Alankar, Ras and Chhand — Study Notes

Overview

Alankar, Ras and Chhand form the aesthetic backbone of Hindi poetry and are essential for Language I in CG TET. These three elements together determine how a poem sounds (Chhand), how it beautifies language (Alankar), and what emotional experience it creates (Ras). Questions typically test recognition of specific alankar types, identification of ras in given verses, and basic knowledge of chhand structures.

For the exam, you need not memorise dozens of subtypes — focus on the 8-10 most common alankars, all 9 rasas with their sthayee bhav, and 4-5 frequently tested chhands. The examiner often presents a couplet and asks you to identify the alankar or ras present. Understanding definitions clearly and practising with examples is the key to scoring well in this topic.

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Key Concepts

• **Alankar (अलंकार)** — Literary devices that add beauty and charm to language. Two main types: Shabdalankar (sound-based) and Arthalankar (meaning-based).

• **Shabdalankar** — Beauty arises from the sound or arrangement of words. Examples: Anupras, Yamak, Shlesh.

• **Arthalankar** — Beauty arises from the meaning or comparison of ideas. Examples: Upma, Rupak, Utpreksha, Atishyokti.

• **Ras (रस)** — The emotional essence or flavour a literary work evokes in the reader. Ras = Vibhav + Anubhav + Sanchari Bhav + Sthayee Bhav.

• **Sthayee Bhav** — The permanent or dominant emotion that defines each ras. There are 9 sthayee bhav for 9 rasas.

• **Chhand (छंद)** — The rhythmic pattern or metre in poetry, governed by rules of matra (syllabic weight) or varn (letters).

• **Matra vs Varn** — Matrik chhands count syllabic weights (laghu=1, guru=2); Varnik chhands count actual letters.

• **Yati** — The pause or caesura within a chhand line, essential for correct rhythm.

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Formulas / Key Facts

### Important Alankars

| Alankar | Definition | Example | |---------|------------|---------| | **Anupras** | Repetition of same consonant sound | "चारु चंद्र की चंचल किरणें" — च repeated | | **Yamak** | Same word repeated with different meanings | "कनक कनक ते सौ गुनी" — कनक = धतूरा / सोना | | **Shlesh** | One word carries two meanings simultaneously | "रहिमन पानी राखिए" — पानी = water / honour / lustre | | **Upma** | Direct comparison using सा, सी, जैसा, समान | "मुख चंद्रमा के समान है" | | **Rupak** | Metaphor — one thing is stated as another | "मुख चंद्र है" (no सा/जैसा) | | **Utpreksha** | Imaginative comparison using मानो, जानो, जनु | "नेत्र मानो कमल हैं" | | **Atishyokti** | Exaggeration beyond reality | "हनुमान की पूँछ में लगन न पाई आग" | | **Manavikarān** | Human qualities given to nature/objects | "फूल हँस रहे हैं" |