Social Epistemology of Ānandavardhana’s Theory of Dhvani

Abstract

Ānandavardhana's theory of Dhvani is a benchmark in Indian literature, linguistics, and aesthetics. This research paper argues that Dhvani, as
conceptualised by Ānandavardhana and Abhinavagupta, functions as both an aesthetic and epistemic instrument in and beyond the realm of
aesthetics. Through the lens of social epistemology, the research demonstrates that Dhvani provides a distinctive framework for communal
knowledge production, wherein knowledge is shaped by testimony, inference, interpretation, and collective context. By synthesising classical
poetics with contemporary theory, the analysis underscores Dhvani theory’s capacity to facilitate valid communal knowledge through
suggestion and shared understanding.