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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.<blockquote>

  विना व्याकरणेनान्धो बधिरः कोशवर्जितः|

  विना व्याकरणेनान्धो बधिरः कोशवर्जितः|

  छन्दःशास्त्रं विना पङ्गुर्मूकस्तर्कविवर्जितः||

  छन्दःशास्त्रं विना पङ्गुर्मूकस्तर्कविवर्जितः||

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

</blockquote>“A person without grammar is blind, without lexicography, he is deaf, without prosody, is handicap and without logic, is dumb.”

Thus, this shows the immense importance of Chandas-śāstra upheld by the Indian tradition. Now, let us see the types of metres used in Sanskrit, elaborated by the most important treatises on Sanskrit metres. For beginning with the understanding of metres, some basic terminologies must be comprehended.

Thus, this shows the immense importance of Chandas-śāstra upheld by the Indian tradition. Now, let us see the types of metres used in Sanskrit, elaborated by the most important treatises on Sanskrit metres. For beginning with the understanding of metres, some basic terminologies must be comprehended.

In addition to this, anusvāra and visarga also cause a short vowel to become guru, for e.g., ‘स’ in संयम and ‘दु’ in दुःख are guru.

In addition to this, anusvāra and visarga also cause a short vowel to become guru, for e.g., ‘स’ in संयम and ‘दु’ in दुःख are guru.

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 meters 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 meters used in poetry.      

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

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

# भ-गण - guru-laghu-laghu    | ‿  ‿

# भ-गण - guru-laghu-laghu    | ‿  ‿

# ज-गण - laghu-guru-laghu    ‿ | ‿

# ज-गण - laghu-guru-laghu    ‿ | ‿

# स-गण - laghu-laghu-guru    ‿ ‿ |

# स-गण - laghu-laghu-guru    ‿ ‿ |

# य-गण - laghu-guru-guru      ‿ | |

# य-गण - laghu-guru-guru      ‿ | |

# र-गण - guru-laghu-guru    | ‿ |

# र-गण - guru-laghu-guru    | ‿ |

# त-गण - guru-guru-laghu      | | ‿

# त-गण - guru-guru-laghu      | | ‿

# म-गण - guru-guru-guru      | | |

# म-गण - guru-guru-guru      | | |

===उदाहरणानि || Examples of Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta-s===

===उदाहरणानि || Examples of Akṣara-gaṇa-vṛtta-s===

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

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

'''‘स्यादिन्द्रवज्रा यदि तौ जगौ गः’'''

'''‘स्यादिन्द्रवज्रा यदि तौ जगौ गः’'''

‘It is Indravajra meter if there are two Ta gaṇa-s, followed by a Ja and two guru syllables.’

‘It is Indravajrā meter if there are two Ta gaṇa-s, followed by a Ja and two guru syllables.’

So the laghu-guru sequence of this metre is as follows:

So the laghu-guru sequence of this metre is as follows:

'''‘श्रीकृष्ण गोविन्द हरे मुरारे हे नाथ नारायण वासुदेव |’'''

'''‘श्रीकृष्ण गोविन्द हरे मुरारे हे नाथ नारायण वासुदेव |’'''

Another illustration is of a similar meter called '<nowiki/>'''Upendravajra'''<nowiki/>' which is just the same as Indravajra, only that its first letter is short. The same is told in its definition - ''''उपेन्द्रवज्रा प्रथमे लघौ सा'''<nowiki/>'

2) Another illustration is of a similar meter called 'Upendravajrā' which is just the same as Indravajrā, only that its first letter is short. The same is told in its definition - ''''उपेन्द्रवज्रा प्रथमे लघौ सा'''<nowiki/>'

Again we have a popular verse from devotional poetry as the example of Upendavajra -  

Again we have a popular verse from devotional poetry as the example of Upendavajra -  

'''त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देवदेव ||'''<nowiki/>'

'''त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देवदेव ||'''<nowiki/>'

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

=== मात्रावृत्तम् || The meters based on mātra-s ===

Mātrā-vṛtta-s are those meters 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 meters 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.

Ārya is an important mātrā-vṛtta. Its definition is given as follows:

Āryā is an important mātrā-vṛtta. Its definition is given as follows:

‘यस्याः प्रथमे पादे द्वादश मात्रास्तथा तृतीयेऽपि |

‘यस्याः प्रथमे पादे द्वादश मात्रास्तथा तृतीयेऽपि |

The example of this meter is found the Ṣaṭpadī Stotram by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. Its first verse is –

The example of this meter is found the Ṣaṭpadī Stotram by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. Its first verse is –

‘'''अविनयमपनय विष्णो दमय मनः शमय विषयमृगतृष्णाम् |'''

‘'''<u>अविनयमपनय विष्णो</u> दमय मनः शमय विषयमृगतृष्णाम् |'''

'''भूतदयां विस्तारय तारय संसारसागरतः||'''’

'''<u>भूतदयां विस्तारय</u> तारय संसारसागरतः||'''’

Where the underlined syllables form the first and third pāda. We can count and check the number of mātrā-s used in the verse.

Where the underlined syllables form the first and third pāda. We can count and check the number of mātrā-s used in the verse.

There are many more Mātrā-vṛtta-s in Sanskrit, and more in other regional languages like Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi.

There are many more Mātrā-vṛtta-s in Sanskrit, and more in other regional languages like Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi.

References

 

== References ==

<references />

<references />

1.Chandomañjarī, Gangadasa, ed. Brahmananda Tripathi, Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan, Varanasi

1.Chandomañjarī, Gangadasa, ed. Brahmananda Tripathi, Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan, Varanasi