MIT – IIKS, in association with Hindu University of America, announces the launch of M.A. in Sanskrit designed for 21st century seekers. This Authentic, Convenient and Customizable program is meant for the smart seeker yearning to dive deep into the ocean of knowledge available in the Samskrit language. Are you
- a professional looking for Indic insights in arts, sciences or management?
- a seeker of truth and meaning in life from Indic perspective?
- an Indian searching for your Indic roots?
If yes, then the MA in Samskrit program is your authentic gateway to the Indic dimension.
Objectives
To transform the growing number of Samskrit enthusiasts worldwide into competent scholars well-equipped for rigorous academic study of Indic knowledge embedded in the Samskrit language, in the following manner
- Become an expert in Samskrit – The key to ancient Indian knowledge
- Gain direct access to Indic source texts – Become an authentic exponent
- Establish the foundations for original study and research in Indic knowledge systems
Value Proposition
M.A. Samskrit program of MIT – IIKS addresses the intellectual as well as logistical gaps to transform Samskrit enthusiasts into scholars. Specifically, it offers a blend of guided and self-paced study for their convenience with the rigor of a university degree. It also offers a choice-based credits model with a variety of Indic knowledge streams to choose from as part of a formal master’s program.
Rationale
A growing number of individuals worldwide, both Indians and others, are fascinated by the Samskrit language, partly due to their cultural affinity and partly due to Samskrit’s importance for studying Yoga, Āyurveda, spirituality and other Indian sciences. After learning basic Samskrit, they like to get a working knowledge of the literary, spiritual and scientific literature in
that language, and hence look for a formal master’s degree that is well-recognized for further career options. They also prefer to use that knowledge to apply it in modern contexts. However, many of them are working professionals or homemakers for whom it is not convenient to physically attend a regular university ecosystem full-time. Though several universities offer M.A. in Sanskrit through distance learning mode, the logistics and bureaucracy involved therein present major hurdles to passionate individuals in pursuing it. Finally, their syllabus does not offer the new breed of students with the choice that they wish to pursue in specific fields in an application-oriented manner. Today, Samskrit is primarily taught in universities as a literary language; but not as a medium for Indic scientific studies. The master’s programs offered by MIT – IIKS and HUA aim to get over these lacunae.
Target Audience
- Students of mainstream education
- Working professionals interested in the study of Indic knowledge systems
- Those seeking the meaning of life from the Indic perspective
- Indians searching for their Indic roots
Highlights
- A well-recognized M.A. degree in Samskrit, with in-depth expertise in a specialized field
- Focus on practice-oriented study of Indic knowledge, with solid foundation to conduct quality research
- Facility for remote study to accommodate busy schedules via online classes (both, live and pre-recorded videos)
- Facility for part-time study via flexible course timings and delivery model
- Immersive learning of Samskrit in Samskrit medium which is essential for true mastery
- Block teaching for effective learning – 2 subjects taught in parallel at a time
- Excellent faculty, hand-picked from global pool per subject
- Feedback based assessment that uses evaluation as a knowledge empowerment tool
- Orientation for independent study of a subject of interest as a base for further research, through a term project
Curriculum
Program designers: 1) Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-chancellor, Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Nagpur; 2) Dr. Vaishnavi Nishankar, Associate Director Academics MIT IIKS and 3) Dr. Sai Susarla, Director, MIT IIKS
Mandatory Subjects (13 slots): · Intro to the Vedas (1 course) . Vedic Science Foundations (1 course) · Vyakarana (4 courses) · Sahitya (4 courses) · Nyaaya-vaisheshika (1 course) . Miimaamsa (1 course) . Vedanta (1 course) · Term project (final semester) | Elective Subjects (3 slots): In 2nd, 3rd and 4th semesters · Veda streams: Rig, Yajus, Sama and Atharva Veda . Shaastra streams |
Assuming 15 work weeks per semester and 1 credit equals 15 hours of effort
