Essay name: Arts in the Puranas (study)
Author:
Meena Devadatta Jeste
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune
This essay studies the Arts in the Puranas by reconstructing the theory of six major fine arts鈥擬usic, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature鈥攆rom the Major and Minor Puranas. This thesis shows how ancient sages studied these arts within the context of cultural traditions of ancient India.
Chapter 6 - Literature in the Puranas
7 (of 59)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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is, these very conventions that are the life-blood of the
literature of the past ages.
Sanskrt drama is bound by a number of strict rules
but is rich in art and skill. The dramatist must adhere
strictly to the regulations laid down by the Natya sastra. It
is only the crude imitator that distorts the unsullied
vision that the masters had. In the hands of such crude
imitators poetry becomes stylised and rigid. But in the
hands of the masters like Kalidasa these very conventions are
turned to artistic use.
According to the Sanskrt poets and theorists true
poetry must fulfil the requirements of 'qualities', of
'ornaments', of particular arrangements of words to suggest a
sense or sentiment. So the demand that is made of the poet
is that he must possess poetic intuition (Pratibha) aided by
Vyutpatti (study) and Abhyasa (practice).
The attention of the earlier writers on 'Sahitya -
'sastra' was first drawn principally to the subject of style.
It is naturally associated with Gunas (excellences) and Dosas
(defects). Some emphasized the importance of figures of
speech while others emphasized the importance of strikingness
(Vakrokti). Dhvanikara and Anandavardhana considered the
problem of literary emotion and regarded it as the most
essential desideratum in literature.
