Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v2.c83.9

v2.c83.9

This conjecture about the traditional existence of the dhvani-theory in some form or other even before the Dhvanikāra receives support from the fact that the theory in its essence derived its inspiration from the works of the early grammarians and their semi-philosophical speculations on speech. Originating as a theory of expression, the theory of vyañjanā, no doubt, received no recognition from orthodox grammarians, but not choosing to appear as an entirely novel theory, it sought the protection of the grammarian's authority by pretending that it was founded on the analogy of their ancient sphoṭa-theory. We have already noted⁶ the great influence of the older science of grammar on poetics, and Ānandavardhana himself is careful in noting places that Kane cites, it refers in general to the critics or men of taste who established the new theory, or in particular to the Dhvanikāra or Ānandavardhana, and there is no need to go beyond this ordinary meaning of the term in Alaṃkāra literature. Possibly the reference is directly to Ānandavardhana who was a contemporary of Mukula's father Kallaṭa (see Vol. I p. 76).