Sanskrit at The University of Texas at Austin

10/06/2026

Did you know that Sanskrit texts can help us understand not only stories, but also temples, rituals, images, and living religious traditions?

The research project “Hindu Temple Legends in South India,” based at the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in cooperation with the École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) in Pondicherry, explores the temple traditions of Kanchipuram, one of South India’s most important sacred cities.

At the heart of the project are Sanskrit sthalamāhātmyas and Tamil talapurāṇams: texts that recount the origins and sacred histories of temples and other holy places. The project is preparing digital editions and annotated translations of eight Sanskrit and Tamil texts associated with Kanchipuram, drawing on manuscripts and historical printed editions.

But these stories do not live in texts alone. They also appear in temple architecture and sculpture, inscriptions, rituals, oral traditions, and performances. By bringing these different forms of transmission together in a digital environment, the project shows how Sanskrit texts can be studied alongside the places and living traditions with which they remain connected.

The project has also made several historical Sanskrit editions freely available as digital facsimiles—including works connected with Kāmākṣī and Varadarāja in Kanchipuram.

Interested in seeing what Sanskrit research can look like today?

Explore the project here: https://www.hadw-bw.de/en/research/research-center/hindu-temple-legends-in-south-india

08/28/2026

It’s the end of the first week, and we hope it was a good one! SAI has some exciting events and talks lined up this semester, starting with these two coming up this week. Feel free to check them out and join us!

https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/southasia/events/a-philosophy-of-language-in-premodern-kashmir-with-daniele-cuneo https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/southasia/events/book-launch-surrender-to-god-across-languages-multilingual-intellectual-history-of-premodern-india-by-manasicha-akepiyapornchai-2

08/01/2026

The love and separation of Śakuntalā and Duṣyanta have captivated audiences for centuries and inspired artists far beyond South Asia. Among them was the renowned French sculptor Camille Claudel, whose masterpiece Sakountala beautifully depicts the lovers' reunion. The sculpture was featured in special exhibition at the Musée Camille Claudel (https://www.museecamilleclaudel.fr/en/agenda/camille-claudel-work-sakountala) and is now housed in the Musée Rodin (https://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/resources/rodin-and-artists/camille-claudel) in Paris—a reminder that Sanskrit stories continue to inspire people around the world.

Claudel's sculpture was inspired by Kālidāsa's Abhijñānaśākuntalam, one of the most celebrated works of Sanskrit literature. But did you know that Kālidāsa's is not the only version of the story of Śakuntalā? Before he composed the play, the story had already appeared in the Mahābhārata, one of the two great Sanskrit epics.

This coming semester, the Department of Asian Studies at UT Austin is offering three levels of Sanskrit. In our Second-Year Sanskrit course, we will be reading the Mahābhārata version of the story of Śakuntalā.

If you are interested in learning more about our Sanskrit program or our courses, please feel free to contact us!

https://arthur.io/art/camille-claudel/shakuntala-vertumnus-and-pomona

07/03/2026

Did you know that Chiang Mai University (https://www.cmu.ac.th), located in one of the most beautiful and historic cities in northern Thailand, is home to a Bharatavidya Division (https://www.facebook.com/bharatavidyacmu/) within its Faculty of Humanities?

The division offers Sanskrit alongside other South Asian languages, especially Hindi and Pali, and has produced numerous scholarly works in these fields. Throughout the year, it also organizes a variety of events related to Indian languages, literature, and culture.

If you happen to be in Chiang Mai, don't miss the opportunity to visit the Bharatavidya Division, the Indian Studies Center, and the university's beautiful campus!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293917-d12971265-Reviews-Chiang_Mai_University-Chiang_Mai.html

06/23/2026

Sanskrit Around the World!

Did you know that Sanskrit can be found in many places outside India?

In Thailand, numerous Sanskrit and Pali words remain in everyday use and continue to shape the Thai language today.

One example is Wat Kasattrathirat Worawihan, one of the most famous and historically significant temples in Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the temple’s name derives from the Sanskrit compound Kṣatrādhirāja (kṣatra = "dominion, supremacy, power” and adhi-rāja = "great king"), meaning "supreme sovereign."

The temple served as a royal temple during the Ayutthaya period and remains an important site today.

Have you encountered Sanskrit-derived names or words in your part of the world?

https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/wat-kasattrathirat-worawihan

04/17/2026

04/06/2026

Almost 100 students attended our recent event—thank you for making it such a lively and engaging gathering!