The Department of Studies in Sanskrit is one of the oldest departments of the University of Mysore, which was established in the Year 1916. Sanskrit, which is said to be the very breath of Indian Culture and Heritage, has been taught as the second language and optional subject graduate level. Both honors degree and postgraduate coursed in Sanskrit were taught in the celebrated Maharaja’s College till 1960. Then in the Year 1960 Department has sifted to the Manasagngotri Campus
The department started functioning under the able guidance and headship of Prof.M.Hiriyanna, a well-known and learned scholar who is remembered as an erudite scholar in the field of Indian Philosophy. After Prof.Hiriyanna the Department was led by the doyens Narasimha shastry. Prof.M.Laksghminarasimaiah,Prof.N.ShivarmaShastry, prof.S.Ramachandra Rao, Marulasiddiah, and H..Malledevaru.
In the Year 1960, when all the postgraduate courses were shifted to the new campus of Manasagangotri, Prof.S.Ramachandra Rao was the Head of the newly started Postgraduate department and research in Sanskrit. Prof.Ramanchandra Rao encouraged research activities in the Department and as a result as many as fifty scholars have obtained Ph.D degrees. The practice of appointing the Head of the Department of Sanskrit as the ex-officeo director of the Oriental research Institute was started from 1966. Then Dr.H.P.Malledevaru held the Chair of Professor and Head,Department of Sanskrit and Director ORI 1975-91. After his demise Prof.B.A.Dodamani has been appointed as Professor & Head, department of Sanskrit and Director of ORI, University of Mysore in the Year 1994.
In 1968 an annual research journal “ The Mysore orientalist” was launched in joint collaboration with the Department of Studies in Sanskrit and the oriental Research Institute. Totally 17 volumes have been published so far.
SANSKRIT CONVERSATION CLASSES
The Department also organises free classes to improve conversation in Sanskrit language. The Students and teachers of other departments of Manasagangotri campus have utilised this opportunity.
PUBLICATION WORKS
Since 1966. the Heads of this Department (also Ex office Directors of Oriental research Institute) have published rare Sanskrit works and so far more than hundred books have been published. In addition to this, the members of the staff so far have published more than one hundred books and about 500 research articles.
SPECIAL LECTURES
Special lectures have been arranged under the auspices of prasaranga, University of Mysore and eminent Sanskrit’s like Dr, V.Raghvan, and Dr.C.Kunhan Raja. Dr, K, Kunjunni Raja, Dr. K.Krishnamoorthy etc., have given their valuable lecture s under this programme.
The visit of International Scholars
Noted Sanskrit Scholars form abroad have visited the Department and also Oriental research Institute for academic purpose and also given special lectures. Prof.Sheldon Pollock Dr, Robert.J.Goldmen, Dr.T, Venkataraya (from Toronto) Dr. Parameshwars Aithal (Heidelberg, Germany) are few of them.
FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH
Research facilities are available pertaining to Vedic Literature, Sanskrit Poetics, Indian Philosophy and Sanskrit Literature in general. The Rastriya Samskrita Samsthan,New Delhi offers Rs.4,000/- per year for each research student if he is not receiving UGC fellowship of Rs.1,000/- for Sanskrit M.A students who are not receiving any financial help. Students can opt Alankara Veda or Darshana as their special papers at the PG level. The department has reasonably well equipped library on various branches of Sanskrit-literature. The number of Ph.D . Degrees awarded are a testimony to the academic excellence of the department.
EXAMINATION SCHEME
M.A.Degree Course- Semester( 2 Year programme).
Post M.A Diploma in Manusceiptology- Non Semester (1 Year programme).
Ph.D by Research.
STUDENT INTAKE
M.A Degree Course --- 25
Post M.A Diploma in Manuscriptology ---10
ADMISSION
As per the University Rules framed from time to time,
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS
Gold Medals and Cash prizes for the Students who secure First Rank (including both 1 & II Year)
Naveena Ramanujan gold Medal and
Dewan Poorna Krishna Rao Gold Medal and many other gold Medal.
Asthana Vidwan Kaviratna Mandikal Ramasastry gold Medal
The Narasimha Murthy Narasamma Maharaja’s college Centenary Medal
The M.Hiriyana Birth Centenary gold Medal
Dharmasthala Sri Rathnavarma Hegde Gold Medal
Dr.P.D Krishnaswami Memorial Gold Medal
N.Rama Rao Memorial Gold Medal
Dr.H.P Malledevaru Memorial endowment Gold Medal
Sri Avadhoota datta Peetha endowment Gold Medal
Sri Swamy Vivekanandakendra, Kanyakumari Mysore Branch endowment gold Medal
Narayana Rao & Shanthi Bai Nagarkar Prize
Late Bindiganavale Appanna Iyengar Cash Prize.
Department wants to conduct Spoken Sanskrit classes to the General Public.
Location
The department is located at Manasagangotri postgraduate campus of the university. Click on the image below for a detailed map of the campus and the city.
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