskrit institutions and other traditional sites.

Some outdoor activities: Students gather information about Sanskrit institutions by speaking with them in Sanskrit and submit the report. A language camp may also be arranged

Advanced Reading Course in Sanskrit

Eligibility - Minimum three years of Sanskrit study.

Duration - one semester (Fall or Spring) from the academic year.

The Aim of this reading course is to make students familiar with various advanced and classical texts in Sanskrit, and the traditional method of analysis and textual criticism presented in these texts. The texts vary in range and nature from poetry to poetics and from veda and vedāṅga literature to philosophical literature such as sāṅkhya, nyāya, mῑmāṁsā, vedānta, tantra etc. and also commentarial literature.

A screening test may be executed to know students proficiency.

The teaching will be for three hours (9 a.m. to 12 .15 p.m.) from Monday to Friday, while one hour will be kept for discussion and writing. This class will be devoted to reinforce the content and the arguments made in the texts read earlier. This particular method is a traditional way of reinforcement which is called as anuvāda.

The medium of instruction will be Sanskrit.

Initially a dialogue and discussion class may be taken for making students familiar and comfortable in speaking which would be required for the rest of the course.

The last class may be converted into a dialogue and discussion class for first couple of weeks.

Special guest speakers may be invited to speak on a particular branch.

Tests will be arranged periodically to evaluate students understanding and progress.

There will be different texts and schools chosen for the reading course every couple of years, and will be uploaded on the website.

The texts for the reading course are:

Weeks 1 - 5: 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. nāṭyaśāstra  1st, 18th , 19th  chapters
10.45 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. śākuntalam (firts act) referring rāghavabhaṭṭa commentary 
Weeks 6 - 10: 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. sāṅkhyakārikā  with sāṅkhyatattvakaumudῑ
10.45 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. vyākaraṇa-mahābhāṣya – paspaśāhnika.
Weeks 11 - 15: 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. chāndogya -upaniṣad - 6th   adhyāya with śāṅkarabhāṣya
10.45 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. ῑśvara-pratyabhijñāvimarśiṇῑ  - āgamādhikāra
Local trip to Deccan College Sanskrit Dictionary Department AYLP 2022-23 Local trip to Deccan College Sanskrit Dictionary Department AYLP 2022-23 Guest Lecture AYLP 2022-23 Guest Lecture AYLP 2022-23 Diwali - Lighting lamps AYLP 2022-23 Diwali - Lighting lamps AYLP 2022-23 students drawing Rangoli AYLP 2022-23 students drawing Rangoli Sanskrit students at a field trip Sanskrit students at a field trip Sanskrit students reading an inscription Sanskrit students reading an inscription
American Institute of Indian Studies

Language Program Center → Pune-

(FOR SANSKRIT, MARATHI, PRAKRIT, SINDHI AND KONKANI LANGUAGES)

Student's Expenditure Information

Item In Rupees In Dollars, One USD = Rs. 85
Host family rent per month (Including Non AC but with cooler, breakfast , dinner, and meals on holidays Rs. 25,000 – 30,000/- 293 - 351$
Apartment Rent per month- (per room - independent bedroom,) living room and kitchen common, (Including sweeping, moping, cleaning the bathrooms, cleaning kitchen utensils ) but it doesn't include breakfast, dinner, and meals Rs. 30,000- 38,000/- 351 -445$
Host family rent payment mode Cash Payment Cash Payment
Laundry Charges Per cloth (simple Washing & Ironing) Rs. 150/- 2$
Conveyance to & fro from LP Center (average) (per day) Rs. 700/- 8$
Internet Data card (Airtel/Idea) Dongle Rs. 3500/- 41$
Internet Plan depending on Download capacity Rs. 1200 - 1500/- 14 - 18$
Lunch Rate at AIIS per week (Monday-Friday) * Rs. 1300/- 15$
Gym Charges Rs.1500 – 2500/- 18-30$
Gym membership fees Rs. 3000-4000/- 36 – 47$
International Courier Charges (for 100 gms weight) Rs.2400/- 28$
Entertainment (ticket charges at Film Theatre) Rs.500 - 700/- 6-8$
Mobile handset including SIM Card (Basic model) Rs.5000 - 7000/- 59-82$
Doctor Consultation Fees (if you go to hospital) (if doctor visits your home) Rs.1000/- to 1600/- 12- 20$
Music classes like Katthak, singing, harmonium, sitar learning etc (Per hour charges) Rs.1500/- 18$

HOUSING INFORMATION

AIIS assists students in finding local accommodation. Please note that AIIS Pune Language Center is far from the main city area, therefore the distance from the home/apartment can vary from 10-15 kms, one way. Depending on the size of the Program and the availability of suitable accommodations, students are sometimes housed in furnished apartments, but more commonly live in "paying guest" or "home-stay" arrangements in private homes, preferably with families who speak the target language (Not appicable for Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit). Detailed guidelines will also be sent to students once they are accepted into an AIIS Program.

Dear AIIS SLP Participants at Pune,

Greetings from AIIS-Pune! Below is some important information which, we hope, will help you upon your arrival in Pune.

Pick up: A representative of AIIS Pune will meet you at the Pune airport/Pune Railway station, as per arrival details communicated by you.

Travel from Mumbai to Pune: A good option for getting to Pune from Mumbai International Airport is KK Travels. They operate a limousine shuttle service between drop-off points in Pune and the domestic and international terminals in Mumbai. The agency provides multiple options such as shared cabs, charter cabs etc. The cars run 24/7. Please visit www.kktravels.com to book the car.


Initial Stay and Orientation: Please note the address of the Hotel given below wherein; overnight initial stay (on twin sharing basis) for all participants has been arranged for the one overnight stay upon your arrival, as per institute rules (Check Inn 12:00 Check Out 8.30 a.m.) with Complimentary breakfast arrangement).

PYC Hindu Gymkhana & Sports Foundation
766 Bhandarkar Road, Opp. to Girikand Travels
Next to Good Luck Chowk, Pune - 411 004
Phone No. 020-25664747/020-25664949


Please note that Lunch/Dinner (excluding the day of the stay arranged by AIIS), Laundry, Personal Phone Calls and earlier arrival charges as applicable shall be paid by the student directly to PYC Hindu Gymkhana & Sports Foundation, at the reception. As per the schedule given on the AIIS Website there will be an Orientation at 9.00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 in the A-2 Conference Hall, at the same place. (PYC Hindu Gymkhana & Sports Foundation). After orientation and lunch, students will be moved to apartments / host families. The class activity begins from Wednesday, June 11, 2025. All students, including those who have made their own arrangement of housing at Pune will come to American Institute of Indian Studies, Deccan College Campus, Yerwada, Pune from June 11 till the program concludes.


Things you may require for FRRO registration: Please carry Photo ID in USA [Driving Licence or University Card, Library Card] and your bank account details [in case of need, a statement may be asked for online registration] with you. Each student must have Indian Mobile Phone Number and an Email ID for USER registration and online registration.

Wish you a successful and comfortable stay in Pune.
Best wishes,
Dr. Madhura Godbole
Head, Sanskrit Language Program
Coordinator, AIIS Western Regional Center, Pune