Indian poetics - Alamkara and Vakrokti

Name :- Zala Krutikadevi. D

Paper :- 7

Sem :- 2

Roll no:- 17

Topic :- Literary Theory & Criticism - Alamkara &                         Vakrokti

Submitted to :- Smt. S.B. Gardi

                       Department of English

                       M.K. Bhavnagar University.

Introduction :-

 Indian poems are based on Sanskrit poetry. Sanskrit poetry developed in all directions , like " Ramayana " and " Mahabharata ". Ramayana is written by "valmiki" as the first poem in Sanskrit.Ramayana is not only hard work of valmiki but also composition of many different things. This way Mahabharata , Slokas , Parvas , Vedas , Upnishadas are also very important in literature. 

In Indian Poetic Bharatmuni , Panini , Kalidas ,Kuntaka , Bhamaha and many other great poets who wrote about the history and about the culture of India. In the sense of poetry means both type of meanings - to be read , to be heard and drama which is to be seen. They all have different names in western poetic like :-

Alamkara :- Principle of Figurativeness

Vakrokti :- Principle of Deviation

* Alamkara :- 

 Generally we have a single idea about Alamkara is that .. Alamkara means an ornaments which are for women to decorate their beauty.

But in literature Alamkara has different meaning.

Alamkara :- 

        Ornaments of poem - figurative speech which can decorate words and meaning and believed to be the essential sign of poetry.

" Bhamaha " is the first Alamkara poetician. In chapters 2 and 3 of  " Kavyalamkara "he describes 24 figures of speech. There are two types of Alamkaras.

1. Shabdalamkara :-  Shabda + Alamkara

                                        The meaning of sound.

2. Arthalamkara :- Artha + Alamkara

                                       The meaning of word & thoughts.

 Mammata described sixty-one figures of speech and 

 groups them into seven types.

(1)   Vyatiraeka (dissimilitude)

(2)   Aprastuta  Prasnsa ( indirect description)

(3)   Samuccaya ( Concatenation )

(4)   Rupaka ( Metaphor)

(5)   Upama ( Simile)

(6)   Dipaka ( Stringed Figure)

(7)   Virodha(contradiction) 

   But Bharata's original 4 to 61 figures distinguished by Mammata. The difference classificatory  system  can be seen to be based on the following points :-

                   (1)   Grammer ( samasokti)

   (2)   Value of figures

   (3)   Objects with which compared(Upamana)

   (4)   Syntax

   (5)   Symantic basis, such as a similarity.

   (6)   Objects compared(Upmeye)

    (7)   Coherence with known facts or                      otherwise(Sangati)

   Examples :-  

     1 .  Simile ( Upama ) :-  When a person or

    thing is compared with a similar but famous  person or thing.

  

                               " House  like Taj Mahal "

   Here poet compared the beauty of house with Taj Mahahl.

    * Vakrokti :-

 Vakrokti is also a part of language of literature. Vakrokti has special importance in literature not only as a separately but also as a important special element.

  " Kuntaka " is known as the originator of the  - Vakrokti school. He worked on his " Vakroktijivitam ".

 Vakrokti is the most misunderstood and misinterpretation one. It means striking ness in word and meaning of Vakrokti is :-

   Vakrokti :-  Vakra  +  Ukti

   Vakra :- Crooked indirect or unique.

   Ukti :- Poetic expression or speech

Here in Vakrokti " Six Gunas " ( Qualities ) are identified inliterary style.

1. Aucitya

2. Saubhagya

3. Madhurya

4. Prasada

5. Lavanya

6. Abhijatya

Example :-

There is an example of the famous play " Mudrarakshasa " by " Vishakhadatta " discussed a very sharply Vakrokti speech by Shiva , when one day in the morning he comes a home with Ganga on his head to the utter concentration of Parvati. He is caught on the wrong foot by the jealousy. As a wife Parvati asks him questions and Shiva gives replies very meaningfully.

Parvati  :- Who is this blesses damsel on your crest ?

Shiva :- Shashikala ( Crescent of moon or lady's name )

Parvati :- Ohh !!!!! is that the name of the lady ???

Shiva :- surely !!! How is it you have forgotten her name?

Parvati :- My query is about the lady and not the moon.

Shiva :- Let then Vijaya , the lady in attendence reply and not the moon.

Conclusion :- 

Vakrokti was only a species of Alamkara not merit a separate mention. Vakrokti as the basis of all Alamkara , as the essence of beautification in poetry. Vakrokti refers to the Gunas pertaining to the sound and sense . In the same way Kantaka incorporates Rasa , Riti and Alamkara and Guna theroies  togather into his Vakrokti Siddhanta.

Vakrokti  +  Atisayokti  =  Alamkara

This way they all are connected with each other.

THANK YOU :)