Why study Sanskrit? Vyaas Houston, the founder
of the American Sanskrit Institute,
explains:

Sanskrit is the language of mantra,
words of power subtly attuned to the unseen harmonies of the matrix of
creation.

 The extraordinary thing about Sanskrit
is that it offers direct accessibility by anyone to that elevated plane
where the two, mathematics and music, brain and heart, analytical and intuitive,
scientific and spiritual become one. This is fertile ground for revelation.

 Sanskrit is like a crystalline river,
flowing with tremendous force to the ocean of our eternal, all pervading
Being...The vibrational purity and resonating power of Sanskrit, as well
as the meanings conveyed in its awesome body of sacred literature, is an
opera on a cosmic scale that you can sing with your whole heart and being.

 Sanskrit is the living heritage of
great rishis, the enlightened ones who walked this earth thousands of years
ago. It presents us with a compelling responsibility and a lifelong challenge,
while it inspires us to remain fully engaged in exploring what's possible
for a human being. Learning Sanskrit is an opportunity to know directly
for ourselves what the rishis discovered long ago. Most important, when approached
as a sacred language, it makes us happy.