Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide
Use the tables below to match each letter of a mantra in IAST with its correct sound and pronunciation
Background Info
The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is one of the standards for representing Sanskrit sounds using the Latin alphabet. It employs diacritical marks, small signs above or below letters, so that every sound is represented precisely.
We have seen that IAST script, so far is the best option which helps non hindi speakers to approximately reproduce the correct pronunciation of Sanskrit.
In Siddha Dharma, the script itself is a symbol, and symbols are alive in Tantra. The way a mantra is written shapes its energy, presence and subtle resonance.
Traditionally, the Tankari script is used for inscribing mantras in Siddha Dharma. Devanāgarī is also common. Certain lineages in Siddha Dharma employ Bhūta Lipi, a symbolic and highly esoteric script given by Shiva Svacchanda Bhairav.
In Tantra, the lipi (script) is a sacred vehicle. A written mantra in sacred lipi/script is more than text; it can become a yantra, or even a potent spiritual totem. Stories in the Siddha Dharma tradition speak of Mahāsiddhas inscribing the same mantra in specific scripts to “seal” its power. Tankari and Bhūta Lipi are valued for this very reason: they encode symbolic meaning that resonates beyond mere letters.
IAST, however, plays a different but complementary role. It is a pronunciation bridge, especially for those learning Sanskrit without direct access to traditional scripts. While reading in Tankari remains the most authentic way to connect with a mantra’s full potency in Siddha Dharma, IAST helps preserve accuracy of sound across linguistic boundaries.
Vowels (Svaras)
| Devanāgarī | IAST |
|---|---|
| अ | a |
| आ | ā |
| इ | i |
| ई | ī |
| उ | u |
| ऊ | ū |
| ऋ | ṛ |
| ॠ | ṝ |
| ऌ | ḷ |
| ॡ | ḹ |
| ए | e |
| ऐ | ai |
| ओ | o |
| औ | au |
Consonants (Vyañjanas)
| Devanāgarī | IAST |
|---|---|
| क | k |
| ख | kh |
| ग | g |
| घ | gh |
| ङ | ṅ |
| च | c |
| छ | ch |
| ज | j |
| झ | jh |
| ञ | ñ |
| ट | ṭ |
| ठ | ṭh |
| ड | ḍ |
| ढ | ḍh |
| ण | ṇ |
| त | t |
| थ | th |
| द | d |
| ध | dh |
| न | n |
| प | p |
| फ | ph |
| ब | b |
| भ | bh |
| म | m |
| य | y |
| र | r |
| ल | l |
| व | v |
| श | ś |
| ष | ṣ |
| स | s |
| ह | h |
Vowels (Svaras) Pronunciation Guide
| IAST | Sound (IPA) | Description | Closest English Example* |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | /ɐ/ or /ə/ | Short, central vowel; not “ah,” lighter and shorter | Unstressed “a” in sofa, but more open and clear |
| ā | /aː/ | Long open vowel; held about twice as long as short a | “ah” in father |
| i | /i/ | Short close front vowel | “i” in bit |
| ī | /iː/ | Long close front vowel | “ee” in machine |
| u | /u/ | Short close back vowel | “u” in put |
| ū | /uː/ | Long close back vowel | “oo” in rule |
| ṛ | /ɹ̩/ or /ɾɪ/ | Syllabic r; like “ri” said quickly without a full vowel | No exact English; approximate a very light “ri” |
| ṝ | /ɹ̩ː/ | Long syllabic r | No exact English; longer version of ṛ |
| ḷ | /l̩/ | Syllabic l (rare in Sanskrit) | Syllabic l in many pronunciations of bottle or little |
| ḹ | /l̩ː/ | Long syllabic l (very rare) | No exact English; longer version of ḷ |
| e | /eː/ | Long close-mid front vowel (pure, not gliding) | “ay” in they (as a pure vowel) |
| ai | /ai/ | Diphthong: a → i | “eye” |
| o | /oː/ | Long close-mid back vowel (pure, not gliding) | “o” in go (as a pure vowel) |
| au | /au/ | Diphthong: a → u | “ow” in cow |
*English examples are approximate. Sanskrit vowels are steady (pure) unless marked as diphthongs (ai, au).
Consonants Pronunciation Guide
| Pronunciation Location | IAST Unaspirated | Example | IAST Aspirated | Example | IAST Unaspirated (voiced) | Example | IAST Aspirated (voiced) | Example | IAST Nasal | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velar (back of tongue) | k | “k” in skill | kh | “k” in kill with a strong puff of air | g | “g” in go | gh | “g” in go with a strong puff of air | ṅ | “ng” in sing |
| Palatal | c | “ch” in church (unaspirated) | ch | “ch” in chat with extra puff | j | “j” in judge | jh | “j” in judge with extra puff | ñ | “ny” in canyon |
| Retroflex (tongue curled back) | ṭ | No exact English; similar to “t” with tongue curled back | ṭh | Retroflex “t” with strong puff | ḍ | No exact English; similar to “d” with tongue curled back | ḍh | Retroflex “d” with strong puff | ṇ | Retroflex “n” with tongue curled back |
| Dental (tongue at teeth) | t | No exact English; tip of tongue on teeth | th | Dental “t” with strong puff | d | No exact English; tip of tongue on teeth | dh | Dental “d” with strong puff | n | “n” in net |
| Labial (lips) | p | “p” in spin | ph | “p” in pin with strong puff | b | “b” in bat | bh | “b” in bat with strong puff | m | “m” in man |
Note: Aspirated sounds have a clear burst of air after release; retroflex and dental sounds do not occur in standard English and require tongue placement practice.