| Course code | Course Name | # of credits (US) | Total Hours | # of credits (others) | L-T-P ratio | Total Hours | Course Overview | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAM101 | Introduction to Vedas | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Introduction to Indic knowledge landscape · Role of Vedas in paving Indic way of life · Categorization and classification of Vedas |
| MAM102 | Vyākaraṇa 1 | 3 | 45 | 5 | 2-1-2 | 75 | · Vedic limbs pertaining to language (Sanskrit) – Śikṣā, Nirukta and Vyākaraṇa · Pāṇini, his predecessors and successors · Structure of Aṣṭādhyāyī · Siddhānta-kaumudī model | |
| MAM103 | Sāhitya – Landscape | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Indic literary landscape – kāvya & kāvyaśāstra · Categorization and classification of kāvya into its types etc. · Introduction to the tradition of kāvyaśāstra & its components · Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata – Illustrative (one adhyāya from each) | |
| MAM104 | Vedic Science Foundations | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Indic sources – How to study? · Introduction to the systematic structures of Vedic science literature · Role and utilization of structures of śāstra exposition in interpreting the śāstra | |
| Total in semester 1 | 12 | 20 | ||||||
| 2 | MAM201 | Nyāya-vaiśeṣika Basic | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Introduction to the tradition of Nyāya and its later merger with the Vaiśeṣika school of thought · Categories of the Nyāya ontology: Based on Nyāya-sūtra of Gotama |
| MAM202 | Vyākaraṇa 2 | 3 | 45 | 5 | 2-1-2 | 75 | · Siddhānta-kaumudī – sañjñā, paribhāṣā and pañcasandhi prakaraṇas | |
| MAM 203 | Sāhitya – padya | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Kāvyaprakāśa – Ullāsa 1 & 2 · Raghuvaṁśa Sarga 1 (selections) · Nītiśatakam – 2paddhatis | |
| MAE201 – MAE205 | Elective 1 | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | Options – · Ṛgveda · Jyotiṣa Basic · Yoga Basic · Āyurveda Basic · Vedānta Basic Details in detailed syllabus | |
| Total in semester 2 | 12 | 20 | ||||||
| 3 | MAM301 | Mīmāṁsā Basic | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Introduction to the tradition of Pūrva-mīmāṁsā · Categories of Pūrva- mīmāṁsā ontology: Based on Arthasaṅgraha of Laugākṣi Bhāskara · Study of complete text of Arthasaṅgraha |
| MAM 302 | Vyākaraṇa 3 | 3 | 45 | 5 | 2-1-2 | 75 | · Pushpa Dikshit – Dhātu-prakaraṇa (15 hours) · Laghu-siddhānta-kaumudī – Ajanta-prakaraṇa (10 hours) · Siddhānta-kaumudī: – Kāraka-prakaraṇa | |
| MAM303 | Sāhitya – Nāṭaka | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharata (selections) · Svapna-vāsavadatta (Sixth act) · Abhijñāna-śākuntala (Fourth act) | |
| MAE301 – MAE305 | Elective 2 | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | Options – · Yajur-veda & Sāma-veda · Jyotiṣa Advanced · Yoga Advanced · Āyurveda Advanced · Vedānta Advanced Details in detailed syllabus | |
| Total in semester 3 | 12 | 20 | ||||||
| 4 | MAM401 | Term Project | 3 | 45 | 5 | 0-0-5 | 150 | · Guided independent study of a text pertaining to the śāstra chosen for specialization and preparation of dissertation/paper for seminar [Content to be finalized on discussion with relevant faculty and permission from department] |
| MAM 402 | Vyakarana 4 | 3 | 45 | 5 | 2-1-2 | 75 | · Laghu-siddhānta-kaumudī: samāsa-prakaraṇa · Introduction to philosophy of Vyākaraṇa – Vyāḍi and Bhartṛhari · Overview of Vākyapadīya of Bhartṛhari · Vākyapadīya: (selections) | |
| MAM403 | Sahitya – gadya | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | · Dialectics of kāvya-śāstra – Selecetions from Rasagaṅgādhara · Features and classification of prose literature in Sanskrit · Kādambarī – Śukanāsopadeśa · Viśvaguṇādarśa-campū – Bhūloka-varṇana | |
| MAE401 – MAE403 | Elective 3 | 3 | 45 | 5 | 3-0-2 | 105 | Options – · Atharva-veda · Nyāya-vaiśeṣika Advanced · Mīmāṁsā Advanced Details in detailed syllabus | |
| Total in semester 4 | 12 | 20 | ||||||
| Overall | 48 | 80 | ||||||
Elective Courses – Vedas or Śāstras
- Elective 1 – Ṛgveda OR Basic {Yoga, Āyurveda, Jyotiṣa, Vedānta}
- Elective 2 – Yajur+Sāmaveda OR Advanced {Yoga, Āyurveda, Jyotiṣa, Vedānta}
- Elective 3 – Atharvaveda OR Advanced {Mīmāṁsā, Nyāya-vaiśeṣika}
| Elective 1 | Ṛgveda | Basic {Yoga, Āyurveda, Jyotiṣa, Vedānta} |
| Elective 2 | Yajur+Sāmaveda | Advanced {Yoga, Āyurveda, Jyotiṣa, Vedānta} |
| Elective 3 | Atharvaveda | Advanced { Mīmāṁsā, Nyāya-vaiśeṣika} |
This section gives the tentative annual schedule of course offerings for Master’s Sanskrit program in various engagement modes (2-year, 3-year and 4-year). It is subject to change based on faculty availability and enrollments in electives.
