Concept of SARAL scripts
SARAL scripts are based on:
Brief description of these sources is given below.
Hindi language is, generally, written in Devanagari script originally used for writing Sanskrit language. The earliest reference to 51 phonemes (Akshar) used in Sanskrit was made in Akshomal Upanishad. Those 51 phonemes are as follows:
Devanagari has, however, undergone changes. The currently commonly used Hindi (Devanagari) phonemes are as follows:
These phonemes are 54 in number and represent symbols for most sounds of Hindi and Urdu languages. It may be noted that presently 6 phonemes of Sanskrit Devanagari are not used in Hindi/Urdu. On the other hand, 9 letters have been added, making the total of 54 phonemes.
Devanagari has some weaknesses and improvements are necessary. Although the phonemes of Devanagari appear to be simple and systematic, their writing in text form is very complicated. Its vowels have several base symbols that create confusion. To write Devanagari, one has to learn over 200 symbols. Devanagari has more than one symbol for some sounds. Its vowel symbols are different from vowel letters and they are placed before, after, above and under a letter. In Devanagari, the letters change their shape when writing and make the script somewhat pictorial and non-alphabetic. There are several rules for writing the half letters in Devanagari, which make the script complicated. It also has the complicated rules for combining half letters with other letters. Use of the symbols, other than those given in the alphabet, causes problems. It is also not easy to type Devanagari script and use it in the computers.
Another major problem of Devanagari script is the absence of difference between phoneme and letter. The phoneme table (Akshar Maalaa) is also considered to be alphabet table (Varna Maalaa). There is no uniform system of joining phoneme base to other vowels or using them without a vowel. There is no uniform base of vowels when written independently. This makes the script non-alphabetic and creates all the problems of typing, printing and using in computers. To make the script alphabetic, some way has to be found to make a set of symbols that can be used as the base for phonemes of the script.
Scholars of linguistics and phonetics have made several suggestions to overcome the shortcomings of Devanagari script. The famous scholar of Hindi language and script, Dr. Bhola Nath Tiwari, in his book "Hindii Bhaashaa" (page 210) has prescribed the following qualities of a scientific script:
1 The script should be alphabetical and not syllabic.
2 The script should have symbols for each sound of a particular language.
3 One symbol should represent only one sound and no more.
4 One sound should have only one symbol and no more.
5 In writing, the symbols should come in the same order in which they are pronounced.
6 The script should not be ambiguous in reading the symbols.
7 The script should facilitate easy typing and printing.
(Details of Dr. Bhola Nath Tiwari’s views may be seen in article in Hindi Section of this website hindI lipi-vikAs, guNa taTA samasyAyeM (wA. BolA nATa tivArI).)
In addition to the qualities indicated by Dr. Bhola Nath Tiwari, the script should be easily usable on the computers and on the Internet.
SARAL Hindi script has been developed after carefully considering these suggestions and it incorporates all the suggested qualities of a scientific script. In SARAL Hindi, the merits of Devanagari have been retained while its shortcomings have been removed. SARAL Hindi is a scientific, alphabetic and rational script. (SARAL = Scientific, Alphabetic and Rational Approach to Language).
SARAL Hindi has 89 writing symbols. 55 symbols are text writing symbols (vowel base = 1, vowel symbols = 12, and consonant bases = 42). In addition, there are 34 symbols for numbers, punctuation marks, arithmetic, etc.
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Brahmi script is considered to be the original source of all scripts in India. It had 40 writing symbols (vowel base = 1, vowel symbols = 7, and consonant bases = 32). Brahmi alphabet was as follows:
Brahmi was a truly alphabetic script and its learning was easy. The first four vowel symbols were one, two, three and four dots respectively. There was no horizontal line (SiroreKA) over any letter. Phonemes (xakSar) were made by placing the vowel symbols after the vowel base or consonant base. (Source: SrI BolA nATa tivArI kI pustak “hindI BAFA kI lipi saMracanA” priFQa 26-28)
SARAL Hindi has adopted these characteristics of Brahmi script. Brahmi alphabet in SARAL Hindi would be as follows:
brAhmI varNamAlA (saral hindI meM)
svar xADAr: x
svar: a A i I u e o
vyaMjan xADAr:
k K g G
c C j J
q Q w W
t T d D
p P b B
y r l v
s S F h
n N m }
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English language is written in Roman script and has the following letters:
Small letters: a, b, c, d ,e ,f ,g ,h ,i, j ,k ,l ,m ,n ,o ,p ,q ,r ,s ,t , u ,v ,w ,x ,y ,z
Capital letters: A, B, C, D ,E ,F ,G ,H ,I ,J ,K ,L ,M ,N ,O ,P ,Q ,R ,S ,T , U ,V ,W ,X ,Y ,Z
One more symbol [‘] called apostrophe, is used in writing English text. In addition, various symbols for numbers, punctuation, arithmetic etc. are used.
