Foundation of IKS
1. Meaning Indian Poetics, also known as Kāvya-śāstra, is the traditional Indian science of literary theory and criticism. It studies the nature of poetry, its purpose, its artistic beauty, and its impact on the reader or audience. Unlike Western poetics which often emphasizes form and imitation, Indian Poetics mainly focuses on the aesthetic experience (Rasa)—the emotional and spiritual delight that literature creates. 2. Scope The scope of Indian Poetics is very wide. It covers: 1. The Nature of Poetry (Kāvya): What makes a work a piece of true literature. 2. The Poet (Kavi): The qualities of an ideal poet and the role of imagination and creativity. 3. The Poem (Kāvya-rūpa): Different styles, structures, figures of speech (Alankāras), and poetic devices. 4. The Audience (Sahridaya): The sensitive reader or listener who experiences the beauty of poetry. 5. The Purpose: Not only entertainment but also refinement of emotions (śikṣaṇa), moral upliftment, and sometimes spir...