Question

In which literary work did Anandavardhana present the Dhwani Theory?

• A. Natyashastra
• B. Dhvanyaloka
• C. Kavya Prakash
• D. Abhinavabharati

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Dhvanyaloka

Dhvanyaloka and the Dhwani Theory

• Anandavardhana presented the Dhwani Theory in his 9th-century Sanskrit literary work, Dhvanyaloka.

• This work explains how suggestion (Dhwani) is the most powerful aspect of poetry.

• He argued that poetry’s beauty lies not just in its literal meaning but in its implied (suggested) emotions and deeper significance.

• It laid the foundation for Rasa-Dhwani aesthetics, influencing later scholars like Abhinavagupta.

Dhvanyaloka remains a milestone in Sanskrit poetics, shaping Indian literary criticism for centuries.