A History of Indian Literature v3.c35.s2.121

v3.c35.s2.121

Rājānaka Ruyyaka (or Rucaka), who is held in high esteem as a theorist on poetry, wrote in the beginning of the 12th century A.D. the much read work Alaṁkārasarvasva⁴, "Everything of Embellishment". He wholly depends upon his predecessors, especially Mammaṭa. His credit lies chiefly in the fact that he adopts the scientific style, for he was well disciplined in philosophical literature. When he refers to the views of Bhāmaha, Udbhaṭa, Rudraṭa and Vāmana, he speaks about them collectively: "Therefore, so goes the opinion of the older writers—that alaṁkāras constitute the chief constituents of poetry". Following this he deals in detail with the definition and classification of alaṁkāras, of which he treats not less than 82.