Śāntarasa and Abhinavagupta's philosophy of aesthetics

by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, M.V. Patwardhan

Sanskrit Text With English Translation 204ForewordI have great pleasure in writing a Foreword to this book by Prof ..M. V. Patwardhan and Mr. J. L. Masson and in introducing the latter whom I have known intimately for some time and who has struck me with his flair for Sanskrit and its cultivation and for the literary study of Sanskrit literature, qualities which, undoubtedly, he has imbibed from his chief teachers L. Renou of the Sorbonne and Prof. D. H. H. Ingalls of Harvard. His association with these two scholars explains his association with me.This monograph is on Santa Rasa and Abhinavagupta's aesthetics as it emerges out of the philosophy of Rasa as expounded by him. It stems out of my Number of Rasas which at the time of its first appearance in the middle of the forties, was the first detailed exposition of this important subject. In that work, I had also offered a critical edition of the section relating to the santa from Abhinavagupta's commentary on the Nat)Ja Fiastra. Naturally, while the material given in the present study has already been known, the treatment of the authors has given it a freshness, illustrating the principles of novelty elucidated by Anandavardhana in Uddyota IV of Dhvanyaloka. As Max Muller said, at every stage, a fresh study of a branch of knowledge is required. In the introduction, as also in the main part of their work, the authors have traversed a wide ground in respect of literature and response to it. and on the background of the latest writers, critics and philosophers in the West and the attempts of a few of them to interpret or understand the contributions of the Sanskrit writers, they have highlighted some of the most important ideas of Anandavardbana and Abhinavagupta. The thought of these two masters of Sanskrit literary criticis

206 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 1969

About the author

He has written several books books critical of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychiatry as well as books on animals, their emotions and their rights.

He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.

Reviews

[mahesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abhinav Gupta is a 10th-11th century Kashmiri philosopher who contributed significantly to the Bharatiya philosophy of aesthetics and poetics.
This books mainly expound upon the Bharatiya philosophy aesthetics that is adapted in drama, Poems, and art forms throughout the century, And how Abhinav Gupta used the aesthetic concept from his predecessors to improve the philosophy of aesthetics by introducing New rasa called Santaras among already existing 8 rasas.

Abhinavagupta's philosophy of aesthetics revolves around the deep emotional and spiritual connection between the artist, the artwork, and the audience, with Santarasa being a key element in achieving this transcendental experience

According to Abhinavgupta tasting all nine rasas is the ultimate form of experiencing the aesthetic of life. His concept of Santarasa represents a state of calmness and serenity, achieved through the contemplation of spiritual and philosophical truths. The ultimate goal of Rasas is to transcend personal emotions and connect individuals to the universal truth.

Even though this book is a translation or probably the summary of his book " Abhinavabharati". If you are a research person, this book would help you to understand the ultimate goal behind Philosophy of Bharatiya asthetic.