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You may expect to hear Sanskrit only in certain yoga classes. But the ancient language has been showing up everywhere from Ivy League universities and London classrooms to apps designed to help you learn Sanskrit.
Tradition holds that Sanskrit or Sanskritam, known as the “language of the gods,” was passed down from divine beings to sages who then transcribed it into some of the world’s oldest recorded writings dating 3,500 to 5,000 years ago. But in recent years, the study of the language has proliferated beyond Hindu communities and yoga teacher trainings to include scientific studies, which demonstrate that learning and chanting Sanskrit may increase brain mass, relieve anxiety, even reduce hypertension.
And you don’t need to be a scholar, have a cultural connection, or be a yoga teacher to start learning—and benefitting from—Sanskrit.
5 Benefits That Happen When You Learn Sanskrit
Following are some of the scientific-based and experiential benefits of learning the “language of the gods.”
1. Cognitive Enhancement
Research indicates learning Sanskrit increases short- and long-term memory. Also, memorizing Sanskrit mantras increases the brain’s gray matter density and cortical thickness. Since studying Sanskrit requires attention to detail, studies show that learning it can enhance concentration, focus, even memory.
Neuroscientist James Hartzell of Columbia University calls this the “Sanskrit Effect.” As part of his scientific studies, Hartzell produced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans that showed a significantly increased brain size in Sanskrit scholars compared to those who studied other languages.
He also experienced firsthand the benefits that he attributes to learning Sanskrit. “The more Sanskrit I studied and translated, the better my verbal memory seemed to become,” explains Hartzell.
Learning any language can enhance certain cognitive measures, although Sanskrit is recognized for its phonetic consistency and complex sentence structures. The Sanskrit Effect has been debated in some circles but St. James Schools in the United Kingdom, which teaches preschool through high school-aged students in London has made study of Sanskrit compulsory, including phonetics, memorization, and recitation.
“I realize how much Sanskrit is helping my daughter memorize information and data,” explained one parent.
2. Sound Therapy
“It is believed that every letter of the alphabet or every sound in Sanskrit vibrates a specific point on the body,” says Arundhati Baitmangalkar, Sanskrit student, yoga studio owner, and host of the Let’s Talk Yoga podcast. “And those sound vibrations benefit the sukshma sharira, or the subtle body.”
The subtle energy body includes the chakras, or the body’s invisible energy centers located along the base of the spine from the pelvis to the space above the head. It also includes the nadhis, or channels of energy, and koshas, or layers of being.
If you’ve ever experienced an inexplicable emotional release during or after chanting, this may be why. Sanskrit has been scientifically proven to relieve stress, anxiety, hypertension; even boost immunity.
And memorizing long or complicated mantras isn’t required. “Every (Sanskrit) letter is a mantra, so the chakras are activated [when we pronounce them properly],” says Lalitha Chittapragada, Director of Children’s Education at Samskrita Bharati, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching Sanskrit to children and adults.
There are also single-syllable Sanskrit sounds, known as bija mantras, that can be repeated for concentration in meditation.
3. A State of Calm
Sanskrit words often contain many syllables in a range of sounds. This means reciting an entire verse requires taking several long breaths to complete, which makes it a form of pranayama, otherwise known as breath control.
Contemporary science has shown that the ancient practice of controlling the breath in varied ways offers many health benefits such as reducing stress and anxiety, lowering blood pressure, and improving respiratory function. According to a review of the available research, changes in autistic children’s hormone levels, such as melatonin and serotonin, emerged after chanting and other symptoms changed after being exposed to hearing Sanskrit. There also appeared to be increased stillness and a reduction in observed hyperactivity.
Sanskrit scholar, Hindu priest, and Vedic astrologer Shiva Kumar says that chanting or pronouncing the “ha” words, such as “yogaha,” acts in a similar fashion as Kapalabhati (skull shining or breath of fire). Sanskrit words that end in “am” force one to practice Bhramari (bee breath).
“You are unknowingly doing the pranayama,” says Kumar.
4. Intellectual Challenges
Those who study translations of The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, and The Yoga Sutras, which were originally written in Sanskrit, are still exposed to the takeaways of these ancient yoga scripts. “We learn a lot of good sayings, which give you the ethical and moral values of how to be a good human being,” explains Prem Rallabandi, Director of Adult Education at Samskrita Bharati.
But exploring these texts firsthand, without others’ interpretations, leads to even greater rewards. There is something more gained through challenging oneself to understand valuable ancient wisdom and apply it to contemporary life.
And the topics aren’t limited to philosophy or breathwork. “Sanskritam has tons of books of knowledge, whether yoga, Ayurveda, engineering” says Kumar. “Everything we have, Sanskritam books are there.” Depending on your area of expertise or curiosity, you can gain greater understanding of the ancient approach to an array of topics, such as vastu shastra, or the science of architecture, by studying texts in the original Sanskrit.
5. Greater Knowledge
Let’s not overlook the primary reason so many have turned to Sanskrit throughout the centuries. “(Sanskrit) students learn because there is a treasure of spiritual literature to study,” explains Shreedar Murthy, teacher at Samskrita Bharati, which runs centers worldwide that support learning Sanskrit.
California resident Andrea Graziosi, who has been studying Sanskrit for six years, agrees. “There’s this whole cognitive part of Sanskrit, and there’s all these amazing side benefits,” says Graziosi. “But if the intent is just to improve your brain function, joy doesn’t bubble up. There’s a higher purpose, too.”
That purpose may be to explore ancient wisdom, perceive the world through the lens of a different language, or become cognizant of whether your thoughts, emotions, and actions align with your highest self. Understanding Sanskrit can help you experience that awareness and presence. That is the ultimate benefit.
Resources for Learning Sanskrit
Whether you to understand the terms your yoga teacher sometimes tosses out in class or learn the ancient language syllable by syllable, the following resources will help: