Alankiraratnikara of Sobhikaramitra is a work belonging to the latter part of 12th century. Though it does not mention Ruyyaka the author of Alankarasarvasva, by name, one finds that the work Alankiraratnikara was written with the sole aim of criticising the views of Ruyyaka as presented in the Alankirasarvasva. Jayaratha the prominent commentator on the Alankarasarvasva, in his Vimarsini upholds the views of Ruyyaka against the attacks of Sobhakaramitra and he (Jayaratha) too does not mention Sobhakaramitra by name any where in his commentary.
The present work takes upon itself the interesting task of evaluating the views of the three authors Ruyyaka, Sobhakaramitra and Jayaratha. The divergent opinions on various figures have been dialectically viewed and critically assessed. The criticism has been mainly attempted on the basis of important texts on the subject like the Dhvanyaloka and Kavyaprakasa. The work further, brings to light the forty new figures coined by Sobhakaramitra of which figures like 'Vaidharmya', 'Viparyaya', 'Vyapti and 'Atislya' deserve special mention. The role played by the subjective element of the reader (Pramatrdharma) which has been newly introduced by Sobhakaramitra is presented to decide certain important issues.
Dr. G. Parthasaradhy Rao (b. 1932) M.A., Ph.D. is currently Professor of Sanskrit in Andhra University, Waltair.
He also acted as Director of Research during early seventies. He also guides research scholars for their Doctorate degree. He is the author of nearly 25 research articles. He attended several conferences at International as well as All India Level and contributed original research papers.
Alankarašastra deals with the beauties of Poetry. Though it comprises several factors like Rasa, Vrtti, Riti, Guna and Alankara, the most discussed topic after Rasa is Alankara. Beginning from the times of Bharata who speaks of only four figures' upto Jagannatha the last authoritative writer, this branch of Alankarašastra received a uniformly copious treatment in all the treatises excepting some like the Dhvanyaloka, the Kavyamimamsa, the Dalarüpaka and the Vyaktiviveka. Even after the advent of the Dhvani theory, we find that treatises have been written completely devoting themselves to the treatment of figures of speech. The Alankarasarvasva, the Alankararatnakara, the Citra- mimamsa and the Kuvalayananda deserve mention in this connection. Even in the Rasagangadhara, now available, we find more than two thirds of the text utilised for the treatment of figures. This, in short, shows the influence this branch of Alankarasastra has been able to exert on the minds of the Alankarikas.
The differences in the opinions of various authors regarding the figures are not only numerous but are in no way less interesting than those relating to the theory of Rasa. This branch of Alankarašastra has had not only famous authors to present it, but also widely learned commentators to give a proper exposition to the theories presented in the treatises. Prauharenduraja on Udbhata's Kavyalankarasangraha, Namisadhu on the Kavyalankara of Rudrata, Jayaratha and Vidyacakravartin on the Alankarasarvasva and Govinda Thakkur on the Kavyaprakasa are some of the memorable commentators who deserve as much credit as the authors of regular treatises themselves.
Of all the works that deal exclusively with figures, the Alankarasarvasva of Ruyyaka has attained a position of prominence. Later writers and commentators of renown like Viśvanatha, Appayyadıkşita, Vidyanatha, Vidyadhara, Mallinatha and Kumarasvamin take this work as an authoritative source of the subject. The text of Alankarasarvasva is known to have four commentaries, by Alaka,2 Jayaratha, Samudrabandha and Vidyacakravartin.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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