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"Akshara (from the word for a letter) Vritta" is determined by the number of letters in each line (pada) of the verse, and may consist of any number of letters from 1 to 26.
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
Each different number of letters in the line is known by its own particular name or "chhandassu." Thus we have in all 26 chhandassus.
Each chhandassu again may be subdivided into any number of vrittas, increasing in number as the letters do. The number of vrittas of which any given chhandassu can consist is found by beginning with one and doubling successively for as many times as there happen to be letters in the line. Twice this result gives the number.
For example, if the first line consists of three letters, then we can have in that chhandassu 8 vrittas, i.e. 1 doubled is 2; twice 2 are 4; twice the result 8. That line which is called Mahasragdhara has twenty-two letters. By the foregoing rule, this chhandassu can be subdivided into 40,94,304 vṛittas; only two however are in common use. This will give some idea of the enormous number of vrittas which could be formed. The total number is said to be some millions.
125
2nd ಬರುತಿ ರ್ವಾನ ಮಾನಂನ there
4
5
Before examining any chandassu, however the "gana" must be explained.
Every three letters form a gana, so that in a line of 9 letters we have 3 ganas; in a line of 10 letters we have 3 ganas and one letter; in a line of 12 letters we have four ganas, and so on. The surplus letters are always at the end of the line, and if it happens to be II.
III.
IV. V Vuu
1st ಬರತಾ| ಲ್ಯಾಂಖಂಡ ದೊಳ್ಳೋಬಿ | ಪಜಿನ
4
5
5
8
3rd ಚರಾ ಜಂಚೋದ ಜಂಚೋದ್ಯ ಮೊಗಲ್ಯ
4
ע
[APRIL, 1873. long it is technically called "Śiva," if short "Vishnu."
Those letters are long which have the long vowels, such as á, ê, û, which are followed by (:) aha or () sonné, and letters though short themselves which precede a double letter; for instance is short in itself, but from its preceding the double t it becomes lengthened. It will thus be seen that the three letters which form the gana may be all three long, all three short, or a combination of long and short.
there the
Each of these combinations-8 in all-has its own particular name and is sacred to its own particular god.
1. (Ma) gana, sacred to the earth, is three long,
2.
(Ya) gana-(water) is one short, two long, u
3.
(Ra) gana (fire) is
4. Lagana-(wind) is u
5. Tagana-(sky) is
6.
Jagana-(sun) is
7.
Bagana-(moon) is
8.
Nagana (heaven) u uu
The order in which these ganas find a place in the line determines the vritta to which that piece of poetry belongs. In each vritta the ganas follow one another in their own proper order. Each verse consists of four lines. As is the first line, so must all the remaining three lines be. No difference can be allowed. Take an example from the Mahasragdara Vritta":
4th
Here we have 22 consonants in all, divided into 7 ganas and one letter which being long is "Siva." The figures above the lines refer to the position in the line of each gana; those below the line to the kinds of gana. In each line it will be seen that I. and V. consist of two short and one long letter. This is the Lagana
V.
VI.
VII.
ವರರಂ ಸೂಜಿಯ ಮಾಡಿವೆ | ಸಂ
4
3
3
ಡಯರಿ| ರವಿದೇ ನೆಂದುಕಾಂನೊಂಡಿಯಾ ವೇ
de
3
ಸಮತ | ರಣನಂ ಕಂಡು ಅಲ್ಲಿಂದಾಬಂ
8
4
3
ದರದಿಂ| ದಂಬಕ್ಕಿ ಯಿಂದೊಂದಿ ಸುತಪ | ರಕೆಯಿಂ
4
5
5
8
4
3
WD
ಕೊಂಡುಕು ಇದರ್ದಮ ಇಂ
ಇದರ್ದವ
3
or (4). The II. and III. are two long and one short letter. This is the Tagana or (5). The IV. is three short letters. This is the Nagana (8). The VI. and VII. are a long, a short, and a long letter. This is the Ragana (3). The last letter being long is Śiva.
In order to belong to any particular vritta
