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Bhatta Nayaka's views on rasa-realisation have been presented to us by Abhinavagupta in his Abhinavabharati and also in his Locana on the Dhvanyaloka. This makes it amply clear that Bhatta Nayaka flourished much earlier than Abhinavagupta. But it is seen from the views presented that Bhatta Nayaka has criticised the theory of 'abhivyakti' of rasa. This could be with reference to the views expressed by Anandavardhana and also such other unknown writers who accepted the rasa-dhvani-vyanjana theory. Later writers such as a Mammata, Hemacandra and others have obviously taken up the clue from Abhinavagupta and have also presented Bhatta Nayaka's views in an absolutely identical way. It is quite possible that they might have also obtained the original writing of Bhatta Nayaka and might have duely varificd Abhinavagupta's presentation, to their satisfaction. It is welknown that Bhatta Nayaka was a die-hard opponent of the theory of vyañjana and that for that very purpose; viz. 'dhvanidhvamsa' or demolition of the theory of dhrani, he had written a polemic called the 'Hrdayadarpana'. which unfortunately is lost to us for the time being. It should be noted,. however, that he commands respect even from Abhinavagupta who accepts much from him Therefore it could be safely stated that on account of the great reverence shown to Bhatta Nayaka by Abhinavagupta, the presentation of the views of the former by the latter must be absolutely faithful and reliable.
BHATTA NAYAKA'S BLUNDER
T. S. Nandi
Bhatta Nayaka's views with reference to rasa-realisation are known as 'bhuktivada'. We will not concern ourselves with this in this small article. The object of this article is simply to draw the attention of the scholars to the way in which Bhatta Nayaka understands rasabhivyakti and how he criticises it according to his own understanding of abhivyakti'. My humble plea is that Bhatta Nayaka has failed to grasp the exact connotation of the term abhivyakti' as imagined by the followers of dhvani, who have attached a meaning to this term, which is a shade different from the normally accepted meaning. Let us begin with the presentation of Bhatta Nayaka's views as found in the Abhinavabhārati:
भट्टनायकत्वाह । रसो न प्रतीयते, नोत्पद्यते, नाभिव्यज्यते । स्वगतत्वेन हि प्रतीत
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