Alankaar (अलंकार) (Figure of speech):
It is a beautiful coincidence that I get to talk about the ‘alankaar’ in my first post for this challenge. They have always intrigued me and inspired me to create beautiful effects with words in my poems. I will be sharing few of my creations during this challenge, old and new, and I hope you will keep looking for ‘alankaar’ in my posts. Each of my post will also feature a bonus word and a notable poet for the alphabet of the day.
Note: I have cited only the relevant lines from my poems as examples
to keep this post concise, you may follow the links provided to go to the original post/complete poem.
The concept: (अलंकार) Alankaar is a figure of speech which means ornaments or adornments. It is one of the basic concepts of Hindi grammar; essentially a bibelot used in Hindi language to enhance the beauty of a poem. The ‘alankaar’ may create a superlative effect by way of a word itself or enhance it indirectly with its meaning.
Most common (अलंकार) Alankaar that you might find in the Hindi poetry are:
- अनुप्रास अलंकार (Pronun:/Anu’praas/)(Meaning: Alliteration)
Explanation: When a consonant/sound is repeated several times (more than once) in succession in a sentence or a poem.
Example:
ख़्वाहिश भर से अंजाम मिला नहीं करते,
के हर ख़्वाब को परवान चढ़ाना पड़ता है ;
अंधेरे को कोसकर किसने क्या पाया है,
के अपना दीपक ख़ुद ही जलाना पड़ता है ||
-Doc2poet
Repeated use of ‘क’ is creating alliteration here. It is a beautiful composition from my archives and the following link will take you to there, hope you like it:-) :- https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/spirituality2/
Here is another post commemorating alliteration where the first letter of each line is same: Click here
- यमक अलंकार (Pronunciation:/Ya’mak/) (Meaning: Homonym)–
Explanation: When a word is repeated more than once in a sentence but each time its meaning is different.
Example:
काल करे सो काल ही कर,
के आज भी तो कल (yesterday) का कल (tomorrow),
करते जाने की होड़ में, कहीं बीत न जाए ये पल ||
-Doc2poet
Here ‘कल’ is used twice with a different meaning each time.
Note– Repeated use of ‘क’ is also creating alliteration here.
This couplet is dedicated to the great Kabira and you can visit it here: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/09/19/kabira1/
- श्लेष अलंकार (Pronunciation:/Shh’le:sh/) (Meaning: Pun)–
Explanation: When a word is used only once but it has more than one meaning.
Example:
कभी जीत मिली, कभी सीख ,
कुछ मंज़िलें हैं, जो अभी पानी हैं;
कोई छूट गया, कोई साथ रहा,
के तस्वीरें कुछ धुँधली, तो कुछ जानी-पहचानी हैं;
-Doc2poet
‘तस्वीरें’ here has multiple meanings here ‘Pictures’ & ‘Memories’.
This link will take you to the original post:
https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/10/11/bittersweet/
- उपमा अलंकार (Pronunciation:/oop’maa/) (Meaning: Simile)–
Explanation: When a person or thing is compared with a similar but famous or well known person or thing.
Example:
ख़यालों ने उनके सताया है इस क़दर,
के राबता हो उनसे….तो पूछेंगे ज़रूर ;
तराशा है तुम्हें खुद उस ख़ुदा ने,
या हो तुम परी….या कोई हूर ||
-Doc2poet
Here the inamorata is being compared with a fairy/ nymph/genie to create a simile.This poem is very close to my heart and you can feel it too, just click here: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/dil1/
- रूपक अलंकार (Pronunciation:/Roo’pak/) (Meaning:Metaphor)–
Explanation: When a word is used for something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance.
Example:
उन्हें भूल पाना अब मुमकिन नहीं ,
के ये कोमल एहसास ही…साँसों का सहारा बन गया ;
साहिलों से नाता टूटे ज़माना हो चला,
के उफनते इस सागर में…ये तिनका ही किनारा बन गया ||
-Doc2poet
Here ‘सागर’ (meaning: sea) denotes ‘turbulent life’ and ‘तिनका’ (meaning: straw/ shred/ scrap) is used to bespeak ‘a succor, support, hope or a coast’ to create a metaphor.
This link will take you to the original post: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/loneliness1/
Amīr Khusrow (अमीर ख़ुसरौ):
He was a Sufi musician and poet born in 1253. His enduring fame in India rests on the riddles, quibbles and songs written by him. He was one of the pioneers of Persian and Hindi poetry, including ‘qawwali’ and ‘ghazals’ in India.
Some of his celebrated creations include:
(It is not only a classic but one of my favorite poem too)
Chaap Tilak
चाप तिलक सब छीनी रे मोसे नैना मिलाइके,
चाप तिलक सब छीनी रे मोसे नैना मिलाइके,
प्रेम भाटी का माधवा पिलाइके,
मतवाली कर लीनी रे मोसे नैना मिलाइके,
गोरी गोरी बैयाँ, हरी हरी चूड़ियाँ ,
बैयाँ पकड़ धर लीनी रे मोसे नैना मिलाइके,
बलि बलि जाऊं में तोरे रंग रजवा,
अपनी सी कर लीनी रे मोसे नैना मिलाइके,
ख़ुसरौ निजाम के बलि बलि जाईए ,
मोहे सुहागन कीनी रे मोसे नैना मिलाइके,
चाप तिलक सब छीनी रे मोसे नैना मिलाइके ||
Translation:
You’ve taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance.
