Alankar, Ras and Chhand
अलंकार, रस और छंद
Overview
Alankar (figures of speech), Ras (poetic sentiments) and Chhand (metres) form the aesthetic core of Hindi literature and are essential for MP TET Language I. These concepts test a candidate's ability to identify literary devices in unseen poetry passages, understand the emotional essence of a poem, and recognise metrical patterns. Together, they constitute the "काव्य-सौंदर्य" (poetic beauty) framework that every Hindi teacher must master.
In the MP TET exam, questions typically appear in two forms: direct identification ("इस पंक्ति में कौन-सा अलंकार है?") and application-based comprehension in the unseen poetry section. Candidates must be able to distinguish between similar-sounding alankars, recall all nine ras with their sthayee bhav, and identify the most common Hindi metres by counting matras or varnas. A solid grasp of these topics also supports pedagogy questions on teaching poetry appreciation to primary and upper-primary students.
Key Concepts
- Alankar (अलंकार) literally means "ornament" — devices that beautify language. They are divided into Shabdalankar (sound-based) and Arthalankar (meaning-based).
- Shabdalankar depend on the arrangement or repetition of sounds/letters — chief examples are Anupras, Yamak and Shlesha.
- Arthalankar depend on meaning and imagery — chief examples are Upma, Rupak, Utpreksha, Atishayokti, Manvikaran and Vibhavana.
- Ras (रस) is the emotional flavour or sentiment evoked in the reader. Bharatmuni identified eight ras; later Abhinavagupta added Shant, making nine (Navras).
- Each ras has a Sthayee Bhav (permanent emotion), Vibhav (cause), Anubhav (physical response) and Sanchari/Vyabhichari Bhav (transitory emotions).
- Chhand (छंद) is the rhythmic pattern governing a verse. Hindi metres are classified into Matrik Chhand (based on matra count) and Varnik Chhand (based on varna/syllable count).
- Laghu matra (ल) = 1 matra (short vowel sound); Guru matra (ग) = 2 matras (long vowel or conjunct ending).
- Knowledge of at least six major chhands — Doha, Chaupai, Sortha, Kundaliya, Savaiyan and Kavitt — is essential for the exam.
Formulas / Key Facts
Alankar — Quick Identifiers
| Alankar | हिंदी नाम | Key Feature | Example Hint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anupras | अनुप्रास | Repetition of consonant sounds | "चारु चंद्र की चंचल किरणें" (च repeated) |
| Yamak | यमक | Same word repeated with different meanings | "कनक कनक ते सौ गुनी" (कनक = gold / धतूरा) |
| Shlesha | श्लेष | One word, two simultaneous meanings | "रहिमन पानी राखिए" (पानी = water / honour / lustre) |
| Upma | उपमा | Explicit comparison using "सा/सी/जैसा/सम" | "मुख चंद्रमा के समान है" |
| Rupak | रूपक | Metaphor — no "like"; A is B | "मुख चंद्रमा है" |
| Utpreksha | उत्प्रेक्षा | Imaginative comparison with "मानो/जानो/मनु" | "मानो चाँद उतर आया हो" |
| Atishayokti | अतिशयोक्ति | Hyperbole / exaggeration | "हनुमान की पूँछ में लगन न पाई आग" |
| Manvikaran | मानवीकरण | Personification — nature given human traits | "बादल रोने लगे" |
Navras and Sthayee Bhav
| Ras | स्थायी भाव |
|---|---|
| Shringar (शृंगार) | Rati (रति) — love |
| Hasya (हास्य) | Haas (हास) — laughter |
| Karun (करुण) | Shok (शोक) — sorrow |
| Raudra (रौद्र) | Krodh (क्रोध) — anger |
| Veer (वीर) | Utsaah (उत्साह) — enthusiasm |
| Bhayanak (भयानक) | Bhay (भय) — fear |
| Vibhatsa (वीभत्स) | Jugupsa (जुगुप्सा) — disgust |
| Adbhut (अद्भुत) | Vismay (विस्मय) — wonder |
| Shant (शांत) | Nirveda (निर्वेद) — detachment |
Memory trick: श-ह-क-रौ-वी-भ-वी-अ-शां (first letters).
Major Chhands
| Chhand | Type | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Doha | Matrik | 13-11 matras in each half (odd line 13, even line 11) |
| Chaupai | Matrik | 16 matras per line; 4 lines per stanza |
| Sortha | Matrik | Reverse of Doha — 11-13 matras |
| Kundaliya | Matrik | Doha + Rola combined; ends with starting word |
| Savaiyan | Varnik | 22-26 varnas; typically sagans (ल ल ग) |
| Kavitt | Varnik | 31-33 varnas; often ends with guru |
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Identify the Alankar
Line: "तरनि-तनूजा तट तमाल तरुवर बहु छाए"
Step 1: Notice repeated consonant — "त" appears in तरनि, तनूजा, तट, तमाल, तरुवर. Step 2: Repetition of a single consonant sound = Anupras Alankar. Answer: अनुप्रास अलंकार
Example 2 — Identify the Ras
Stanza context: A mother weeping over her dead son on the battlefield.
Step 1: Dominant emotion = deep sorrow (शोक). Step 2: Sthayee Bhav शोक corresponds to Karun Ras. Answer: करुण रस
Example 3 — Identify the Chhand
Couplet: "रहिमन धागा प्रेम का, मत तोड़ो चटकाय। टूटे से फिर ना जुड़े, जुड़े गाँठ पड़ जाय।"
Step 1: Count matras of first half-line: र(1)+ही(2)+म(1)+न(1)+धा(2)+गा(2)+प्रे(2)+म(1)+का(2) = 14? Re-count carefully: actual pattern 13 matras (odd) then 11 (even). Step 2: Structure 13-11 / 13-11 = Doha. Answer: दोहा छंद
Common Mistakes
- Confusing Upma and Rupak: Students see comparison and mark Upma. Fix: Look for comparison words (सा/सी/जैसा). If absent, it is Rupak (direct equation).
- Mixing Yamak and Anupras: Both involve repetition. Fix: Anupras = repetition of consonant sounds; Yamak = same whole word repeated with different meanings.
- Forgetting Sthayee Bhav linkages: Students identify emotion but pick wrong ras. Fix: Memorise the nine pairs (e.g., Krodh → Raudra, not Veer).
- Matra miscounting in Chhand: Treating all syllables as equal. Fix: Remember — short vowel (अ, इ, उ) = 1 matra; long vowel (आ, ई, ऊ, ए, ऐ, ओ, औ) or consonant cluster ending = 2 matras.
- Ignoring Shlesha: Students overlook double meaning and mark Yamak. Fix: Shlesha = one word, two simultaneous meanings (no repetition); Yamak = same word appears twice.
Quick Reference
- Anupras = consonant sound repeats; Yamak = same word, different meaning; Shlesha = one word, two meanings at once.
- Upma uses "सा/जैसा"; Rupak has no such word — direct "A is B."
- Nine Ras: Shringar-Hasya-Karun-Raudra-Veer-Bhayanak-Vibhatsa-Adbhut-Shant (श-ह-क-रौ-वी-भ-वी-अ-शां).
- Doha = 13-11 matras; Chaupai = 16 matras × 4 lines; Sortha = 11-13 (reverse Doha).
- Laghu (ल) = 1 matra; Guru (ग) = 2 matras.
- For poetry pedagogy: Alankar, Ras, Chhand appreciation develops aesthetic sense and is integral to LSRW skill-building in Hindi.