Question

What does "Alambana Vibhava" represent?

• A. The circumstances that evoke emotions
• B. The fleeting emotions in a literary work
• C. The persons or characters through whom emotions are manifested
• D. The artistic beauty of a text

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The persons or characters through whom emotions are manifested

In Rasa Theory, Alambana Vibhava refers to the primary cause or support of an emotion, usually the characters (persons) or objects that evoke a particular Rasa.

For example:

• In a romantic scene, the hero and heroine (e.g., Dushyanta and Shakuntala) serve as the Alambana Vibhava for Shringara Rasa (romantic mood).

• In a tragic scene, a suffering character (e.g., Shakuntala’s sorrow after being abandoned) serves as Alambana Vibhava for Karuna Rasa (pathos).