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
1. **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).
2. **Mixing Yamak and Anupras:** Both involve repetition. *Fix:* Anupras = repetition of consonant sounds; Yamak = same whole word repeated with different meanings.
3. **Forgetting Sthayee Bhav linkages:** Students identify emotion but pick wrong ras. *Fix:* Memorise the nine pairs (e.g., Krodh → Raudra, not Veer).
4. **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.
5. **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.**