Israeli student to attend Sanskrit learning camp

A team of students from Tel Aviv University, Israel, are in Hiremagaluru to attend a Sanskrit learning camp to be conducted at the historic Kodandarama Swamy Temple from September 25.

The team from the Sanskrit Language Study Department of Asian Culture Division of Tel Aviv University, led by the department head Rafael Peled, informed that the objective of the study is to get acquainted with nuances of Sanskrit language and its cultural background. A team of scholars in Sanskrit will conduct the camp, according to a source.

Rafael said that Kannada priest Hiremagaluru Kannan’s brother Pandit Perumal will elaborate on the subject.

“The Israeli students had completed the first year of their degree in Sanskrit and were keen on spending their vacation at Hiremagaluru for two weeks. Every day, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening will be devoted to the learning of Sanskrit language. Besides Sanskrit learning, students will get a glimpse of the local culture,” he added.

Rafael Peled remembered visiting Chikkamagaluru in 2012 with friends who were learning Yoga.

Rafael, who met Hiremagaluru Kannan, was inspired to learn more about Sanskrit language and Indian culture.

“Hiremagaluru is one of my favourite destinations and I will spend a whole week here,” he said.

“I have learnt the nuances of Sanskrit from Kannan and Perumal. I am able to recite many verses in Sanskrit now,” Rafael revealed.

Rafael had studied Sanskrit in Madras Christian College under the guidance of Prof A Vishnu Bhat and is now teaching the language in Tel Aviv University, Israel for the past 20 years.