NAME - RATHOD MADHVI R.
SUB - IKS
TY B.A SEM-5
PROFESSOR NAME - RACHNA MAAM
TOPIC -
RASA
DHWANI
VAKROKTI
💌
CLASS ASSIGNMENT 📓
Rasa Theory (By Bharata in Nāṭyaśāstra)
1. Meaning of Rasa
The word Rasa literally means essence, juice, or flavor.
In aesthetics, it means the emotional flavor experienced by the audience when they watch a drama, dance, or poetry.
Rasa is not just the emotion shown by the actor, but the aesthetic experience felt in the heart of the spectator.
2. Origin of Rasa Theory
Propounded by Bharata in Nāṭyaśāstra (ancient Sanskrit text on drama, theatre, and aesthetics).
Bharata said: “Rasa is the soul of drama.”
Without Rasa, art has no meaning.
3. Formula of Rasa
Bharata gives a famous formula:
Vibhāva + Anubhāva + Vyabhicāribhāva = Rasa
Vibhāva (Determinants): The cause/situation that produces emotion (e.g., hero seeing the heroine).
Anubhāva (Consequents): The expressions and actions that follow (e.g., smiling, blushing, trembling).
Vyabhicāribhāva (Transitory states): Temporary emotional changes that support the main emotion (e.g., doubt, jealousy, excitement).
Together, these create the experience of Rasa in the audience.
4. Eight Rasas (According to Bharata
Bharata originally described 8 Rasas:
1. Śṛṅgāra (Love/Beauty)
Permanent emotion: Rati (love/attraction)
Color: Green
Deity: Vishnu
2. Hāsya (Laughter/Comedy)
Permanent emotion: Hāsa (mirth)
Color: White
Deity: Pramatha (attendant of Shiva)
3. Raudra (Anger/Fury)
Permanent emotion: Krodha (anger)
Color: Red
Deity: Rudra
4. Karuṇa (Compassion/Pathos)
Permanent emotion: Śoka (sorrow)
Color: Grey
Deity: Yama
5. Bībhatsa (Disgust)
Permanent emotion: Jugupsā (aversion)
Color: Blue
Deity: Shiva
6. Bhayānaka (Fear/Terror)
Permanent emotion: Bhaya (fear)
Color: Black
Deity: Kāla
7. Vīra (Heroism/Courage)
Permanent emotion: Utsāha (enthusiasm/energy)
Color: Yellow
Deity: Indra
8. Adbhuta (Wonder/Marvel)
Permanent emotion: Vismaya (astonishment)
Color: Yellowish-white
Deity: Brahma
5. Later Addition (9th Rasa)
Śānta (Peace/Tranquility) was added later by Abhinavagupta (a commentator on Nāṭyaśāstra).
Permanent emotion: Sama (calmness, detachment)
Color: White
Deity: Vishnu
6. Permanent Emotions (Sthāyibhāvas)
Each Rasa arises from a permanent emotion (sthāyibhāva) present in human beings:
Love → Śṛṅgāra
Laughter → Hāsya
Anger → Raudra
Sorrow → Karuṇa
Disgust → Bībhatsa
Fear → Bhayānaka
Courage → Vīra
Wonder → Adbhuta
Peace → Śānta
Supporting Emotions (Vyabhicāribhāvas)
These are temporary emotions that support the permanent one.
Bharata lists 33 types, e.g., anxiety, fatigue, shame, doubt, intoxication, etc.
8. Physical Expressions (Anubhāvas)
Expressions, gestures, and bodily changes shown by the actor.
Examples: smiling, blushing, trembling, crying, widening eyes.
9. Purpose of Rasa
The goal of any art is to create rasa-experience in the audience.
It is not just raw emotion, but a refined aesthetic joy.
Audience enjoys sadness in tragedy, fear in horror, or anger in battle, because it is presented aesthetically.
10. Importance of Rasa Theory
It is the foundation of Indian aesthetics.
Influenced poetry, dance, drama, painting, music, and cinema.
Explains why art moves us emotionally.
Shows the difference between real life emotions (personal, painful) and artistic emotions (aesthetic, enjoyable).
HOME ASSIGNMENT ✨
Dhvani Theory (By Ānandavardhana)
1. Meaning of Dhvani
Dhvani literally means sound, resonance, echo, or suggestion.
In aesthetics, it means the suggestive power of language that conveys meaning beyond the literal words.
Example: Saying “the moon hides behind the clouds” may suggest shyness of a lover, not just the natural scene.
2. Origin of Dhvani Theory
Propounded by Ānandavardhana in his famous work Dhvanyāloka (9th century).
He argued that the soul of poetry is Dhvani (suggestion), just like Bharata said the soul of drama is Rasa.
3. Main Idea of Dhvani
Words don’t only give direct (literal) meaning, they also suggest deeper meanings.
True beauty of poetry lies in what is suggested but not directly said.
Dhvani = that hidden meaning which touches the reader’s heart.
