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Drama And Aesthetics

$43
Item Code: NAN383
Author: T. Devarajan
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan
Language: English
Edition: 2018
ISBN: 9788121703208
Pages: 220
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 8.5 inch X 5.5 inch
Weight 420 gm
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Book Description
Preface

A modest attempt has been made to study the much discussed topics related to drama and aesthetics from ancient time to till date in a new perspective of genuine illumination. Both Indian and Greek aesthetics have a long tradition and spontaneous development with speculative similarities. But India has surpassed the contributions of Greek and other nations of the west by its independent and philosophical basis of original and new theories. Most of the western aesthetic theories have their genesis in the Greek and Roman sources. But Indian literary genres and aesthetic theories have an independent origin and development distinct from those of the west. Most of such theories were revelations of the intuitive self (pratibha), an inexhaustible source of ever new forms. In these theories one can perceive intellectural discriminations based on philosophical concepts derived from contemplation of precise work of art.

Intellectual awakening was similar to East and West during the period B.C, and the probe to assess the creative activity of the poets and the implication and relevance of literature to society. The basis of ancient literary criticism remains as a landmark, though much developments, deviations and novelty have effected in its field with the elapse of time. The topics discussed in the different chapters of this book are great landmarks in the development of drama and aesthetics. When Aristotle mainly leads the critics on tragic form of the West, Bharata leads the Indian dramatists and dramaturgists to the whole types of drama including the Anka (tragedy). Bharata and his followers have laid down independent aesthetic norms suited to all the ages. India's wonderful and profound contributions to the world of aesthetics are the Anukarana theory of Bharata and Sri Sankuka; the Dhvani theory of Anandavardhana, the Sadharal) Tkaral)a theory of Bhattanayaka and the theory of Reflection (Abhivyakti vada) of Abhinavagupta. However, the theories of Bhattanayaka, Anandavardhana and Abhinavagupta have raised genuine curiosity and passion in the study of literature, particularly in Drama and Aesthetics. Bharata's RasasGtra the wonderful catchword that contains the mode of aesthetic experience of all kinds of fine arts, deserves special mention in this context. The RasasGtra and the interpretations on it at different periods, in the light of philosophical speculations have elevated Indian aesthetics to the level of spiritual delight. Bhasa is a new path finder in the field of drama against traditional conventions, belief and norms. His tragic concept has not been undergone serious study in its real sense and spirit. The topics discussed in the different chapters of this book are great land marks in the study of Drama and Aesthetics.

I wish to record my gratefulness to the Universtiy of Kerala, particularly to the Department of Sanskrit and its HOD for providing material assistance and access to the resources of the library for the completion of this book. I owe my greatest debt to my wife and two daughters and granddaughter for their encouragement and cheerfulness to make this work ready for publication.

 

Introduction

The unique and precise doctrine of Dhvani has forced to accept it as a landmark in the history of Indian aesthetics and classify history of poetics into Pre-Dhvani, Dhvani and Post-Dhvani periods. The Pre-Dhvani period is the formative stage of Indian aesthetics. This period is important on several aspects of aesthetics. Almost all the constituents and their comparative importance in delight of poetry were studied during this period. Both word and sense were considered as the body of poetry. Alankara (external embellishment), guna (poetic excellence), riti (style of composition) and beauty as the most important element or soul of poetry were interpreted. Above all the maturity of poetry, viz., Paka was also noticed as the proficiency in words and sense in composition. The Draksa Paka was the desirable one above the Nalikerapaka. Alankaras and Gunas were classified into two based on words (sabda) and sense (artha) to get the Sabdalankaras, Arthalarikaras, the Sabdagunas and the Arthagunas respectively. Dandin treated alankaras as the external ornaments of poetry. But Gunas or excellences were the very life of marga contributing to the delight of poetry - Dandin laid down three types of Marga, of which the vaidarbhi enveloped all the ten Sabda and Artha gunas. Dandin was the first critic to introduce the idea of a life or essence to poetry. Vaidabhi consisting of all the excellences was considered as the most desirable means of composition (Marga) by Dandin to attain the end of poetry, to teach and to delight. Vamana was very conspicuous in his style (riti) of poetry, a modified version of Dandin's Marga.

The above sutras of Vamana altogether may mean that 'Poetic beauty is determined from the judicious arrangement of words of excellences, in a poem, which is treated as its soul'. Vamana stressed on two aspects of a poem, first selected words of excellences, second their judicious arrangement in poetry in such a way as to evolve charm. Such a perfect poetic style is the soul of poetry which determines poetic charm.

Vamana, the successor of Dandin introduced riti or style of composition for the first time in poetry and elevated it to the most important element or soul of poetry. He was the first critic to interpret Alankara to mean beauty or delight in poetry; or style is explained as the mode of arrangement of words charged with gunas (excellences) that evolve the beauty or aesthetic element of a poem. The interpretation of style by Vamana gave much clarity to the dictum of Marga of Dandin. Dandin and Vamana treated Gunas as the caterers of aesthetic element in poetry. Bhamaha, Dandin and Vamana had laid down a sound foundation to Indian aesthetics during the Pre-Dhvani period.

