Sahrdayaloka Part 01

SR No.: 006908
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tapasvi Nandi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 602
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 151

Chapter II Sabda-vyāpāra-vicāra
or Functions of a word
General Introduction :
Sanskrit literary criticism has applied itself to classification of poetry both from the angle of its external form, i.e. its being written in prose, verse or in mixed style, and also its being written either for reading or hearing only or also for presentation on stage etc., and also from the point of view of its internal beauty, i.e. from the point of view of how it suggests what. The first is the formal approach and the second which covers all poetry—whether śravya/pāthya or preksya-i.e. to be presented on the stage, also, touches the criticism aspect. This criticism oriented approach ultimately finds greater favour and was, so far as available documents go, promoted by Anandavardhana and his earlier dhvanivādins. This approach was kept up by Kuntaka, Mahimā, and practically all who followed them including the great Mammata, down to Jagannātha.
Now this criticism-based classification and evaluation of poetry required a through inquiry into the semantic aspect and sanskrit critics have, as a result, evolved a virtually perfect science of semantics taking care of different shades of meanings and also imagining different powers of words giving different meanings. But Sanskrit aesthetics, especially literary aesthetics is indebted to a rich heritage received from previous thinking in the branches of knowledge such as pūrva-mīmāmsā, nyāya and vyākarana to a great extent. In this chapter we will try to have a glimpse of this rich heritage which in its turn inspired thinking in semantics, which again inspired literary criticism and classification of poetry from the point of view of its literary worth. Thus criticism-oriented classification