Sanskrit Services

What is a Sanskrit service?

Apart from learning Sanskrit, I can help you with many Sanskrit-related needs. I'm a Sanskrit expert that can stand in your corner when you need to:

• Update your wedding ceremony to better reflect your personality and values
• Compose something in Sanskrit for a special occasion
• Get something translated from Sanskrit with a thorough explanation
• Find a unique Sanskrit name for your baby
• Figure out a special Sanskrit word or phrase for your next tattoo
• Get a Sanskrit voiceover or captions for a video or podcast
• Get any other Sanskrit-related help or ask me about any of my areas of expertise

Remember, every booking begins with a free consultation call! Don't hesitate to ask any questions.

Would you like to update your wedding ceremony to reflect your modern values?

I can help customize the script of your whole wedding with you, from start to finish.

• I scripted my own wedding ceremony and have scripted and/or performed several others.

I can help you make a brochure to hand out to wedding guests so nobody is lost during any portion of the ceremony.

I can help train you or a trusted person to perform the wedding itself so you need not rely on a pundit, who may be liable to say anything they want (not what you want) on stage. This is my "everything but the pundit" model.

• My own cousin and her then fiancee were clear that they did not want to do a kanyādān ceremony. She even discussed this with the pundit beforehand, who agreed. But on stage, he said “so, now that the kanyādān ceremony is complete…” and on stage she said, “we’re not doing that!” and had an argument with the priest right there in front of everybody.

I will not let this happen to you.

Would you like something composed in Sanskrit for a special occasion?

I can compose a verse or a phrase for you in Sanskrit for a special occasion. Think:

• Birthdays
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• In Memoriam

For example, I was asked to write a Sanskrit verse in memoriam of Zakir Hussain upon his death. Here is what it looked like:

न भूतो न भावी कलाकार एवं
न तत्पण्डितत्वक्षयं वै भविष्यत् ।
तबल्चीति मत्वा स एव प्रभाति
लयं यस्य तत्त्वं लये सो विलीनः ॥

na bhūto na bhāvī kalākāra evaṁ
na tatpaṇḍitatvakṣayaṁ vai bhaviṣyat ।
tabalcīti matvā sa eva prabhāti
layaṁ yasya tattvaṁ laye so vilīnaḥ ॥

There never was, nor will there ever be, an artist like this,
whose mastery will certainly never fade;
When you imagine a tabla player, his image undoubtedly appears…
he whose very essence was rhythm has now merged into rhythm itself.

Would you like something translated from Sanskrit?

As an academic, I am invested in  perfecting the craft of translation.  As a professor, I have taught several Sanskrit texts in the original, helping students to understand the source material by parsing the Sanskrit. Translation is often difficult because words can be translated in a hundred different ways, but translators have to choose only one word in English! Learning which to choose and gaining all the contours of what the Sanskrit actually says is an art form that requires both experience and skill.

I can help you understand various types of texts:

• Literature and poetry
• Philosophy
• Vedic texts, including Upaniṣads
• Commentarial literature
• Individual verses, like subhāṣitas
• And more!

Would you like help finding a Sanskrit name for your baby?

The world of baby naming is vast and complex. Websites are full of misinformation and bad or meaningless names. Every family member has a different opinion. You have ideas but aren't sure if they are legit, and have nowhere to go to verify them.

I can help you find the perfect name for your baby. The process looks something like this:

1. We will work together to gather your specific requirements (letter to start with, length, intended meaning, etc.).
2. I will provide you with a few options.
3. You will select the option you like, or ask for edits and refinements.
4. We will collaborate on finding a suitable name until you are satisfied.
5. I will provide you with a pronunciation guide, a detailed description of the name's meaning, including its grammatical breakdown and a small commentary on the significance of the name.

You will have the assurance of a real, human Sanskrit expert with decades of experience in the field that your baby's name is verified, legit, and meaningful.

I will never burden you with jargon or things you can't understand. You can go into your baby naming adventure with confidence.

Do you want help figuring out the perfect Sanskrit word or phrase for your next tattoo?

Tattoos are a lifetime commitment. You want to make sure it is exactly what you want, and that it says what you think it does. Many different Sanskrit words can be used to express a particular English idea, but sometimes those Sanskrit words have other meanings that you did not want.

• For example, a friend of mine wanted to get "आत्मशान्तिः" ("ātmaśāntiḥ") tattooed on his arm to mean "inner peace" (ātma- = self, soul, inner, and -śāntiḥ = peace). Technically this can be correct, but this word in the Sanskrit context refers specifically to the peace of the soul after death. Thankfully he checked with me and we were able to give him something more appropriate before he got it tattooed on his arm!

I can help you refine your Sanskrit tattoo word or phrase of choice. We will collaborate until you are satisfied, and you can rest assured that your tattoo will be legit, verified, and meaningful.

Would you like a Sanskrit voiceover and/or captions for your video or podcast?

I have decades of experience as a singer and as a musician. Check out an example of my work here:

I can professionally record a Sanskrit voiceover for a script of your choice. I can also caption your video in Sanskrit, using Devanāgarī, IAST, or any transliteration scheme of your choice.