Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 2.djvu/124

 110 [April, 1873. THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. “ Akshara (from the word for a letter) Vritta” is determined by the number of letters in each line (pada) of the verse, and may consist of any number of letters from 1 to 26. Each different number of letters in the line is known by its own particular name or “chhan- dassu.” Thus we have in all 26 chliandassus. Each chliandassu again may be subdivided into any number of vrittas, increasing in number as the letters do. The number of vrittas of which any given chliandassu can consist is found by beginning with one and doubling successively for as many times as there happen to be letters in the line. Twice this result gives the number. For example, if the first line consists of three letters, then we can have in that chhandassn 8 vrittas, i.e. 1 doubled is 2; twice 2 are 4 ; twice the result 8. That line which is called Maliusragdhara has twenty-two let¬ ters. By the foregoing rule, this chliandassu can be subdivided into 40,94,304 vrittas ; only two however are in common use. This will give some idea of the enormous number of vrittas which could be formed. The total number is said to be some millions. Before examining any chandassu, however the “ gana” must be explained. Every three letters form a gana, so that in a line of 9 letters we have 3 ganas ; in a line of 10 letters we have 3 ganas and one letter ; in a line of 12 letters -we have four ganas, and so on. The surplus letters are always at the end of the line, and if it happens to be Siva,’ if short long it is technically called “ Vishnu.” Those letters are long which have the long vowels, such as d, «?, u, which are followed by aha or (*) smni*, and letters though short them¬ selves which precede a double letter; for instance - v/ —there the ^ is short in itself, but from its preceding the double t it becomes length¬ ened. It will thus be seen that the three letters which form the gana may be all three long, all three short, or a combination of long and short. Each of these combinations—8 in all—has its own particular name and is sacred to its own particular god. 1. (Ma) gana, sacred to the earth, is three long,— —* — 2. (Ya) gana—(water) is one short, two long, ^ — (Ra) gana—(fire) is — u — Lagana—(wind) is *-* — Tagana—(sky) is u .Tagana—(sun) is — Bagana—(moon) is — u u Nagana (heaven) « u y order in which these ganas find a place in the line determines the vritta to which that piece of poetry belongs. In each vritta the ganas follow one another in their own proper order. Each verse consists of four lines. As is the first line, so must all the remain¬ ing three lines be. No difference can be allowed. Take an example from the Mahasragdara Vritta”:— X o 3. 4. 5. 0. 7. 8. The I. n. 1 ! III. IV. V. VI. VII. «« - 1 at y y y y y. __ SJ — TjjiSS O&j 4 5 1 8 4 3 3 J v»__ 2nd — *• y, — — u y y y 7 J v/ — $ OELs?) oj $Jd O & 4 5 1 1 5 8 4 3 1 3 y v» — —  V — - y y yy V, V — — y — y — 3rd sLeX^ Xidotf ■OFS^O c onseao 4 5 * 5 8 4 3 3 v» v* —   V y y y y y — — y — — y — 4th o&)oz3^>o& O t 4 5 1 5 8 4 3 3 Here wo have 22 consonants in all, divided into 7 ganas and one letter which being long is “ Siva.” Tho figures above the lines refer to the position in the line of each gana; those below the line to the kinds of gana. In each line it will be seen that I. and V. consist of two short and one long letter. This is the Lagana to or (4). The II. and III. are twTo long and one short letter. This is the Tagana or (5). The IV. is three short letters. This is the Nagana (8). The VI- and VII. are a long, a short, and a long letter. This is the Ragana (3). The last letter being long is Siva. In order to belong to any particular vritta
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