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Anandavardhana: short notes?
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Anandavardhana (c. 820–890 CE) was a Kashmiri philosopher and literary theorist, revered as one of India's most influential figures in literary criticism and aesthetics.
Key Contributions:
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Dhvanyaloka: Anandavardhana's most important work is the Dhvanyaloka (The Light of Suggestion), a seminal text that introduces and elaborates the theory of dhvani (suggestion) in literature. This theory posits that the most significant aspect of poetry is its suggestive power, where meaning is not explicitly stated but rather implied or evoked.
- Dhvani is considered the soul of poetry (kavyasya atma dhvani).
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Theory of Dhvani: The theory of dhvani classifies different types of suggestion, including:
- Vastu-dhvani: Suggestion of facts or ideas.
- Alankara-dhvani: Suggestion of figures of speech.
- Rasa-dhvani: Suggestion of sentiment or emotion, considered the highest form of dhvani.
- Impact: Anandavardhana's theory revolutionized Sanskrit poetics, shifting the focus from the external elements of poetry (like figures of speech) to its inner, suggestive essence. His work influenced subsequent generations of literary theorists and continues to be studied in the field of comparative literature.
- Other Works: He is also credited with other works, including Devishataka, a devotional poem.
In summary, Anandavardhana is best known for his Dhvanyaloka and the theory of dhvani, which emphasizes the importance of suggestion in poetry and has had a lasting impact on Indian literary theory.