This foundation consisted of the definition of poetry, the important constituents like body (word and meaning), alankara, guna, riti and atman and their relevance in the delight of poetry. It was on this foundation that Anandavardhana had erected the lighthouse of his doctrine of Dhvani. During the Dhvani and Post-Dhvani periods, a kind of modification or extension or reduction of the constituents of poetry can be observed.

Anandavardhana, the propounder of Dhvani, first decorated the foundation laid down by his predecessors with the power of words (Sabdavyaparas) like Abhidha (the expressive power) Laksana (the denotative power) and Vyanjana (the suggestive power) and explained their relevance in poetry, in comparison with poetic beauty, the most important element desired from poetry. Abhidha and laksana were famous in literature and science and were accepted by everyone Whereas, Vyanjana leading to Dhvani was borrowed from the grammarians for support and validity to his new doctrine of suggestion. Ananda insisted that the essence of poetry lies in its suggestive sense.

 

Contents

 

  Preface vi-vii
  Abbreviations ix-x
  Part I  
I Introduction 15-25
II Poetic Genres In Sanskrit 26-33
  Drama as the Mother type  
  Major types of Drama (Rupakas)  
  Nataka  
  Prakarana  
  Bhana  
  Types of Bhana  
  Prahasana  
  Dima  
  Vyayoga  
  Samavakara  
  Vithi  
  Anka  
  Ihamrga  
III Minor Types of Drama (Uparupakas) 34-44
  Nitika  
  Prakaranika  
  Bhanika  
  Trotaka  
  Preksanka  
  Rasaka  
  Sallapaka  
  Srigadita  
  Sipaka  
  Gosthi  
  Natyarasaka  
  Prasthanaka  
  Ullapya  
  Kavya  
  Vilasika  
  Durmallika  
  Hallisa  
  References  
IV Uparupakas And Their Importance 45-60
  Characteristic of Uparupaka  
  Bhanika  
  The First play performed  
  The Second Play Performed  
  Katiyattam Style of Presentation  
  Development of Drama  
  References  
V Dramas And Dance Performance 61-84
  Lasyangas: Geyapada; Sthitapathya  
  Asinapthya; Puspagandika  
  Pracchedaka; Trimuddhaka, Saindhavaka  
  Dvimudhaka; Uttamottamaka  
  Uktapratyukta; Citrapada and Bhavika  
  Conclusion  
  References  
  Part II  
VI Theory of Anukarana and Mimesis 85-107
  Drama in the East  
  Theory of Anukarana in NS  
  Dhananjaya's View  
  The Tripple Imitation of Sri Sankuka  
  Imitation of great Authors,  
  Anandavardhana's Samvada,  
  Imitation - Selection of fairest foms,  
  Plato's Theory of Mimesis,  
  Ploto's Mirror Images,  
  Post - Aristotilian View  
  Neo-Classicists and After.  
  Abhinavagupta's Mirror-Mind and the Theory of Reflection  
  Prasthanatraya Aesthetics  
  Reflection (Pratibhana),  
  Semblance of the Author, the Actor and the Aesthete  
  References  
VII Interpretation of Rasasutra 108-136
  Bharata's view  
  Bhattalollata's Utpattivada  
  Sri Sankuka's Anukrtivada or Anumitivada  
  Manipradipanyaya  
  Citraturaganyaya  
  Sankuka's theory analysed  
  Bhattanayaka's Bhuktivada  
  Bhavakatva vyapara  
  Cause of Bhavana  
  Bhukti  
  Sentiment and the mental moods  
  Vikasa, Vistara, Ksobha, Viksepa  
  Sentiment and its Prayojyaprayojakabhava  
  Abhinavagupta's Abhivyaktivada  
  Conclusion  
  References  
VIII Sadharanikarana And Catharsis 137-157
  Rasasutra of Bharata  
  Bhattanayaka's view  
  The cause of Bhavana  
  Anandavardhana's Decorum,  
  Dhananjaya's view  
  Abhinavagupta's view on Sadharanikarana  
  Some other cause of Universalisation  
  Jagannatha's view  
  The Western theories  
  Universalisation on the Modern stage,  
  Catharsis,  
  Tragic Waste  
  Catharsis in Comedy  
  Catharsis in the author,  
  Deformity and Cathartic effect  
  Sadharanikarana and Catharsis compared,  
  Conclusion  
  References  
IX Tragic Concept of Bhasa 158-192
  Greek Concept of Tragedy  
  Indian Concept of Tregedy  
  Karuna the Sentiment  
  Dramaturgist's view on Tragedy  
  Characteristics of Bhasa's Tragedies  
  Urubhanga, the title of the play  
  Duryodhna, the Hero  
  Rasa or Sentitment  
  Critical apperication  
  The Hero of Pride, prestige and valor  
  The great trial of physical and mental agonies  
  The great fall and revival of lineage  
  The last scene of Urbhanga  
  Conclusion 193-200
  Diagrams, 201
  Select Bibliography 203-209
  Index 210

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