Part 18 - Kavi-śikṣā Work in Sanskrit Poetics

In Indian poetics though some rhetoricians have not straight cooperation in general themes of poetics yet they deal other elements of poetics and they also highlight the picture of Kavi-śikṣā (education of poet). Though it is the peculiar tendency on poetics, its aspects deal with regulation, law and precepts of a poet.

It gives the knowledge to aspirant poet to composition of good poetry and enjoyment of kāvya (poetry). S. K. De remarks^[1]:

“These treatise do not deal with the conventional topic of poetics, with its theories, dogmas and definitions but they are meant chiefly as manuals to guide the poet in his profession, there primary objects bring Kavi-śikṣā or instruction of the aspiring poet in the devices of the craft.”

In this way when most of the ālaṃkārikas think about the concepts of poetry as constituted by the body and the soul. Their some are think about the different, they pay attention about their creator, the kavi (poets). On which way the can composed a good poetry, what are their limitations etc. Different writers on poetics had prescribed different guidelines for a successful poet. These guidelines are known as Kavi-śikṣā in Sanskrit poetics. However the earlier rhetoricians of Sanskrit poetics do not elaborately discusses about this matter but they are some gives references willingly or unwillingly in this matter on their works. There at first time Yāyāvarīya Rājaśekhara elaborately discusses and developed the absolute concepts of kavi-śikṣā, thus he posits as the founder of Kaviśikṣā School in Sanskrit poetics.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

De, S. K. History of Sanskrit Poetics. Firma K. L. M. Kolkata: 1988, Vol.–II, Pp- 283