Menoculayshunal; Speaking In Tongues

Breakfast generally would take about half an hour, but quite often there would be lingering in the courtyard between Annakshetra (food hall) and Saraswati Nilaya as little points of interest from the morning lesson might get discussed - or plans for meeting up for study and Sanskrit practice, depending what had to be prepared for that morning's language class, which would begin at 10:30 (most days).

Generally, by 09:00, we were all on to our various morning tasks or gathered in groups - either self-assigned or designated - for study and discussion. Where possible, time was taken to be outside our bhavans (residences). Most of the year, the air was fresh and cool out under the many trees on the compound. To take a couple of turns around the entire place could take up half an hour very easily and as much as an hour if each turn and twist was taken. Not in a hurry, of course. Where possible, it would be in mauna (silence) and attention paid to everything seen. Attempting to be as present as possible in each moment and 'feeling' the nature around one. [...This technique has been taken to the ultimate degree by the Buddhists and is now known worldwide as 'mindfulness'... but it arose from this simple daily saadhana within Sanatana Dharma.]

Freshly Unfurled Peepal Leaf

I had mentioned during the discussion on food that there were many mango trees on the ashram grounds—several different varieties (including the prized Alphonso).

Other trees included eucalypts and a jacaranda, gifted from Australia, as well as some of the commonly planted trees of India:

• Ashoka Tree (Saraca Asoca)
• Gulmohar Tree (Delonix Regia)
• Peepal Tree (Ficus Religiosa)
• Sal Tree (Shorea Robusta)
• Arjuna Tree (Terminalia Arjuna)

Alongside these, the grounds were kept lush with various shrubs and foliage perennials, plus varieties of aloe, ginger, banana and coconut for kitchen use.

All of which helped to create an atmosphere of repose and quiet industriousness. Along would come the hour for Sanskrit class, and - for some of us - this came with a bit of trepidation.

Throughout my life, I have learned, used and subsequently let drop away French, German,  Russian (all to intermediate level), Greek (tourist level), Beni-Pidgeon (Nigeria - conversational), Afrikaans (tourist level), and latterly, Hindi (conversational...just about). It is simply a case of 'use it or lose it'. Hindi I manage to keep going a wee bit by watching Bollywood films and reading where I can.

Sanskrit... 

Well, I am adept at the Devanagari script and I can read pretty fluently. I can pronounce and chant. Do not ask me to converse, however. I was learning this language during the very peak of the 'menopolyxinaemic' storm ** and there was a black hole where my memory was supposed to be. Sanskrit, more than any other language I have learned, depends upon rote learning of the majority of words. Straight-out memorisation. 

The vyakarana (grammar) is fun. Verbal declension involves three numbers and eight cases (meaning 24 possible word formations for each). One also has to learn anvaya (rephrasing) of shlokas, for like most poetry, the words are not necessarily in standard order (it also involves breaking open compound words to ascertain various meanings). 

I love Sanskrit. I could not, however, keep up with the pace and demand for class that most of the other batchmates managed. Samvidji very kindly permitted me to take extra time over paper tests and was very tolerant of my conversational lack. My chanting was what was important and that definitely met standard and I demonstrated that I knew enough to build on the existing translations. Over the course I did get more confidant - but I would never claim to be a scholar of Sanskrit by any stretch of imagination!

** for newcomers and as a reminder to long-term readers, the basis of this blog is the effects of menopause and running life around it. I chose not to use that word and thus, menopolyxinaemia, and a whole 'menoctionary' of language, developed to describe some of the craziness!