Before understanding ऌ वर्ण pronunciation , first let me highlight the main important thing here, there is difference between the varn (letter) ऌ and लृ . Many people even some samskrit scholars mistaken these 2 letters as same but the truth is these 2 letters are totally different.

ऌ also known as “ऌकार” is a Swar (vowel) and as we have seen in maheshwar sutra that how from the sound of dammru the samskrit varn originate so this ऌ is fundamentally the 5th swar of samskrit varnamala. ऌ comes under the अच् pratyahar ( अच् contains all swar of samskrit varnamala ) . Just like any other swar of samskrit , ऌ has its independent sound (स्वयं राजन्ते इति स्वराः) it is not dependent on any other letter for its pronounciation.

We will never see the usage of ऌ swar in hindi or any other regional languages that are direct descendant of वैदिक संस्‍कृत. The usage of ऌ swar is seen in वैदिक संस्‍कृत and in samskrit language that evolved after the Vedic period which is popularly known as “लौकिक संस्कृत” . वैदिक संस्‍कृत (Vedic samskrit) means the samskrit language that is used in Vedas. In Vedas the usage of ऌ swar is very rare , like in entire Rigveda ऌ swar is seen only in 10th mandala.

In लौकिक संस्कृत , swar ऌ is seen in Panini’s dhatupatha, other than this ऌ swar is seen in its modified form due to sandhi (संधि) rule like तव + ऌकारः = तवल्कार:(this sandhi rule will be explained in detail in “sandhi” future post)

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Pronunciation place of ऌ वर्ण (उच्चारण स्थान).

Let us understand the उच्चारण स्थान of ऌ वर्ण as per Paniniya Shiksha . As per Paniniya Shiksha Shloka 17 , ऌ वर्ण pronunciation place is from दन्त स्थान which is basically front middle teeth, however while pronouncing this ऌ वर्ण care should be taken that tongue does not touch the दन्त स्थान as the effort (प्रयत्न) required for this letter is विवृत. In this video let us understand the ऌ वर्ण pronunciation through practical demonstration

In NEXT POST we will understand the difference between ऌ and लृ varn.

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