Dhvanyaloka and the Dhwani Theory
Anandavardhana presented the Dhwani Theory in his 9th-century Sanskrit literary work, Dhvanyaloka.
This work explains how suggestion (Dhwani) is the most powerful aspect of poetry.
He argued that poetry’s beauty lies not just in its literal meaning but in its implied (suggested) emotions and deeper significance.
It laid the foundation for Rasa-Dhwani aesthetics, influencing later scholars like Abhinavagupta.
Dhvanyaloka remains a milestone in Sanskrit poetics, shaping Indian literary criticism for centuries.
