Vakrokti as Theory

Paper no. 109 Literary Theory and Indian Aesthetics

1. Vakrokti as Theory Presented by Bhavna Sosa

2. Topic : Vakrokti as a Theory M. A. Sem – 2 Paper no. 109 : Literary Theory and Indian Aesthetics
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3. Introduction : Vakrokti is a kind of device used by the poets of every age and country, which can be simply defined as deviant language. By deviant language we mean that it is not straight and simple expression.

4. About Kuntaka : Kuntaka was Kashmiri Sanskrit Poetician and literary theorist who is remarkable for his work ‘ Vakroktijivitam’ in which he postualates the vakrokti Siddhanta or theory of oblique expression, which he considers as the hallmark of creative literature.

5. Kuntaka, the greatest exponent of the theory of Vakrokti, is one of the most original thinkers produced by the ancient India and his formulations after, ‘ the most striking similarities with modern Western analytic criticism.’

6. Kuntaka’s Nation of Vakrokti Kuntaka wrote this theory based on the central premise that the charisma of poetry is grounded on a strikingness of expression. So, Vakrokti avoids expression of ideas by using conventional mode of speech. Instead, it demands the use of striking words. This is unlike scriptures which require one to use established words or ways.

7. Meaning of Vakrokti : The term ‘Vakrokti’ is made up of two components : ‘vakra’, which means ‘crooked, oblique, or unique.’ ‘ukti’, which means ‘expression’ or ‘speech’.

8. Definition of Vakrokti : According to Kuntaka, “Vakrokti is the source of beauty in kavya which is quite opposite to the description of a thing as it is.” Dandin , “ Vakrokti as poetic figure accept svabhavokti”.

9. ... Vamana considered, “ Vakrokti as a special poetic figure of based on lakshana.” According to Bhamaha, “ Vakrokti as mode of expression because it is the fundamental principle of figurative expression.”

10. Six Types of Vakrokti : The phonetic level –Varnavyasa Vakrata
The Lexical level – Padpurvaradha Vakrata
The Grammatical Level – Pratyaya Vakrata The Sentential Level – Vakyavakrata
The Contextual Level – prakarana Vakrata
The Compositional Level – Prabandha Vakrata

11. Conclusion : To conclude, vakrokti was taken up for discussion by various scholars like Bhāmaha, Dandin, Vamana, Rudrata etc., it was Kuntaka who elevated it to the status of an “all pervading” poetic concept. Hence, Kuntaka’s Vakroktijīvita is considered to be the masterpiece of vakrokti theory. I

12. Citation : Pathak, R. S. “THE INDIAN THEORY OF VAKROKTI IN RELATION TO THE STYLISTIC CONCEPT OF DEVIANCE.” Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, vol. 63, no. ¼, 1982, pp. 195–211, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41692973 . Accessed 14 Apr. 2022. https://old.mu.ac.in