Page 9 - Appreciating Sanskrit
P. 9
SANSKRIT
The Sanskrit Alphabet
THE LANGUAGE OF INDIA’S SOUL
The alphabet is organized as follows, reading from left to right:
Vowels (when not combined with consonants)
अ a आ ā इ I ई ī उ u ऊ ū
ऋ ṛ ॠ ṝ ऌ ḷ
ए e ओ o ऐ ai औ au
Consonants (with inherent vowel a)
Velar: क ka ख kha ग ga घ gha ङ ् ṅ
Palatals: ल ca छ cha ज ja झ jha ञ् ñ
Cerebrals: ट ṭa ठ ṭha ड ḍa ढ ḍha र् ṇa
Dentals: त ta थ tha द da ध dha न na
Labials: प pa फ pha ब ba भ bha म ma
Semi vowels: य ya र ra ौ la व va
Sibilants: ि śa ष ṣa स sa
Aspirate: ि ha
(Add-on signs) ṁ (anusvāra) : ḥ (visarga)
