- UAB Specialisation Course
- Code: 5180/1
- 1st edition
- Modality: Online
- Credits: 4 ECTS
- Start date: 01/04/2026
- Finish date: 24/06/2026
- Places: 30
- Orientation: Professional
- Price: 120 €
- Teaching language: Spanish
- Location: Virtual
The course Introduction to Sanskrit: Classical and Buddhist offers a comprehensive approach to Sanskrit, the most important classical language of Asia and the only classical language shared across the continent. Through Buddhism and Hinduism, Sanskrit language and literature have permeated Asian cultures from Mongolia and Tibet to Sri Lanka, from Afghanistan to Japan. This course is independent and requires no prior knowledge, starting from the writing system to the fundamentals of sentence analysis. Its most notable feature is the inclusion of "Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit", particularly relevant in Buddhist literature that spread to China and Japan. This course is ideal for those seeking direct access to the original sources of Asia's spiritual and philosophical traditions.
Sanskrit is the linguistic vehicle of some of the most influential spiritual, philosophical, and literary traditions of humanity. As the sacred language of Hinduism and the transmission language of Mahāyāna Buddhism, Sanskrit has been fundamental in shaping Asian thought for over two millennia. Its literature ranges from the oldest Vedas to the Mahāyānasūtras, including masterpieces such as the Lotus Sutra, originally composed in Buddhist Sanskrit.
This course provides solid training in the grammatical foundations of the language, starting with the Devanāgarī writing system and progressing toward mastery of declensions, conjugations, and syntactic analysis. Students will gain skills to use specialized reference tools, both printed and digital, including classical grammars and modern dictionaries.
A distinctive feature of this course is its focus on "Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit", a linguistic variant essential for understanding the literature of the Mahāvastu and the Mahāyānasūtras. This perspective allows students to access both Brahmanical-Hindu and Buddhist-Jain texts, offering an inclusive view of the richSanskrit literary tradition that encompasses both religious and secular texts. The course is designed for students interested in direct access to the primary sources of Asian traditions, whether for academic, spiritual, historical, or literary motivations, providing the necessary tools for an autonomous understanding of this fundamental classical language.
Live classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 17:00 to 18:00 (Barcelona time, Spain)
- Sanskrit terminology
- Sanskrit grammar
- Overview of Sanskrit literature
- Text reading
Sanskrit is the linguistic vehicle of some of the most influential spiritual, philosophical, and literary traditions of humanity. As the sacred language of Hinduism and the transmission language of Mahāyāna Buddhism, Sanskrit has been fundamental in shaping Asian thought for over two millennia. Its literature ranges from the oldest Vedas to the Mahāyānasūtras, including masterpieces such as the Lotus Sutra, originally composed in Buddhist Sanskrit.
This course provides solid training in the grammatical foundations of the language, starting with the Devanāgarī writing system and progressing toward mastery of declensions, conjugations, and syntactic analysis. Students will gain skills to use specialized reference tools, both printed and digital, including classical grammars and modern dictionaries.
A distinctive feature of this course is its focus on "Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit", a linguistic variant essential for understanding the literature of the Mahāvastu and the Mahāyānasūtras. This perspective allows students to access both Brahmanical-Hindu and Buddhist-Jain texts, offering an inclusive view of the richSanskrit literary tradition that encompasses both religious and secular texts. The course is designed for students interested in direct access to the primary sources of Asian traditions, whether for academic, spiritual, historical, or literary motivations, providing the necessary tools for an autonomous understanding of this fundamental classical language.
Live classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 17:00 to 18:00 (Barcelona time, Spain)
Contents
- Introduction to the Sanskrit language- Sanskrit terminology
- Sanskrit grammar
- Overview of Sanskrit literature
- Text reading
Career opportunities
Students who complete this training will have the opportunity to engage in teaching and academic research in Asian studies, work in the translation and interpretation of classical languages such as Sanskrit, offer cultural consultancy to organizations operating in areas related to Asian cultures, and collaborate with museums and archives that hold collections of Asian art and literature.Scholarships and financial aid
Chek all the information on the possibilities for grants and scholarships in the page for UAB financial aids, grants and calls.
Coordinating centres
Facultad de Traducción e Interpretación
Contact
Gustavo Pita Céspedes
Phone: 34935868901