SARAL Hindi follows the alphabetic principles of Roman script. However, the phonetic principles of Devanagari are preserved in it.
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All the symbols used for writing English are represented in 96 characters of ASCII in the computers. these characters are also used for SARAL Hindi.
The characters of ASCII used in English are as follows:
ASCII for SARAL Hindi is as follows:
Shri Yantra is considered to be a beautiful figure and is regarded as the abode of the Supreme Power That creates all the elements of the universe, sustains them, and finally destroys them. Shri Yantra is a symbolic representation of the mysteries of all the elements, energies, and consciousness levels of the universe. It is also a pictorial design that contains the mysteries of the origin and evolution of the language and knowledge in the universe.
Shri Yantra has a point (bindu) in the center that is surrounded by triangles, circles, and other geometrical formations. The outer line of the Yantra, called “Bhupur”, takes 36 right angle turns. The 36 turns (angles) of Bhupur are symbols of the 36 elements of the physical universe. From Bhupur to Bindu, Shri Yantra has 9 Chakras (circular formations).
Creation of the universe starts from the Bindu, the abode of the Supreme Power (or Shiva-Shakti), symbolizing the truth, the consciousness and the bliss (Sat, Chit, Anand). From the knowledge point of view, the Bindu symbolizes the ultimate source or power of language (Para Vak Shakti) and the three sides or corners of the triangle are the three symbols of the creative (Pashyanti), cognitive (Madhyama), and articulate (Vaikhari) powers of the word or language. The union of Bindu (symbol of Shakti or energy) and the triangle (symbol of Shiva or consciousness) forms the first syllable (xa), which is also called the seed syllable, or “Biij Akshat”. After creation of the seed syllable, there is formation of other writing symbols.
The inner circle of Shri Yantra has four triangles with the apexes upwards and five triangles with the apexes downwards as follows:
The inner circle of Shri Yantra after combining the four triangles with the apexes upwards and five triangles with the apexes downwards would be as follows:
A Yantra containing the above formation in it would be as follows:
The same Yantra having the hexagonal figures in circular form would be as follows:
The diagrams or formations made through the intersection of the lines of these triangles are also called Chakras and their number is 9.
The 9 Chakras inside the inner circle of Shri Yantra have 89 abodes or places of which 43 are Shiva places (blue color consciousness places) and 46 are Shakti places (pink color energy places). The names of these 9 Chakras, their type and the number of places inside them, are given below:
Name of Chakra No. Of Places
1. Shiva-Shakti
Chakra 5 (1 Shiva + 4 Shakti)
2. Ashtar
Shiva Chakra 8
3. Ashtar Shakti Chakra 8
4. Antardashar Shiva Chakra 10
5. Antardashar Shakti Chakra 10
6. Bahirdashar Shiva Chakra 10
7. Bahirdashar Shakti Chakra 10
8. Chaturdashar Shiva
Chakra 14
9. Chaturdashar Shakti Chakra; 14
The number (89) and the corresponding relationship between the places in Chakras of the inner circle of Shri Yantra and the writing symbols of SARAL Hindi is a remarkable and important feature! 8 and 9 are the last single digits in the numbering system. The first and second chakras have 5 and 8 places respectively. They are the fourth and fifth Fibonacci numbers. If we add their square (25 + 64), we get number 89.
In the field of knowledge, this relationshp between the Shri Yantra and the writing symbols of SARAL Hindi is an important element which can be a great blessing for the promotion of literacy. It will not only facilitate the simplified learning of all the symbols of SARAL Hindi, but also help in understanding the mysteries of word, language and knowledge through the Shri Yantra.
In view of the relationship between the Shri Yantra and SARAL Hindi as depicted above and as explained in the article SARAL Hindi and Shri Yantra, we may rearrange these symbols. We may also include the numbers, punctuation marks, and some other symbols in the overall writing system. All these symbols, numbering 89, may be written differently according to the formation of Shri Yantra.
Chakra-1: x a A i I
Chakra-2: k c q t p y s n
Chakra-3: u U e E o O M H
Chakra-4: g j w d b m l r v h
Chakra-5: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Chakra-6: K G C J Q W T D P B
Chakra-7: . , ; ? ! + - ^ $ =
Chakra-8: S F N { } L R X V Y Z z f |
Chakra-9: ( ) / \ [ ] * : @ & ' " # %
Based on these 9 chakras, SARAL Hindi can be learnt in 9 simple lessons. Each lesson depicts clearly the relationship between the writing symbols being learnt and the characteristics of different Chakras of the Yantra. Details of these 9 lessons may be seen in article Supreme Knowledge (Shri Vidya)Yantra and Literacy in nine easy steps!
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