Program Details
The following 2 delivery options are available:
- MA degree in Sanskrit (Recognized by Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, India)
Masters’ Certificate in Sanskrit (Certified by MIT IIKS)
Please note: Those who choose the 2-year or 3-year engagement modes are eligible for enrollment in the MA Degree. Those who wish to opt for the 4-year engagement mode have to enroll for the Master’s Certificate.
Details at a glance
Student intake:
- Minimum 10, maximum 50 per batch, admissions underway for August semester
- Admissions transferred to next year if minimum # of admissions not received
Course delivery mode:
- Medium of instruction: Predominantly Sanskrit, for access to native thought, with some English
- Lectures: 6.30 – 8 am IST, Monday-Saturday
- Online classes (mix of recorded and real time video lectures) via web conferencing and web-based LMS (common to both MA Degree and Master’s Certificate)
- Evaluation (60% external, 40% internal): Online assignments & quizzes every 2 weeks via LMS, term projects with a report or essay for final evaluation
- Exams in December and May
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
- Aged 20 years and above
- Passed MIT IIKS’ Sanskrit Language Proficiency (SLP) Test with a minimum score of 70%
- MIT IIKS offers a preparatory 2-credit (1-month) online course called Sanskrit-1: Thinking in Sanskrit to help pass SLP Test
- Tests the ability to understand spoken (conversational) Sanskrit, reading comprehension and analysis of ślokas
- Alternatively, a student can learn basic Sanskrit through Saṁskṛta Bhāratī or other means
- Admission based on a phone interview
An online Samskrit Language Proficiency Test and an optional phone interview (at the discretion of MIT IIKS).
For those residing outside of India:
please write to info.iiks@mitpune.edu.in for details how to apply to the course
For residents of India:
- Fill the MIT IIKS program registration form
- Register for the entrance test – Sanskrit Language Proficiency (SLP):
- Follow instructions here
- Fee is ₹ 500
- Optionally, to gain proficiency in Sanskrit, enroll in the Sanskrit-1 course of MIT IIKS to help prepare for the SLP test, if needed.
- Follow instructions here
- Fee is ₹ 2000
- Take the SLP Test (by May 31)
- When notified that you have passed the test and offered admission, pay the annual fee within a week of receipt of the offer (by June 1). Payment instructions will be included in the admission offer.
Incase of any queries please write to info.iiks@mitpune.edu.in
Start Date: Sem-1 starts on Mid July
- Program Duration: Full-time mode
- 80 credits spread over 2 years / 4 semesters @ 20 credits or 4 subjects per semester
- Semester 1: Mid July – Mid December
- Semester 2: First Week of January – Mid May ; Final exam in the last 15 days
- Course load: 20 hours / week
- Program Duration: Part-time mode
- 80 credits spread over up to 3 years / 6 semesters @ 12 credits or 3 subjects per semester
- Course load: 10-12 hours / week
- Program Duration: Part-time mode
- 80 credits spread over 4 years / 8 semesters @ 10 credits or 2 subjects per semester
- Course load: 10 hours / week