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Introduction
"These treatises do not deal with the conventional topics of Poetics, with its theories, dogmas and definitions, but they are meant chiefly as manuals to guide the poet in his profession, their primary object being Kavi-śikṣā or instruction of the aspiring poet in the devices of the craft"?.
Here, it may be added that the work of the type that Amara Candra writes, has the capacity to guide even poets of high merit and level who desire to go higher and higher towards literary or poetic perfection. The words, 'aspiring poets therefore, should mean not only persons who aspire to become poets, but also those who are bent upon going higher and higher in their realm of poetic heights. Thus, works of the type written by Amara Candra can guide poets throughout their life. De is right when he adds
"At the same time, the fact must not be overlooked that works of this nature in Sanskrit, ostensibly meant as they are for the guidance of the aspiring poet, display, in their discussion of what is right and proper in poetry, a tendency towards genuine criticism, taken apart from the beaten paths of orthodox poetics; and they set up in their native way, a standard, whatever it may be, of taste and critical judgement".
As we will note at a later stage, Amara Candra's standard of poetic taste is very high, and the work is written with that standard in view.
The authors - Arisiṁha and Amara Candra
We may take here a brief note of the biographical details of the two authors, as available to us.
Arisiṁha
Arisimha was patronised by Vastupala (A. D. 1242), the minister at the court of Rana Viradhavala, at Dholka in Gujarat. He was a Jaina of the Svetāmbara sect and wrote Tornaiand in a eulogy of his patron. His father's name is Asada, the writer of fad43709. His mother's name is geacat, the second wife of Asada. One opinion, not confirmed is that he was the teacher of Amara Candra. It is also believed that they were pupils of the same teacher. Amara Candra Yati
Amara Candra is a yati of the Svetāmbara sect. He is the pupil of Jinadattasūri, who belonged to the Vāyadagaccha and had written the famous work
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