Assignment 109: Suggestive Poetry Unveiled: Anandavardhana's Dhvani Theory

 This blog is part of assignment of Paper 109: Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics

Suggestive Poetry Unveiled: Anandavardhana's Dhvani Theory

Table of Contents : 

Personal Information

Assignment Details

Abstract 

Keywords

Introduction

Defining Dhvani Theory 

Dhvani as Kavyasya Atma 

Anandavardhana's Three Levelled Meaning:

Supremacy of Dhvani

Dhvani is used for Conventional meaning

Conclusion

Personal Information:-

Name:- Darshan Vagh

Batch:- M.A. Sem 2 (2023-2025)

Enrollment Number:- 5108230045

E-mail Address:- darshanvaghc56@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 5

Assignment Details:-

Topic:-Suggestive Poetry Unveiled: Anandavardhana's Dhvani Theory

 Paper 109: Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- April 26, 2024

Abstract:

Anandvardhan's Dhvani theory represents a significant milestone in the realm of poetry, focusing on the intricate interplay of meaning and symbolism. This theory, encapsulated by the concept of Dhvani or Vyanjana, explores the depths of poetic expression by emphasising the power of suggestion. Through Dhvani, poets delve into rich emotional landscapes, weaving intricate tapestries of hidden meanings and nuanced sentiments.

The essence of Dhvani lies in its ability to transcend the surface meanings of words, delving into the realms of implicit significance and evocative imagery. This theory not only enriches the poetic experience but also serves as a profound exploration of human emotions and cultural contexts.

Anandvardhan's Dhvani theory finds resonance across literary traditions, resonating with scholars and poets alike for its enduring relevance and transformative impact on poetic discourse. Supported by luminaries such as Abhinavgupta, this theory stands as a cornerstone in appreciating the depth, beauty, and transformative power of poetry.

Keywords:

 Anand Vardhan, Dhvani theory, poetry, meaning, symbolism, Vyanjana, suggestion, emotional landscapes, cultural contexts, transformative impact, Abhinavgupta.

Introduction

Anandvardhan was a famous poet and philosopher from Kashmir. He was highly respected and praised in the court of King Avantivarman, as mentioned by the renowned author Kahlana in his work Rajtarangini. This indicates that Anandvardhan gained recognition during Avantivarman's reign in the 9th century.

In the development of literary techniques, one crucial aspect is Dhvani or Vyanjana. Mediaeval scholars believed that Dhvani was essential for creating aesthetic experiences and emotional responses because mere words couldn't evoke the desired feelings. Anandvardhan's 'Dhvanyāloka' was the first detailed explanation of the Dhvani Theory. This theory remained influential in Indian Poetics from the 9th to 12th centuries.

Defining Dhvani Theory 

Dhvani, also known as 'Suggestive Poetry,' is a fancy way of writing where the real meaning of words isn't as important as the hidden meanings they hint at. Anandavardhana, a smart guy from long ago, talked a lot about this in his book Dhvanyaloka.

He said that even though some other smart people had touched on this idea before, he was the first to really dive into it and explain how it works. People really liked what he had to say, and his ideas became super important in how people think about poetry in India.

On the other hand, Bharata, who lived before Anandavardhana, talked about something called rasa in stories and plays. He believed that stories and plays should make you feel things, not just tell you stuff outright. Anandavardhana kind of built on this idea and said that good poetry doesn't just tell you what to feel; it suggests feelings to you in a clever way. So, when you read a poem, it's like the words are whispering emotions to you instead of shouting them. This is why suggestion is so powerful in poetry, according to Anandavardhana. (#Singh)

Definition of Dhvani Theory

ध्वनति इति ध्वनि: - That which suggest both word and meaning is Dhvani

ध्वन्यते इति ध्वनि - That which is suggested is Dhvani

ध्वननं ध्वनि: - Process of Suggestion is Dhvani

ध्वनि समुदाय: ध्वनि: - Entire Literature is Dhvani

"That kind of poetry, wherein the (conventional) meaning renders itself secondary or the (conventional) word renders its meaning secondary and suggests the (intended or) implied meaning; is designated by the learned as Dhvani or 'Suggested Poetry'"

Dhvani Theory is a theory of meaning of symbolism, and this principle leads to the poetry of suggestion being accepted as the highest kind of poetry.

Dhvani as Kavyasya Atma 

In Todorov's views, Anandavardhana "was perhaps the greatest of all theorists of textual Symbolism".

Anandavardhana uses the term Dhvani to designate the universe of suggestion- Ka Vysya Atma Dhvani.

Dhavni  

Sphota - grammar 

Vyanjana - kavyashastra poetics

Anandavardhana is openly indebted to Bhartrhari's sphota theory and he acknowledges it in Dhvanyaloka.

Meaning

That meaning which wins the admiration of refined critics is decided to be the soul of the poetry. It has two aspects:

Explicit

Implicit

Explicit is commonly denoted by various figures of speech. But the implicit aspect is quite different. In the words of first-rate poets, it shines supreme and towers above the beauty of the striking external constituents even as a charm in ladies.

