THE IMPACT OF KṢEMENDRA'S KAVIŚIKṢĀ ON PRESENT SOCIETY

Abstract

Kaviśikṣā, the classical Sanskrit tradition of training poets, played a formative role in shaping the intellectual, moral, and aesthetic sensibilities of individuals and communities in premodern Indian society. This article examines Kṣemendra's eleventh-century treatise Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, a foundational kaviśikṣā text building on Rājaśekhara's earlier Kāvyamīmāṁsā, to identify the qualities, disciplines, and training methods it prescribes for aspiring poets. Through close reading of the treatise's five sections, the article traces Kṣemendra's structured approach to poetic education, from cultivating innate talent and disciplined practice to the ethical conduct, humility, and breadth of knowledge expected of an accomplished poet. The analysis shows that Kṣemendra's vision of the poet extends well beyond technical skill, encompassing moral character, social responsibility, and the capacity to produce camatkāra, or aesthetic delight, in everyday life. These findings suggest that kaviśikṣā's integration of literary training with ethical and social formation offers a model of enduring relevance for understanding how art can continue to shape character and community today.