संस्कृतम् अधीमहे
Sanskrit Online Courses
Want to learn Sanskrit online? Here are five trusted providers — from free university lectures to spoken-Sanskrit classes and certificate courses — with what each one is best for, so you can pick the right starting point.
5 trusted places to learn Sanskrit online
Course details and fees were checked in October 2026 — always confirm the current batch, fee and schedule on the provider's own site.
Samskrita Bharati
The best-known movement for spoken Sanskrit. Its short 'Sambhashana Shibira' camps teach you to speak simple Sanskrit in about ten days, taught entirely in Sanskrit. It also runs online classes, including weekly classes for children through Samskrita Bharati USA.
Best for: Beginners who want to speak, children
Central Sanskrit University — Mukta Swadhyaya Peetham
India's central Sanskrit university offers online certificate and diploma courses in Sanskrit knowledge systems — Bhagavad Gita, Yoga (Patanjali's Yoga Sutras), Ayurveda texts and Vedanta (Panchadashi). Certificate courses were listed at ₹2,700 and diplomas at ₹3,300.
Best for: Learners who want a university certificate
NPTEL / SWAYAM — IIT Kharagpur
A free online course from IIT Kharagpur, 'Introduction to Basic Spoken Sanskrit and Intermediate Level of Spoken Sanskrit', taught by Prof. Anuradha Choudry. You can learn for free; a certificate needs the optional proctored exam.
Best for: Students, self-learners who like structured video lectures
Chinmaya International Foundation
A beginner course with video lessons and auto-graded quizzes: 13 modules over about 15 months, open to anyone aged 10 and above. The fee was listed at ₹3,000, with scholarships available. A Level 2 course follows.
Best for: Complete beginners who want a slow, steady pace
Vyoma Labs (Sanskrit From Home)
A technology-driven Sanskrit 'gurukula' offering a large library of courses, tools and discourses — from a gamified beginner alphabet course to grammar and texts — with explanations in English and other languages.
Best for: Self-learners who want many topics in one place
Which course should you choose?
- You want to speak Sanskrit: start with Samskrita Bharati or the IIT Kharagpur spoken-Sanskrit course.
- You want to read the Gita or other texts: Chinmaya's Easy Sanskrit builds reading skills; Central Sanskrit University's Gita certificate goes straight to the text.
- You want a recognised certificate: Central Sanskrit University, or NPTEL with its proctored exam.
- You learn best alone, at your own pace: Vyoma's self-paced library, or NPTEL's recorded lectures.
- For a child: Samskrita Bharati's children's classes, or Chinmaya's course (from age 10).
Learning on your own? Start here
Follow our free 12-week plan for beginners, or start with the basics below.
Whatever course you choose, the first steps are the same: learn the alphabet (Varnamala), then numbers 1–100, a few hundred everyday words, the case endings, and simple question-and-answer sentences. Then check yourself with the Sanskrit quiz.
Sanskrit Calendar is independent and is not paid by, or affiliated with, any course listed here.
Frequently asked questions
Can I learn Sanskrit online for free?
Yes. IIT Kharagpur's spoken Sanskrit course on NPTEL/SWAYAM is free to learn from (the certificate exam is optional and paid), and this site's alphabet, numbers, dictionary and grammar pages are free.
Which is the best online course to learn spoken Sanskrit?
Samskrita Bharati is the best-known option for speaking Sanskrit; IIT Kharagpur's NPTEL course also focuses on spoken Sanskrit.
Can I get a certificate in Sanskrit online?
Yes — Central Sanskrit University's Mukta Swadhyaya Peetham offers online certificate and diploma courses, and NPTEL issues a certificate after its proctored exam.
How long does it take to learn Sanskrit?
Basic conversation can be reached in a few weeks of regular practice. Reading texts such as the Bhagavad Gita comfortably usually takes one to two years of steady study.