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शास्त्रस्य परिचयः|| About the science

=== शास्त्रस्य परिचयः|| About the science ===

 

Chandas-śāstra, or the science of Sanskrit prosody, is a very ancient branch of study emerging right from the Veda-s. Veda-s are a poetic composition, written in specific metres like Anuṣṭubh, Triṣṭubh, Paṅkti etc. In order to understand the metrical arrangement of Veda-s, the Vedāṅga called Chandas emerged. Piṅgalācārya is the first known sage who has elaborated on the science of metres in his work ‘Chandas-sūtraṇi’. Then this tradition continued, flourished and prospered as many treatises were written in order to describe the Sanskrit prosody. Vṛttaratnākara by Kedārabhaṭṭa and Chandomañjarī by Gaṅgādāsa are some foremost treatises in this science. It is said that without Chandas-śāstra, a person is physically impaired.

Chandas-śāstra, or the science of Sanskrit prosody, is a very ancient branch of study emerging right from the Veda-s. Veda-s are a poetic composition, written in specific metres like Anuṣṭubh, Triṣṭubh, Paṅkti etc. In order to understand the metrical arrangement of Veda-s, the Vedāṅga called Chandas emerged. Piṅgalācārya is the first known sage who has elaborated on the science of metres in his work ‘Chandas-sūtraṇi’. Then this tradition continued, flourished and prospered as many treatises were written in order to describe the Sanskrit prosody. Vṛttaratnākara by Kedārabhaṭṭa and Chandomañjarī by Gaṅgādāsa are some foremost treatises in this science. It is said that without Chandas-śāstra, a person is physically impaired.

छन्दःशास्त्रं विना पङ्गुर्मूकस्तर्कविवर्जितः||

 

छन्दःशास्त्रं विना पङ्गुर्मूकस्तर्कविवर्जितः||  

 

“Without grammar, a person is blind, without lexicography, he is deaf, without prosody, is handicap and without logic, is dumb.”

“Without grammar, a person is blind, without lexicography, he is deaf, without prosody, is handicap and without logic, is dumb.”

While writing, laghu is denoted by the sign ‘‿’ and guru is denoted by sign ‘|’. These two concepts form the foundation of this science of Sanskrit prosody. Based on the understanding of these, let us get to know the types of metres used in poetry.  

While writing, laghu is denoted by the sign ‘‿’ and guru is denoted by sign ‘|’. These two concepts form the foundation of this science of Sanskrit prosody. Based on the understanding of these, let us get to know the types of metres used in poetry.  

अक्षरगणवृत्तम् || The metres based on specific groups of syllables

=== अक्षरगणवृत्तम् || The metres based on specific groups of syllables ===

 

There are two types of metres in Sanskrit prosody, the Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta and Mātrā-vṛtta. Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta is based on the arrangement of groups of syllables in specific order. In order to understand this type of metres, we need to first look at the gaṇa-s, i.e., the groups of syllables.

There are two types of metres in Sanskrit prosody, the Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta and Mātrā-vṛtta. Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta is based on the arrangement of groups of syllables in specific order. In order to understand this type of metres, we need to first look at the gaṇa-s, i.e., the groups of syllables.

There are eight groups of syllables and their classification is very methodical and mathematical in nature. The eight gaṇa-s are –

There are eight groups of syllables and their classification is very methodical and mathematical in nature. The eight gaṇa-s are –

1. भ-गण

# भ-गण

 

# ज-गण

2. ज-गण

# स-गण

 

# य-गण

3. स-गण

# र-गण

 

# त-गण

4. य-गण

# म-गण

 

# न-गण

5. र-गण

 

6. त-गण

 

7. म-गण

 

8. न-गण

 

 

जो गुरुमध्यगतो र लमध्यः सोऽन्तगुरुः कथितोऽन्तलघुस्तः||

मस्त्रिगुरुस्त्रिलघुश्च नकारो भादिगुरुः पुनरादिलघुर्यः|

This means that, “Ma consists of three long syllables, Na has three short syllables. Bha has long syllable at first position, Ya has short syllable at first position. Ja has long syllable at its middle, Ra gets short syllable at its middle. Sa has long syllable at its last position, Ta has short syllable at its last position.

This means that, “Ma consists of three long syllables, Na has three short syllables. Bha has long syllable at first position, Ya has short syllable at first position. Ja has long syllable at its middle, Ra gets short syllable at its middle. Sa has long syllable at its last position, Ta has short syllable at its last position.

By this definition, the laghu and guru patterns of all these gaṇa-s or groups, can be understood –

By this definition, the laghu and guru patterns of all these gaṇa-s or groups, can be understood –

1. भ-गण - guru-laghu-laghu | ‿  ‿

# भ-गण - guru-laghu-laghu   | ‿  ‿

 

# ज-गण - laghu-guru-laghu     ‿ | ‿

2. ज-गण - laghu-guru-laghu ‿ | ‿

# स-गण - laghu-laghu-guru   ‿ ‿ |

 

# य-गण - laghu-guru-guru     ‿ | |

3. स-गण - laghu-laghu-guru ‿ ‿ |

# र-गण - guru-laghu-guru     | ‿ |

 

# त-गण - guru-guru-laghu     | | ‿

4. य-गण - laghu-guru-guru ‿ | |

# म-गण - guru-guru-guru     | | |

 

# न-गण - laghu-laghu-laghu   ‿ ‿ ‿

5. र-गण - guru-laghu-guru | ‿ |

 

6. त-गण - guru-guru-laghu | | ‿

 

7. म-गण - guru-guru-guru | | |

 

8. न-गण - laghu-laghu-laghu ‿ ‿ ‿

 

After understanding these gaṇa-s, let us see an example of an Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta called Indravajrā which is defined as –

After understanding these gaṇa-s, let us see an example of an Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta called Indravajrā which is defined as –

‘श्रीकृष्ण गोविन्द हरे मुरारे हे नाथ नारायण वासुदेव |’

‘श्रीकृष्ण गोविन्द हरे मुरारे हे नाथ नारायण वासुदेव |’

=== मात्रावृत्तम् || The metres based on mātrā-s ===

 

मात्रावृत्तम् || The metres based on mātrā-s

 

Mātrā-vṛtta-s are those metres which are governed by the number of mātrā-s in each pāda. For example, a mātrā-vṛtta can have 16 mātrā-s in a pāda and in order to fulfil the required mātrā-s, any combinations of laghu and guru syllables can be used by the poet. Laghu consists of 1 mātrā and guru consists of 2 mātrā-s. Thus, 16 laghu-s or 8 guru-s can complete 16 mātrā-s, or a combination of 6 laghu-s and 5 guru-s can do the same.

Mātrā-vṛtta-s are those metres which are governed by the number of mātrā-s in each pāda. For example, a mātrā-vṛtta can have 16 mātrā-s in a pāda and in order to fulfil the required mātrā-s, any combinations of laghu and guru syllables can be used by the poet. Laghu consists of 1 mātrā and guru consists of 2 mātrā-s. Thus, 16 laghu-s or 8 guru-s can complete 16 mātrā-s, or a combination of 6 laghu-s and 5 guru-s can do the same.

References

References

2.Chandoracanā, Madhav Patvardhan, Karnatak Publishing house, Mumbai, 1937

 

2. Chandoracanā, Madhav Patvardhan, Karnatak Publishing house, Mumbai, 1937

3. Aṣṭādhyāyī, Panini, Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan, 2015

3.Aṣṭādhyāyī, Panini, Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan, 2015