This document provides an overview of the Dhvani school of literary theory established by Anandavardhana. It defines Dhvani as the artistic enjoyment achieved not through direct meaning of words but through associations and ideas evoked. Anandavardhana considered suggestion, or indirectly implied meaning, as the distinguishing characteristic of literary works. He viewed Dhvani as the essence (atma) of poetry. Dhvani refers to both the sound structure of words that suggest meaning and the process of suggestion itself. The theory establishes poetry of suggestion as the highest form.

1. Topic : Structure Analysis of
Dhvani school by Anandavardhana
Name: Patel Kinjal
Paper Name: Literary Theory
and Criticism
Paper No: 7
Roll No: 16
Submitted to: M.K. Bhavnagar
University

2. Definition of Dhvani
• A , category of medieval
Indian poetics, according to
which the artistic
enjoyment from literary
works is achieved not by the
images that are created by
the direct meaning of the
words but by the
associations and ideas that
are evoked by these images
like.

3. Dhvani
Vachya
(the
stated)
Pratyama
na
(the
implied)

4. Introduction
• The Rasa theory in
importance, the dhvani theory
of Anandavardhana, considers
suggestion, the indirectly
evoked meaning, as the
characteristics property of
literary discourses, the
determinant that separates it
form other rational discourse.

6. Dhvani as kavyasya atma

7. • Anandavardhana uses term
dhvani to designate the universe of
suggestion- kavyasya atma dhvani.
Dhvani
VyanjanaSphota

8. Dhvani denotes
• The sound structure of
words (sabda)
• The semantic aspects of
sabda, the vyanjakas
or suggesters
• “the revealed or
suggested meaning as
such and the process of
suggestion involved”

9. What is Dhvani?
• Dhvani theory is a
theory of
meaning, of
symbolism, and this
principle leads to
the poetry of
suggestion being
accepted as the
highest kind of
poetry.

10. AnAndAvArdhAnA’s three
leveled meaning

11. • Rgveda also
makes a
distinction
between the
literal meaning
and inter
significance-
“He sees, but
sees not… one
hears, but hears
not.”

12. Dhvani as a method
• Dhvani is the
method, the means
for achieving or
evoking rasa, which
is the effect of
suggestion.

13. Views of opponents
• Dhvani is nonexistent.
• Dhvani is a product of
inference and is to be
included under laksana.
• dhvani is something
beyond the realm of words.
• Mahimabhatta
(vyaktiviveka) is the most
well-known critic of this
theory.

14. Intonation
• The intonation
adds a layer of
suggested
meaning to the
directly expressed
meaning of an
utterance.

15. Dhvani
Avivaksita
vacya Vivaksitanyapara
vacya
Samlaksayakrama vyangya Asamlaksayakra
ma vyangya

17. Vastu dhvani
Kavipraudha
uktimatra
siddha
Svatasambhavi