Harivāṇī
Sanskrit—the Bhakti Way
Courses to learn letters, sounds, vocabulary, and grammar, including Harināmāmṛta-vyākaraṇam.
Workshops to enrich your practice in a short session.
Ongoing courses for students who want to build skill over time.
First steps in script & sound
For complete beginners: learn to read & write the Devanāgarī script and improve your pronunciation. This prepares you for any introductory Sanskrit course. Prerequisite for Level 2.
No prerequisites.
Grammar & verses — the devotional way
Build grammar and vocabulary through the innovative devotional textbook Jiva Tirtha Sanskrit by Dr Jagadananda Dasa. No dry vocabulary and grammar rules—everything is related to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Knowledge of the Devanāgarī script (Level 1).
Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī’s sūtras
Slow and deep study of the Sanskrit grammar composed by Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī for Vaiṣṇavas. Almost every sūtra has a corresponding sūtra in Pāṇini’s system and vice versa. It is uniquely easy to learn because:
Interest form
Join the waitlist. We’ll sort scheduling and tuition after email confirmation.
Short sessions to enrich your practice—no commitment to a full course.
Recite with authenticity
Learn the principles of correct pronunciation and avoid the 12 most common mistakes people make when chanting verses and mantras—so that you can recite with authenticity and confidence.
See pronunciation workshopRead and chant with understanding
Understand the deeply encapsulated meanings of common spiritual words—such as ātmā, deha, kaivalya, yoga, prakṛti, bhagavān, and more.
Interest form
Let me know you’re interested. I’ll set dates once enough people have signed up.
How a boy from Berlin came to teach Sanskrit in Vrindavan.
I’m Vilasa Dasa. I’m not a grand Sanskrit scholar, but I’m a student who fell in love with the sound and depth of the language from the first encounter. Since 2017, I’ve been studying Sanskrit at Jiva Institute in Vṛndāvana — founded by my guru, Dr. Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji — under the teachers he has placed there, and with other teachers.
I was born and raised in Berlin and work in software development. After graduating in 2017, I began Sanskrit with Dr. Jagadananda Dasa (Jan K. Brezinski), using his innovative textbook, Jiva Tirtha Sanskrit at Jiva Institute Vrindavan. Having witnessed his discussions with Dr. Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji, founder and headmaster of Jiva Institute, I felt inspired to study the traditional sūtra system Harināmāmṛta-vyākaraṇam in late 2018. Babaji admitted me into his school and directed me to study under Dr. Balarama Dasa and Shri Purushottama Dasa. From 2021–2025, Babaji taught the entire Harināmāmṛta-vyākaraṇam himself and also taught its application through the first sarga of Bhaṭṭi-kāvyam. In 2024, I attended a 14-day residential course by Saṁskṛta Bhārati in Vārāṇasī, where we would speak Sanskrit all day long. The immersion worked: I started to dream in Sanskrit during the second night. Currently, I’m enjoying the classes of Shubha Vengadakrishnan.
From 2023–2025 I’ve taught Sanskrit privately. In late 2025, something shifted: Vedic Psychologist Dr. Joshika Richmond helped me discover my svabhāva and I’ve been gaining a deeper understanding of myself. Now, I am following what has been calling me for a long time – sharing what I’ve been gratefully receiving about Sanskrit. I hope this will help you on your path as it has been helping me.
Questions about the offerings, or want to add context beyond the forms above?