English Literature and Language

Indian Knowledge System The Sage of Sabda Bhartrihari  (c. 450–510 CE) stands as a titan in Indian philosophy, bridging grammar, metaphysics, and linguistics. His magnum opus,  Vakyapadiya  ("On Sentences and Words"), reformed Indian thought by elevating language ( śabda ) to a universal principle. Structured in three  kāṇḍas  (books) and composed in  kārikā  verses, this discourse argues that reality itself is linguistically constructed. As the Chinese monk Yi Jing noted, Bhartrihari’s work influenced Buddhist logic and Mystical traditions across Asia. Core Contributions: 1.      Śabdabrahman:  Language as the supreme reality. 2.      Sphoṭa Theory:  The "bursting forth" of meaning from integral linguistic units. 3.      Vākyavāda:  The sentence as the essential unit of communication. 4.      Grammar as Metaphysics:  Linguistic categories refl...

Rasa  (aesthetic relish) is the foundation of Indian dramaturgy and poetics, first systematized in Bharata Muni’s  Natyashastra  (c. 200 BCE–200 CE). Derived from the root  ras  (to relish), Rasa transcends mere emotion—it is a  universalized experience  evoked in the viewer ( Sahridaya ). Core Principles: Rasa-Sutra: "Vibhāvānubhāvavyabhicārisaṃyogādrasaniṣpattiḥ"  (NS VI) Rasa  arises from the union of: Vibhāva  (Determinants): Motives for emotion (e.g., a moonlit night for love). Anubhāva  (Consequents): Spontaneous physical reactions (e.g., smiles, embraces). Vyabhicāribhāva  (Transitory Emotions): Passing feelings reinforcing the core mood (e.g., anxiety in love). Sthāyibhāva (Permanent Mood): The foundational emotion (e.g.,  Rati  for love) hidden in every human, awakened by artistic performance. Rasa as Transcende...