मात्राएँ
Mātrāḥ — Vowel Signs
A matra is a vowel sign attached to a consonant. When a vowel joins a consonant, it changes shape and sits above, below, or beside it — creating a new syllable.
How it works
कkaConsonant
+
ाaa signMatra
=
काkāNew syllable
Short Vowel Matras
ह्रस्व मात्राः— short — quick vowel sounds attached to consonantsइ→ि
✨क+ि=कि
किरण
ray of light
उ→ु
👨👩👧क+ु=कु
कुल
family/lineage
ऋ→ृ
🦚क+ृ=कृ
कृष्ण
Krishna
Long Vowel Matras
दीर्घ मात्राः— long — held vowel sounds, twice as longआ→ा
👩क+ा=का
माता
mother
ई→ी
🏞️क+ी=की
नदी
river
ऊ→ू
🌍क+ू=कू
भूमि
earth/land
Compound Vowel Matras
सन्ध्यक्षर मात्राः— blended — two sounds fused into oneए→े
✨क+े=के
देव
god / divine
ऐ→ै
🌿क+ै=कै
वैद्य
physician / healer
ओ→ो
🐄क+ो=को
गोपाल
Krishna (cow-keeper)
औ→ौ
🎯क+ौ=कौ
कौशल
skill