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Re: < Pronunciation >
Article: 566 of alt.hindu maruvada@hpax.cup.hp.com (Satish V Maruvada) writes:
> My friend started laughing and said that it was 'nirvan' and not
> 'nirvana'. I asked him about 'Rama', Krishna, Shiva, Ravana and
> moksha. He said that it was Ram, Krishn, Shiv Ravan and Moksh
> respectively. I'm confused and tried telling him that may be out in
> the north (where he hails), it may be pronounced that way, but in
> the south it's different.
>
> My question is : What is the right pronunciation ? And how are these
> words prononunced in Samkskrit ?
Well, both are right in different grammatical contexts. So the trick is
to read the script or infer from context as to how to pronounce it.
Anyone, be it in North or South India, when they sing the famous
"Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare", pronounce Rama which last "a"
said as "a" in "awesome". However, in the famous song Gandhiji used to like
"Raghu Pati Raghava Raja Raam, Patiita Paavana Sitaa Raam", it is distinctly
pronounced with the word ending at "m" in Ram. Also, it is changed by
poets to suit the meter of the verse or poem when they are composing.
Also, in Gita, everyone will say "Arjuna(long "a") Uvaacha" and never
Arjun-Uvaacha! So it gets cleared in writing many times. But in any case, both
are valid forms of pronunciation.
-Srinivas Nagulapalli
