How many letters are there in the Sanskrit alphabet?

The Sanskrit alphabet is traditionally understood to contain around 50 letters, which include vowels and consonants. This comprises 14 vowels and 36 consonants, totaling 50 distinct symbols used in the language. The inclusion of various diacritical marks and additional sounds can sometimes lead to different counts, but the foundational structure supports the idea of around 50 characters. This number reflects the comprehensive approach that Sanskrit takes towards phonetics, allowing for a richly nuanced pronunciation system, which is essential in the context of yoga and its teachings, where precise articulation of mantras and terms is vital.