Kuntaka's Vakrokti theory proposes that poetry gains brilliance through the use of oblique or indirect speech. It identifies six types of "Vakroktis" or oblique expressions that can be used in poetry: 1) Varna vinyas, 2) Pada purvardha, 3) Pada parardha, 4) Vakya, 5) Prakarana, and 6) Prabandha. Kuntaka believed that these types of indirect expressions, when used individually or together, imbue poetry with a supernatural charm. His theory incorporates elements of other Indian poetics schools like rasa, alankara, and guna.
2. Introduction :-
★ Name :- Aarti Bhupatbhai Sarvaiya
★ Roll No :- 01
★ Enrollment No :- 4069206420220027
★ Sem :- 2(M.A.)
★ Batch :- 2022-2024
★ Paper No. :- 109
★ Paper Code :- 22402
★ Paper Name :-Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics
★ Submitted to :- Smt. S. B. Gardi, Department of English,M.K.B.U.
★ Dated on :- 14 March 2023
★ Email :- aartisarvaiya7010@gmail.com
3. 03
01 02
04
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction About Vakrokti
Types of
Vakrokti Conclusion
05 References
- 8 Schools of Indian Poetics
4. ➢ Indian aesthetics is a unique philosophical and
spiritual point of view on art, architecture and
literature.(Niveditha)
➢ In Indian poetics, different theoreticians and schools
differed as to what the soul or essence of poetry is.
They have used the word ‘atman’ which stands for
essence or life-spirit as opposed to physical body. (
Somnath)
Introduction
5. 1. The Alamkara School (Poetic
Figure)
2. Dhwani School (Suggestion)
3. Vakrokti School (Obliquity)
4. Guna/Dosha school (Attribute)
5. Aucitya (Propriety)
6. Rasa School/Rasa theory (Aesthetic
pleasure)
7. Anumana School (Inference)
8. Riti (Somnath )
8 Schools of indian Poetics
6. ● Alankar refers to the use of literary devices or figures of speech in poetry, such
as simile, metaphor, personification, and irony, among others.
● Dhvani refers to the power of suggestion or resonance that a poem can
evoke in the mind of the reader or listener, often through the use of
symbolism, metaphor, or other literary techniques.
● Vakrokti refers to the use of indirect or oblique expressions in poetry, often used to
create a sense of mystery or complexity in the meaning of a poem.
● Gun/dosh refers to the positive and negative qualities of a work of poetry,
including its strengths and weaknesses. This includes aspects such as the
use of language, structure, style, and the effectiveness of the work in
conveying its intended meaning.
(Chat.GPT)
7. ● Auchitya refers to the idea of appropriateness or suitability in poetry. It
encompasses the various considerations that a poet must take into
account when creating a work of poetry, including the context, the
intended audience, and the purpose of the work.
● Ras refers to the emotional or aesthetic experience that a reader or
listener has when engaging with a work of art, particularly poetry.
● Riti refers to the style or mode of expression used in poetry, including the use of
language, grammar, and syntax.
● Anumana, which refers to the process of inference or logical reasoning,
is not traditionally considered as a part of Indian Poetics. Rather, it is a
concept that is more closely associated with Indian philosophy and
logic.
(Chat.GPT)
8. About Vakrokti :-
➔ Vakrokti is remarkable school of poetics in
Sanskrit. It is a theory of language of
literature. It means oblique utterance or
markedness of language.
➔ Kuntaka is the pioneer of this school who
made Vakrokti a full-fledged theory of
literariness.
➔ He defined Vakrokti as “both words and
meanings marked by artistic turn of
speech in his book, Vakrokti-Jivitam.
➔ Vakrokti means Vakra (oblique), Ukti
(statement or utterance). But in fact it is a
deviant or marked expression. It can also
mean special denotation. (Somnath)
14. Conclusion
According to Kuntaka, ‘Vakrokti’ is a striking mode of speech
born out of poetic proficiency. This means that it is poetic element
which poduces superworldy charm. Kuntaka said that the six
kinds of “Vakroktis’ described above together individually create
poetic brilliance.
Vakrokti theory is a useful framework for stylistic analysis of
literature. Kuntaka in fact incorporates ‘rasa’, ‘alamkara’, ‘riti and
‘guna’ theories into this theory of Vakrokti. What is called
Dhwani by Anandvardhan is termed ‘Vakrokti’ by Kuntaka. He
declares that Vakrokti’ is the soul (jivita) of poetry.(Somnath)
15. References
Indian Poetics Expert Lectures Prof Vinod Joshi 2021 04 01.
Directed by English-MKBU, 2021. YouTube,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMrolOxW0-0.
Niveditha. “Indian Aesthetics.” OpenArt, 22 Sept. 2016,
https://www.openart.in/general-topics/indian-aesthetics/.
Sarkar, Somnath. “8 Schools of Indian Poetics.” All About English
Literature, 31 Jan. 2023, https://www.eng-literature.com/2023/01/8-
schools-of-indian-poetics.html.