245. MAHIMA BHAȚȚA'S CRITICISM OF DHVANI 271

MAHIMA BHAȚȚA'S CRITICISM OF DHVANI 271

After Abhinava, Kuntaka attempted, from the objective point of view, the problem of Dhvani, which had been ably dealt with by Ananda and his commentators from the subjective. In fact Mahima Bhattal points it out that Kuntaka's definition of Vakrokti is nothing more than that of Dhvani. It is made evident by an additional fact that he divides and subdivides the Vakrokti exactly as Ânanda does the Dhvani and cites the illustrations of Ânanda as examples of different types of Vakrokti. Mahima Bhatta came next. He attacked the Dhvani from both, the subjective and the objective points of view. He criticised both Ananda and Abhinava, who attempted the problem from the former, and Kuntaka, who took it up from the latter point of view. His critical approach is from the logical point of view of the Monistic Saivaism of Kashmir and not of the Nyāya or Vaiseşika, as we shall show in a subsequent section.

But Ruyyaka, who came after Mahima Bhatta and has commented upon the Vyakti Viveka, has answered all the main objections against Dhvani and re-established it. AN INTRODUCTION TO MAHIMA BHATȚA.

Though it is not possible to state the exact dates of birth and death of Mahima Bhatta, his position in the literary history of Kashmir is certain. He belongs to the middle of the 11th century A. D. For, he came after Abhinavagupta and Kuntaka, whom he criticises, and before Ruyyaka, who comments on the Vyakti Viveka. For a proper understanding and appreciation of his work nothing more is needed.

1. V. V. 126. eht mmoo.V.V