Name:- Gujarati Krishna V.Callas:- M.A Sem-2Topic:-Vakrokti as a theory of literature.Paper:- 7 Literary Criticism and TheoryRoll No.:- 17Submitted to:- M.K.B.U, Dept. of. English

MEANS OF VAKROKTI

Vakrokti means the hidden meaning of the work of Art. The writer outs the message in the hidden way that at the first glance we will not be able to find the meaning of the poem or the sentence or any creative work of art.

THEORY OF VAKROKTI

Kuntaka was a Kashmiri Sanskrit poetician and literary theorist who is remembered for his work Vakroktijivitam is which he postulates the Vakrokti Siddhanta or theory of oblique expression, which he considers as the hallmark of creative literature.

The origin of Vakrokti could be found in Bhamaha’s “Kavyalankara” and Dandin’s “Kavyadarshan”.

In this theory Kuntaka wants to convey that a certain Strikingness of expression in essence of poetry.

Kuntaka believes that the beautiful and miraculous in the poetry is the consequence of Vakrokti.

According to Kuntaka-“Vakrokti is the source of beauty is Kavya which is quite

opposite to the description of thing as it is”. According to Bhamaha-“Vakrokti as a made of expression because it is the

fundamental principle of figurative expression”.

Dandin defines,

“ Vakrokti as a poetic figure accept Svabhavokti”.

Vamana considered,

“Vakrokti as a special poetic figure based on Lakshana”.

KUNTAKA’S CONCEPT OF VAKROKTI: Vakrokti is a mode of expression poetry, which

underlies and form of all poetic figures. Therefore, Dandi uses the term Vakrokti as a almost co-extensive with the generic term “Alamkara.”

Vakrokti is a left of skill going beyond the theory of Anandvardhan’s “Dhvani” because Kuntaka feels that poetic meaning had not been properly classified in the Dhvani theory.

According to Anandvardhana,There are three levels of poetry-

i: - The Best (Dhvanikavya)

ii:- The next best (Gunibhuttavyangyakavya)

Iii:- The bottom grade(Chitrkavya)

According to kuntaka, definition of poetry is-

“Whatever appeals to a man of test are good poetry and whatever not is not poetry”.

Vakrokti for kuntaka is a synonym for the principle of beauty underlying all kinds of poetic language.

CLASSIFICATION OF VAKROKTI

Kaviyapar

Source of Vakrokti

Vaichitrya

SIX TYPES OF VAKROKTI Varna Vinyas Padapurvardha Padaparardha Vakya Prakarana Prabandha

WHAT IS THE PLACE OF MARGA AND GUNA IN VAKROKTO

The object of composition determines the marga

There are three Margas, styles-

Sukumara (elegant)Vichitra (brilliant)Madhyama (the mixed or intermediate)

SIX GUNAS ARE IDENTIFIED IN LITERARY STYLE-

Auchitya (propriety) Saubhagya (splendour) Madhurya (sweetness) Prasada (perspicuits) Lavanys (grace) Abhijiatya (classicality)

Kuntaka gives importance to the sabda andArtha, at the same time he insist on the presence of Vakrokti in poetry

“Vakrokti consist of peculiar term given to any expression due to the skill of thr poet”.

Conclusion: According to Kuntaka, Vakroti alone does not make

poetry. it must be delight the mind of the reader who is responsive to the true beauty of poetry. Thus the test of Vakrokti is the contribution to Chamankara, the aesthetic enjoyment experienced from composition.