Q.1., Explain the concept of Dhwani Theory.
✢ Founder of Dhwani Theory:
Founder: Anandavardhana (9th century CE)
Work: Dhvanyaloka (“Light on Suggestion”)
Core Idea: Poetry’s soul = suggested meaning (vyangya)
Focus: Emotional depth (rasa) beyond literal meaning
Influenced by: Abhinavagupta’s elaborations
Key Term: Dhvani = “Resonance” or “Suggestion”
𖠁 What is Dhwani Theory?
The Dhvani Theory is one of the most important concepts in Indian poetics, formulated by the Kashmiri literary critic Anandavardhana in the 9th century CE in his Sanskrit treatise Dhvanyaloka (Light on Suggestion).
Literal meaning of “Dhvani”: In Sanskrit, dhvani means “sound,” “echo,” or “resonance.”
In poetics: It means suggestion — the idea that the real beauty of poetry lies not in what is said directly, but in what is implied or suggested beyond the literal meaning of the words.
✥Types of Dhvani (Anandavardhana– Dhvanyaloka):
Anandavardhana classifies dhvani according to what is being suggested.
He identifies three main types:
1. Vastu-dhvani (Suggestion of an Idea or Fact):
Meaning: The literal statement points to an idea, fact, or concept beyond the surface.
Focus: Suggestion lies in the content (vastu = subject matter).
Example:
“The palace gates are shut.”
→ Literally about the gates, but might suggest that the king is angry or unwilling to meet anyone.
English Parallel: Hidden message or allegory.
2. Alamkara-dhvani (Suggestion of a Poetic Figure / Ornament):
Meaning: The words suggest a figure of speech (like simile, metaphor, irony) that isn’t directly stated.
Focus: Suggestion lies in form (alamkara = ornament).
Example:
“Her smile outshines the moon.”
→ Literal meaning: She has a beautiful smile.
→ Suggested meaning: A metaphor comparing beauty to the moon.
English Parallel: When figurative language emerges indirectly.
3. Rasa-dhvani (Suggestion of Rasa / Emotion) – Highest Form:
Meaning: The words indirectly evoke an aesthetic emotion (rasa) such as love (sringara), pathos (karuṇa), heroism (veera), etc.
Focus: Suggestion lies in feeling (rasa = aesthetic flavour).
Example:
In Kalidasa’s Meghaduta, the exiled lover describes the cloud’s journey to his beloved. Literally it’s a travel route, but it suggests love in separation (vipralambha-srungar rasa).
English Parallel: Mood or emotional undertone that is felt, not stated.
✾Why Rasa-dhvani is Special?
Anandavardhana and Abhinavagupta considered Rasa-dhvani the supreme form of poetry because:
It directly touches the reader’s emotions.
It is the main vehicle for producing the aesthetic experience.
❁Types of literature based on presence of Dhwani:
1. Dhvani-kavya (Suggestive Poetry)
Definition: Poetry in which the suggested meaning (vyangya-artha) is the soul of the work.
Literal meaning (abhidha) and secondary meaning (laksana) are only supporting elements.
Main purpose: to evoke rasa (aesthetic emotion) through indirect expression.
Example:
Meghaduta (Kalidasa) — literal: cloud’s journey; suggested: love in separation (vipralambha-srungar).
Gita Govinda (Jayadeva) — literal: love story; suggested: soul’s devotion to God.
Status: Considered the highest form of poetry in Anandavardhana’s theory.
2. Guni-bhuta-vyangya (Poetry with Subordinated Suggestion)
Definition: Poetry in which suggestion is present but not dominant — it is a secondary element, supporting the main literal meaning.
The poem can still evoke rasa, but the direct meaning is more important than the suggestion.
Example:
A verse describing a hero’s bravery may also subtly suggest patriotism — but the main point remains his action, not the implied emotion.
Status: Considered lower than dhvani-kkvya because the suggested meaning does not dominate.
3. Chitra-kavya (Pictorial / Ornamental Poetry)
Definition: Poetry that focuses on verbal beauty, word arrangement, and decorative figures (alamkara), without significant suggestion.
The charm lies in sound effects, patterns, and wordplay rather than deep meaning or rasa.
Example:
Verses with palindromes, shape-poems, or elaborate alliteration used in Sanskrit court poetry.
Status: Considered the lowest in terms of aesthetic depth, though it may be admired for technical skill.
✦Dhwani in poetry (verse):
In poetry, Dhvani means suggestion — the power of words to convey a meaning, emotion, or image that is not directly stated but understood by the sensitive reader or listener.