4. Three Levels of Meaning (According to Ānandavardhana)
Every expression can have three layers of meaning:
1. Abhidha (Denotative meaning)
The direct, dictionary meaning of a word.
Example: “Moon” = a heavenly body.
2. Lakṣaṇā (Indicative meaning)
Indirect meaning when literal sense is not possible.
Example: “The village is on the Ganga” → It means “on the bank of the Ganga.”
3. Vyañjanā (Suggestive meaning / Dhvani)
Deeper, hidden meaning suggested by the words.
Example: “Her face is like the moon” → Suggests beauty, charm, radiance, not just comparison.
5. Types of Dhvani
Ānandavardhana classified Dhvani into three types:
1. Vastu Dhvani (Suggested Idea)
When the suggestion is about some concept, idea, or fact.
Example: “The lamp is flickering” → may suggest someone is waiting for their lover.
2. Alaṅkāra Dhvani (Suggested Figure of Speech)
When the suggestion is about a poetic ornament (metaphor, simile, irony).
Example: “She is a walking moon” → Suggests metaphorical beauty.
3. Rasa Dhvani (Suggested Emotion/Feeling) – Highest type
When the words suggest Rasa (aesthetic emotion).
Example: “Clouds gather and lightning strikes” → suggests fear or excitement, beyond literal description.
6. Importance of Vyañjanā (Suggestion)
Ānandavardhana says: Without Vyañjanā (suggestion), poetry is lifeless.
Just as soul gives life to body, Dhvani gives life to poetry.
7. Relation of Dhvani with Rasa
Rasa (emotions) cannot be expressed fully by literal words.
They are suggested through Dhvani.
Thus, Rasa Dhvani is considered the highest form of poetic beauty.
8. Supporters of Dhvani Theory
Ānandavardhana (founder, Dhvanyāloka).
Abhinavagupta (commentator) supported it strongly and connected it with Bharata’s Rasa theory.
9. Importance of Dhvani Theory
It changed the way Indian poetics was understood.
Established that real beauty of literature lies in its power of suggestion, not in direct statement.
Strongly influenced Sanskrit poetry, drama, and later Indian aesthetics.
Even modern literature and films use suggestion (symbolism, hidden meanings) which comes from Dhvani principle.
ESSAY 🎀
Vakrokti Theory (By Kuntaka)
1. Meaning of Vakrokti
Vakra = crooked / indirect / unique.
Ukti = expression / speech.
Together → Vakrokti means “unique or oblique expression”.
It refers to the special, artistic way of using language that makes poetry beautiful and different from ordinary speech.
2. Origin of Vakrokti Theory
Propounded by Kuntaka (10th century Sanskrit critic).
His main work: Vakroktijīvita (“The Life of Poetry is Vakrokti”).
He argued that poetry’s soul is neither Rasa (emotion) nor Dhvani (suggestion), but Vakrokti (distinctive expression).
3. Main Idea of Vakrokti
What makes poetry different from daily language is the special twist in expression.
This “crookedness” does not mean fault, but beauty, creativity, and uniqueness.
Example:
Ordinary speech: “Her face is beautiful.”
Vakrokti style: “Her face outshines the full moon.”
→ The second expression has charm, imagination, and poetic quality.
4. Vakrokti vs Ordinary Language
Ordinary speech → communicates directly.
Poetic speech (Vakrokti) → communicates indirectly with creativity, style, and beauty.
5. Levels/Types of Vakrokti
Kuntaka explained Vakrokti can appear at six levels of language use:
1. Varṇavinyāsa Vakratā (Phonetic level)
Beauty through sound arrangement.
Example: alliteration, rhyme, rhythm.
2. Padapūrvārddha Vakratā (Word level)
Beauty in choice of words.
Example: using rare, sweet, or surprising words.
3. Padaparārddha Vakratā (Sentence level)
Beauty in sentence structure.
Example: inversion, word order change for poetic effect.
4. Prakaraṇa Vakratā (Contextual level)
Beauty in the way the situation or theme is presented.
5. Prabandha Vakratā (Composition level)
Beauty in the whole composition or arrangement of ideas.
6. Artha Vakratā (Meaning level)
Beauty in the meaning itself—using metaphor, simile, irony, symbolism.
6. Vakrokti as the Soul of Poetry
Kuntaka declared: “Poetry without Vakrokti is lifeless.”
For him, the essence of poetry is not emotion (Rasa), not suggestion (Dhvani), but the unique style of expression (Vakrokti).
7. Examples of Vakrokti
Simple: “The girl is tall.”
Vakrokti: “She stands like a golden pillar touching the sky.”
→ Same idea, but expressed uniquely with imagination and beauty.
8. Importance of Vakrokti Theory
Highlighted the artistic power of language itself, not just hidden meaning or emotions.
Showed how style and creativity make literature different from common speech.
Valued imagination, wordplay, sound, and poetic craft.
Influenced many later theories of Indian poetics.