Other Consonants Pronunciation Guide
| Letter | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| y | “y” (yes) |
| r | “r” (tap or slight roll) |
| l | “l” |
| v | between English “v” and “w” |
| ś | palatal “sh” |
| ṣ | retroflex “sh” |
| s | plain “s” |
| h | “h” |
Signs & Special Marks Pronunciation Guide
| Mark | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| ṃ / ṁ | Anusvāra | Nasalization; matches the nasal of the following consonant |
| ḥ | Visarga | Soft breath “h” after a vowel |
| ̄ (macron) | — | Makes vowels long (ā, ī, ū, ṝ, ḹ) |
| ̣ (dot below) | — | Marks retroflex consonants and syllabic r/l |
| ´ (on ś) | — | Palatal “sh” |
Quick Principles
Macron (¯) over a vowel = long vowel: ā ī ū (held about twice as long as a short vowel).
Dot below (̣) marks retroflex (ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ ṣ ḷ ḹ) and syllabic r/l (ṛ ṝ ḷ ḹ).
Acute-like mark (´) on ś shows the palatal “sh”; ṣ (dot below) is retroflex “sh”.
Apostrophe-like ḥ = visarga (breathy h after a vowel). ṃ / ṁ = anusvāra (nasal).
Aspirated stops are written with h (kh, gh, ch, jh, ṭh, ḍh, th, dh, ph, bh): release a soft puff of air.
Frequent Siddha Tantra Arts Words
| IAST | Devanāgarī | Pronunciation Approx. | Very Simplified Broad Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ḍākinī | डाकिनी | ḍaa-ki-nī (retroflex ḍ, long vowels) | Dakini, tantric female wisdom being |
| ḍāka | डाक | ḍaa-ka | Male counterpart/associated entity of the Dakini |
| ḍākinī kula maṇḍala | डाकिनी कुल मण्डल | ḍaa-ki-nī ku-la man-ḍa-la | Circle/assembly of Dakinis |
| kula | कुल | koo-la | Family, spiritual lineage |
| kurukullā | कुरुकुल्ला | ku-ru-kul-lā (long ā) | Goddess Kurukullā, supreme Dakini |
| haraṇa | हरण | ha-ra-ṇa | Seizure, taking away (etymology in Dakini lore) |
| Vajra Dhyāna | वज्र ध्यान | vuj-ra dhyā-na (retroflex r, long ā) | Diamond-like, lightning like strong meditation |
| Vajra Path | वज्र पथ | vuj-ra path | Spiritual pathway of the Siddha Tantra Arts |
| Vajra Yoginī Tantra | वज्र योगिनी तन्त्र | vuj-ra yo-gi-nī tan-tra | Lineage/practice tradition |
| Mahā Nara Khecara | महा नर खेचर | muh-haa nu-ra khe-cha-ra | “Great Human Sky-Walker” meditations/series |
| Ḍāyan Vidyā | डायन विद्या | ḍaa-yan vid-yā | A form of Vidyā (sorcery/dark art context) |
| Jwalamalinī Vidyā | ज्वालामलिनी विद्या | jwa-la-maa-li-nī vid-yā | “Flame-Garland” power; healing Siddha art |
| ātmā | आत्मा | ā-t-mā (long ā) | Soul, self |
| śaktiḥ | शक्तिः | sha-ktiḥ (ś = “sh”, final breath ḥ) | Divine energy, power |
| śiva | शिव | shi-va (ś = “sh”) | Auspicious one; supreme consciousness |
| huṃ | हुं | hum̃ (short u + nasal) | Seed syllable of protection/empowerment |
| oṃ | ॐ | om (nasalized “om”) | Primordial cosmic sound |
| mantra | मन्त्र | mun-tra (retroflex t) | Sacred utterance/formula |
| tantra | तन्त्र | tun-tra (retroflex t) | Spiritual system/method |
| vajra | वज्र | vuj-ra | Thunderbolt; indestructible |
| yoga | योग | yo-ga (pure “o”) | Union; spiritual discipline |
| dhyāna | ध्यान | dhyaa-na (aspirated dh, long ā) | Meditation |
| mudrā | मुद्रा | moo-draa (long ā) | Gesture/seal |
| ānanda | आनन्द | aa-nun-da (long ā) | Bliss; spiritual joy |
| Sattva | सत्त्व | sutt-va | Purity/harmony (guṇa) |
| Rajas | रजस् | ra-jas | Activity/passion (guṇa) |
| Mahā Siddha | महासिद्ध | muh-haa sid-dha | Great perfected one |
| Mahāyogī | महायोगी | muh-haa-yo-gī (long ī) | Great yogi |
| Dīkṣā | दीक्षा | deek-shā (long ā) | Spiritual initiation |
Pronunciations are approximate; Sanskrit has distinct retroflex, nasal, and aspirated sounds that don’t map 1:1 to English.