Vedic philosophy of language

• CG90.
• In his introduction to the {f}gveda, {s}AyaRa describes the {v}edas as the breath exhaled by the great lord thereby situating speech between the unmanifest absolute and the manifest world. A number of hymns in the {f}gveda describe speech as creating all things, with a range that extends deep into consciousness below the level of expressed speech anticipating the identification of speech with brahman by {B}artfhari. This course surveys these Vedic passages and elucidates how they present a coherent concept of the central position of speech in the manifestation and knowledge of the absolute.
• Instructor: Peter M. Scharf.
• Prerequisite: It is advised but not required to take CG80 prior to this course.
• Schedule: To be announced.
• Course fee: $500.
• Express interest.
• Course materials:
  Scharf, Peter M. “Determining the ancient Vedic conception of speech by samanvaya of hymns of the R̥gveda.” Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 97 (2020). Forthcoming.

Lecture	Topic
1	Introductory comments on Vedic interpretation and the meaning of {s}AyaRa verse.
2	Some essential concepts and terms.
3	{f}gveda 10.125 The {v}AksUkta.
4	{f}gveda 10.129 The {n}AsadIyasUkta.
5	{f}gveda 1.164 The enigma hymn.
6	{f}gveda 1.164 The enigma hymn.
7	{f}gveda 10.71–72.
8	{f}gveda 10.71–72.
9	Speech and creation.
10	Speech and knowledge of the absolute.