Kavyanushasana Critical Study

Author(s): A N Upadhye
Publisher: A N Upadhye

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(as in the case of Kävyalamkāra or Kavyaprakāśa) to signify certain view-points, but in the case of Hemachandra, the work, viz. the Kavyānušāsana, is part of a series of works to deal scientifically with the Sanskrit Language and Literature, This is the significance of the words sabda, Kavya and Chanda being compounded with Anušāsana. In this sense, this work is a treatise on the science of Literature or Kāvyaśāstra. It will be noticed that Hemachandra's employment of the title "Kāvyānušāsana" is a departure from the general trend since he wanted to treat of Poetics and Dramaturgy as an independent discipline or Department of Letters. A study of this work reveals that with its Sūtras, the gloss, the supercommentary and a wealth of critical and illustrative material as well as with its systematic arrangement and treatment of the subject-matter, the name "Kavyānušāsana" given to the work stands fully vindicated and as such the work deserves the title of the 'Science of Poetry' or the treatise on Literature, i.e., Sahityaśāstra. The Purpose and Method of the Critical Study
In view of the fact that Hemachandrācharya himself develops the subject-matter of his work by keeping in view the logical connection of the topics with the central idea of Literature, and in order to study the rich critical material presented under the different topics in the different chapters in a graded manner, it has been thought advisable to attempt a critical study of the Kavyānuśāsana with its gloss and the illustrations in the gloss along with the Viveka Commentary which is full of critical and illustrative material, chapter-wise, by critically studying the contents of the three-tier text in each chapter, together with a comparative assessment of the topics and concepts so studied. Thus the poetical concepts dealt with in the eight chapters have been critically studied in the first seven chapters and the study is finalised by reviewing Hemachandra's "Theory of Literature" and by attempting a "Critical Review of Hemachandra's Achievement in the