The term comes from Sanskrit, where dhvani literally means sound or echo. In poetics, it was given its special meaning by Ānandavardhana in his 9th-century treatise Dhvanyaloka.
🗃How Dhvani Works in Poetry:
When we read a poem, language operates on three levels:
1. Abhidha – Direct or primary meaning of the words.
Example: “The sun has set” → A factual statement.
2. Laksana – Secondary or indicated meaning when the primary is inadequate or figurative.
Example: “The crown rules the land” → “The king rules.”
3. Vyanjana – Suggested meaning, which is Dhvani.
Example: “The sun has set” → Could suggest the end of youth, approaching danger, or separation — depending on context.
It is this third level, vyanjana, that produces dhvani in poetry.
⍰Why Dhvani Matters:
Depth: Dhvani adds layers of meaning, allowing poetry to communicate ideas and feelings that cannot be said outright.
Emotion (Rasa): The real emotional experience of a poem often comes through suggestion.
Aesthetic Beauty: Dhvani creates a lingering effect — like an echo — which stays in the reader’s mind.
💭Example in Sanskrit Poetry:
From Kalidasa’s Meghaduta:
The exiled lover describes the path of a cloud to his beloved.
Literal meaning: Directions for the cloud’s journey.
Suggested meaning (Dhvani): His longing and vipralambha-srungar rasa (love in separation).
💭Example in English Poetry:
From Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening:
Literal meaning: A man stops to look at snowy woods.
Suggested meaning (Dhvani): Reflection on life’s beauty, death, and duty — “And miles to go before I sleep” can suggest life’s remaining obligations before rest (death).
🎯 In Short:
Dhvani in poetry is when the poet says one thing but makes the reader feel or understand something deeper, richer, and more beautiful.
Anandavardhana calls it “the soul of poetry” because without it, verses may be clever or pretty, but they lack emotional power.
Q.2.,"Poetry as a Mirror and a Lamp – Understanding Indian Poetics."
• Introduction:
Poetry has been called many things — a mirror reflecting life, a lamp illuminating hidden truths, and even a bridge connecting the human heart with the universe.
Indian poetics, developed over centuries, is not merely a set of rules for writing poetry; it is a philosophy that explains why poetry moves us, how it works, and what its ultimate goal is.
The Soul of Poetry
Different critics in Indian literary tradition have tried to define the atma (soul) of poetry:
Bharata in the Natyashastra saw it in Rasa — the aesthetic emotion that the audience experiences.
Anandavardhana saw it in Dhvani — the unspoken suggestion that gives depth.
Kuntaka saw it in Vakrokti — the artistic twist of expression.
Vamana saw it in Riti — the stylistic arrangement of words.
Like the four directions of a compass, each points to a different path, but all lead to the same destination — poetic beauty.
• Poetics as a Science of Beauty:
Indian poetics is not random admiration of verses; it is a systematic study. Critics ask:
What makes a poem effective?
Is it the meaning, the sound, the style, or the emotion?
By answering these, Indian poetics becomes both science (shastra) and art (kala).
• Why Poetry is More Than Decoration:
In Western tradition, poetry was sometimes seen as “sweet language.”
In Indian poetics, poetry is a path to truth and joy — it does not merely entertain but refines the soul (samskara).
A verse about a blooming lotus is not just a description — it can suggest purity (Dhvani), be expressed with a beautiful twist (Vakrokti), evoke wonder (Rasa), and follow an elegant style (Riti).
• The Interplay of Theories:
Imagine a single verse-
> “The moon hides shyly behind the monsoon clouds.”
Rasa: Evokes srungara (romantic) or santa (peaceful) mood.
Dhvani: Suggests the lover’s shyness without directly saying it.
Vakrokti: Turns a plain fact into a charming image.
Riti: Arranges words smoothly for musical effect.
This shows that poetics is not about choosing one theory over another, but blending them.
• Conclusion:
Indian poetics treats poetry not as lifeless decoration but as living art — a mirror that reflects reality and a lamp that lights the unseen corners of the heart.
Whether through the whisper of suggestion in Dhvani, the twist of style in Vakrokti, the sweetness of Riti, or the flavour of Rasa, poetry in the Indian tradition is both a craft and a spiritual experience.
In the end, the true test of poetry is not just in reading it but in feeling it.
Q.3., Presentation on Dhwani Thery
• Citations:
-Some content and Information from Chat GPT.
- Photos from Google Chrome.
- PPT create by me.
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