Literary Sphere

Anandavardhana: Dhvani - Structure of Poetic Meaning Based on the excerpt in G. N. Devy (Ed.), Indian Literary Criticism: Theory and Interpretation (pp. 31-40). Introduction to Anandavardhana and the Theory of Dhvani Anandavardhana, a highly influential 9th-century CE Indian literary theorist, revolutionized the understanding of poetic meaning with his groundbreaking theory of Dhwani ( ध्वनि ), often translated as "suggestion," "implication," or "resonance." His seminal work, the Dhvanyaloka ( ध्वन्यालोक , "The Light of Suggestion"), posits that the most significant and aesthetically potent aspect of poetry lies not in its literal or directly expressed meaning ( vachya , वाच्य ), but in the suggested or implied meaning ( vyangya , व्यङ्ग्य ) that resonates with the reader. The excerpt under discussion introduces this core concept and explores the structure and various type...