Alamkaras mentioned by Vamana
by Pratim Bhattacharya | 2016 | 65,462 words
This page relates ‘Conclusion’ of the study on Alamkaras (‘figure of speech’) mentioned by Vamana in his Kavyalankara-sutra Vritti, a treatise dealing with the ancient Indian science of Rhetoric and Poetic elements. Vamana flourished in the 8th century and defined thirty-one varieties of Alamkara (lit. “anything which beautifies a Kavya or poetic composition”)
27: Conclusion
It is clear from the discussion that the Sanskrit rhetoricians have tried their level best to suggest a comprehensive concept of alaṃkāras in their works. They have not only defined and illustrated various kinds of figures of speech but they have also minutely differentiated their special peculiarities and classified them into broad groups. Vāmana, being an ancient rhetorician has tried to pave the way for a detailed discussion regarding the role of alaṃkāras in poetry. His famous two-fold definition of alaṃkāras not only gives due importance to the traditional figures of speech like upamā etc but also includes the broader beautifying aspect of alaṃkāras. This beauty or charm rendered to poetry by the poetic figures has been accepted, though in different terms, by his followers Kuntaka, Ruyyaka, Jagannātha etc. The notion of Vāmana regarding traditional alaṃkāras as irregular beautifying elements in poetry has been acclaimed by later rhetoricians like Mammaṭā, Viśvanātha, Jayadeva, Vidyānātha etc. Therefore, his overall conception of alaṃkāras holds special importance and value in the history of Sanskrit Poetics.