By making me drink the wine of love-potion,
You’ve intoxicated me by just a glance;
My fair, delicate wrists with green bangles in them,
Have been held tightly by you with just a glance.
I give my life to you, Oh my cloth-dyer,
You’ve dyed me in yourself, by just a glance.
I give my whole life to you Oh, Nijam,
You’ve made me your bride, by just a glance.
Here is another famous gem from Amir Khusrow’s collection:
ख़ुसरो दरिया प्रेम का, उल्टी वा की धार,
जो उतरा सो डूब गया, जो डूबा सो पार ||
Translation:
Khusrow, the river of love runs in strange directions.
One who jumps into it drowns, and one who drowns, gets across.
***
Afflatus:
Meaning– A divine creative impulse or poetic inspiration.
***
If you are reading this, thank you for stopping by. This post is first in a series of 26 posts that I will be writing as part of the A to Z challenge for April 2016. My theme for the challenge would be A to Z of poetry. Don’t feel shy to leave your feedback and visit again:-)
wonderful post
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Thank you Ila ji:-)
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great first post for the a-z challenge
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Thank you 😊
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HELLO, I TRIED TO TRANSLATE YOUR POETRY IN LANGUAGE HINDI , SOMETHING achieved, but was not very readable … IF POSSIBLE Could you translate your poems in English ?, ME AS POSSIBLE translate BETTER, AND MAYBE IN ANY LINK have them, BUT I DO NOT REALIZE .
SEES A GREAT HINDU MÍSITICA BEHIND YOUR WORDS , YOU AND GREETINGS …
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Hola , Voy a publicar algunos en Inglés también . Sólo tienes que seguir el enlace de mensajes en inglés en la página principal . Voy a volver a usted con algunas traducciones también. Gracias para estar conectado ti. Siempre es un placer hablar con usted 🙂
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THANK YOU , AND Sorry for the inconvenience , WITH TRANSLATOR , IT IS A PLEASURE FROM ME TOO, GREETINGS …
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🙂
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Wow, you really are a poet. 🙂 Great post! Congrats!!
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Thank you seena😊
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Very informative and well written!
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Thank you 😊
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That was truly a learning experience and refreshing my school days…
Good work and best of luck…
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Thank you Amita😊
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Great read and a refreshing memory of my school days…
Good luck…
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Wow! That’s a really comprehensive post about poetry from a writer doctor!! A wonderful start to the challenge. All the best!
@yenforblue from
http://yenforblue.blogspot.in/“>Spice of Life!
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Thank you Archana😊
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whoa this is going to be fun.About poetry in Hindi!!!! Great start 🙂
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Thank you 😊
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I did not know what alankaar was before reading this post, so I learned something new with this first day of the A to Z Challenge.
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Thank you for stopping by Julia😊
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☺☺
My fav. Topic it was during Grammer class in school time .
Well explained .
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My favourite too…Thank you for visiting 😊
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Wonderful post! Enjoyed reading it!
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Thank you Srivi
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This is such an informative post, buddy. You rock!
I have been poor in Hindi (I know, even though being from north India), so some takeaways for me ☺️
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Thank you Alok😊
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It is not often that I get to read Hindi poetry and learn so much from it! Lovely!
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
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Thank you Shubhangi…there’s more coming…See you again:-)
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Glad to have read this! I certainly learned something here.
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Glad you visited…thank you:-)
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Another new word to add to my vocabulary. Thank you for the follow. I look forward to reading your B contribution later today.
@fparkerswords
Frank Parker’s Author Site
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Glad you visited my blog… Thank you:-)
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Alankaar is an entirely new word to me. Thank you for the lesson!
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This challenge has so much to offer. Thank you for your feedback:-)
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This is an excellent post! Your poetry is very good – this is the first time I am formally seeing Alamkara in Hindi poetry, although I learnt about chitra kavya in Sanskrit during my studies. Looking forward to the series ….
Thanks!
My latest post: You are Infinite
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Thank you subhodeep for these lovely words😊
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This is particularly informative. 🙂 The adornments in Hindi language rings true to my own, too. 🙂
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Thank you 😊
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Afflatus, now I have learnt a new word, thanks. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. You explained in simplistic words. It was educational
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Thank you Ameena😊
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Exemplary…..
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Truth first: I dislike poetry. 2nd truth, I’m going to follow you for both the prose and the background instructions. Nice!
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☺I’m sure you can’t elude poetry for long…but thanks a lot for the follow even though you don’t like poetry…Thank you 😊
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I do appreciate a good haiku every now and then
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😊
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