Anandavardhana's Three Leveled Meaning:

To make words convey their intended meanings, we need to arrange sounds properly. Language can be either written or spoken, and it relies on words. Sanskrit critics categorized words into three types:

अभिधा (Abhidha) - Literal Meaning of the word

लक्षणा (Lakshana) - Characteristically Meaning of the word

व्यंजना (Vyanjana) - Poetic & Metaphysical Meaning of the word

When we use the third type of word, Vyanjana, it goes deeper and suggests something more than just the surface meaning. This deeper suggestion is what we call 'Dhvani.' Dhvani is born from individual words (Pada), which come together to make sentences (Vākya), and then these sentences create emotions and feelings (Rasābhāva).

Supremacy of Dhvani

Many authors like Bharat, Mammatt, Bhāmah, and Dandi focused on things like emotions (Rasā), decorations (Alamkār), style (Riti), and good or bad qualities (Guna-dosha) in poems. But Ānandvardhan took it a step further. He said those things were like the body of a poem, essential but not the heart of it. According to him, 'Dhvani' is the soul of poetry, just like how a human body needs a soul to be alive, poetry needs Dhvani to truly come to life.

Dhvani and Dhvanyāloka

Dhvani is like the magic in poems—it's when the hidden meaning becomes more important than what the words directly say. Anandvardhan, in his book Dhvanyāloka, talks a lot about Dhvani. He thinks it's super important because it explains how poems make us feel (Rasā), the cool figures of speech they use (Alamkāra), how they sound (Riti), and what's good or not so good about them (Guna-dosa).(#Kulkarni)

Anandvardhan gives a big thumbs-up to grammar experts (Vaiyakarana) because they help us understand how words come together in poems. He also talks about different types of hidden meanings, which is kind of like saying he's the master of understanding what poems are really saying without saying it directly.

Dhvani is used for Conventional meaning

In poetry, there's more to words than just what they say. It's like a secret code where the sound of words, their hidden meanings, and the overall feeling they give off are super important. 

Even ancient texts like Rigveda talk about this, saying that there's a difference between what words literally mean and what they really mean deep down. It's kind of like saying, "You see, but you don't really see," or "You hear, but you don't really hear."

Poetry isn't just about words on paper—it's about the emotions, culture, and context behind those words. The way words are said, the way sentences are formed, and even the tone of voice or gestures can add to this deeper meaning. Another fancy word for this hidden meaning is Pratīyamānārtha.

The best kind of poetry is the one where this hidden meaning is stronger than what's actually said. It's like the words resonate with you and make you feel something special. There are also other types of poetry where the hidden meaning isn't as strong, and then there are poems where there's no hidden meaning at all—they're just like pictures painted with words. This hidden meaning, or dhvani, can apply to words, their meanings, or even the whole idea of suggestive poetry itself.

In short, in Anandavardhana's treatise it is taken in five senses:

1. The suggestive word/sound which resonates meaning, that is, vyanjan shabd.

2. The suggestive meaning which resembles another sense, that is, vyanjaka artha.

3. The suggestive poetry, that is, vyanjaka kavya.

4. The suggested meaning , that is, vyangyartha and

5. The activity of meaning, that is, vyanjana vyapara.

Anandavardhana elaborates his theory from the angle of what is suggested and the suggestions or what suggests. Regarding the nature of what is suggested, Anandavardhana divides it into three categories:

Vastu Dhvani or where there is the suggestion of a matter/fact or an idea,

 Alahkaradhvani or where there is the suggestion of a trope, and

 Rasa Dhvani or where there is the suggestion of a mood or feeling.

The last category which has been taken as the cardinal principle by the Indian critics, has been assigned prime significance by Anandavardhana also. Elsewhere, he has categorically expressed that his subject is not merely to establish the doctrine of suggestion but also to harmonize it with the theory of aesthetic emotion. The theory of dhvani, as such, is a comprehensive principle which can cover any genre that fulfills the definition of poetry and in fact when the Indian poetics adopts the term, It includes any literary work. The activity of suggestion in literature, whether in the East or in the West , has been an age-old phenomenon. Only that its conscious usage in the West , both as a term and as a technique, was a later development and as Krishna Rayan suggests, it was during the nineteenth century that "in Poe's critical writings that 'suggestiveness' is first used as a technical term".

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ānandvardhan's Dhvani theory is a significant addition to poetry, focusing on meaning and symbolism. It champions poetry of suggestion as the highest form of poetic expression. Through Dhvani or Vyanjana, poets craft rich emotional landscapes using various literary techniques.

Dhvani goes beyond mere surface meanings, embodying a complex interplay of elements that enrich the poetic experience. This theory is well-supported by scholars like Abhinavgupta, highlighting its enduring importance in literature. Thus, Ānandvardhan's Dhvani Theory stands as a cornerstone in appreciating the deep and beautiful world of poetry.

Words : 1803

Images: 3

References

Chari, V. K. “The Indian Theory of Suggestion (Dhvani).” Philosophy East and West, vol. 27, no. 4, 1977, pp. 391–99. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1397981. Accessed 21 Apr. 2024.

Kulkarni , Digambar S. “Dhvanyaloka by Anandavardhana: A Critical Reading of the Theory of Suggestion in Poetry.” Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, vol. 5, no. 3, 2018. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Singh, Ajay. "Dhvani Theory in Indian Aesthetics."International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences,Vol-7, Issue-3; May-Jun, 2022.Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.

Taber, John A. Philosophy East and West, vol. 37, no. 4, 1987, pp. 462–64. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1399038. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.