Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c77.236

v2.c77.236

**The application of the Dhvani theory to Citra.**—The application of the Rasa theory of drama and poetry to picture means that in pictures also Rasas are to be depicted by conditions which rouse them, viz., the objects of emotions, the excitements of emotions, the effects of emotions and the minor emotions which can be called fleeting feelings and which are accessory to the major emotional mood. This means the application of the Dhvani theory also to Citra. It certainly means so. For, in an artistic presentation, it is the suggestion that forms the very life of that artistic expression. This can also be proved by taking the canons given by the Viṣṇudharmottara for depicting things like evening, etc. A perusal of the verses in chapter 24, which show, how mountains, sky, earth, etc. must be depicted, will prove the truth of this statement. The subjects, e. g., gamblers should be suggested by depicting them as bereft of their upper cloth—‘उत्तरीयविहीनांश्च द्यूतासक्तान्प्रदर्शयेत्—; A highway must be suggested by portraying a caravan of camels, etc. carring articles of transport (युक्तं सभारैरुष्ट्राद्यैः मार्गं सार्थं प्रदर्शयेत् ; ) The night must be suggested bydrawing a thief walking stealthily, by an abhisārikā hurrying to meet her lover in her secret meeting place and so forth. Rather it is in picture that this principle of Dhvani, which, according to modern English critics, is “symbolism” in poetry, applies excellently. For here, in picture, there is no scope for the word which can name the subject depicted. In poetry, it is a fault to give anything by its name. To call Rasas by their names, which will never rouse up those Rasas, is a flaw of poetry, called the स्वशब्दवाच्यत्व of Rasas. Thus the title of a picture forms a very little part of it. If one does not avoid this flaw, his poem comes to the state of that picture which can be known only by its title or that frame which has the title of the picture within.