sanskrt pronunciation and other questions

[Guest guest]

> 1. Visarga (H).

 

In the Monier Williams Sanskrit dictionary following is stated on page 1001:

 

"representing a hard and distinctly audible aspiration; ...; Pandits in some

parts of India seem to pronounce a vowel after it, e.g. narah like naraha or

agnih like agnihi."

 

I pronounce it "isvarah paramah krsnaha", That means, within a word or line

as an abrupt end of the vowel followed by a short aspiration. And at the end

of the line I repeat the vowel after the aspiration but very shortly.

 

BTW: When we say "a" alone we always pronounce a "h" after it.

 

 

> 3. 'hm'.

 

On a tape with the Visnu-sahasra-name that I have it is pronounced 'brahma',

not 'bramha'. But the 'h' is very short ('brahmma').

 

 

> 4. The misterious 'jn'.

 

It is not 'gya'. It is produced at the same place where 'c' and 'j' is

produce. It is something between 'gya' and 'dnya'. You start pronouncing 'j'

and then turn it into a palatal 'n' without separating the tongue from the

palate between 'j' and 'n'.

 

 

I have an additional question: How to pronounce 'cc' and 'jj'?

 

I don't pronounce it as 'tshtsh', rather I pronounce it like 'c' but with a

pause while the tongue touches the palate, similar to 'tt' in 'datta'.

 

 

ys Ramakanta dasa

[Guest guest]

Dear Ramakanta Prabhu and Atmarama Prabhu, as well as all other Vaisnavas,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

Thank You very much for Your kind reply.

 

> Mahapurusha is, plain and simple, a vowel that sounds 3 matras, measures.

> Like in sambodhana (vocative). He Krsnaaa, He RAmaaa.

 

Well, that requires some explanation. Could You please tell me how precisely

can I determine in what cases a vowel (not a syllable, as far as I

understood) is considered 'trimatrah' (3 matras long)?

 

> BTW: When we say "a" alone we always pronounce a "h" after it.

 

I am not sure I understand it.

 

> I have an additional question: How to pronounce 'cc' and 'jj'?

>

> I don't pronounce it as 'tshtsh', rather I pronounce it like 'c' but with

> a pause while the tongue touches the palate, similar to 'tt' in 'datta'.

 

So do I.

 

Thank You again.

 

Your insignificant servant,

bh Denis

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhakta Denis, PAMHO. AGTSP!

 

> > BTW: When we say "a" alone we always pronounce a "h" after it.

>

> I am not sure I understand it.

 

I meant in German and most probably also in English. It is difficult for me

to pronounce "a" alone without "h" after it. But the "h" is not noticed,

only when you hear your voice backwards. But in Sanskrit this "h" (visarga)

is distinctly audible.

 

ys Ramakanta dasa

[Guest guest]

<<<Well, that requires some explanation. Could You please tell me how

precisely can I determine in what cases a vowel (not a syllable, as far as I

understood) is considered 'trimatrah' (3 matras long)?>>>

 

It is there in the text, no need for you to determine. Example: Krsna3 (it

is like this in devanagari also). So, 3 stands for three matras. Just, I

have not seen this used anywhere :-)