Authority and Auspiciousness in Gaurana’s Lakṣaṇadīpikā


 Moving beyond poetry’s affective and semantic powers, south Indian rubrics of poetic analysis often examined metaphysical dimensions. The poeticians the Telugu country developed an especially rich body work in this field, elaborating auspiciousness poetry classifying minor genres praise called cāṭuprabandha wherein was particularly important. This article focuses on one witness to that tradition, Lakṣaṇadīpikā Gaurana (fl . ca 1375–1445 CE) Previous scholars have cited as exemplifying particular strand thinking poetics Andhra contiguous regions paper concentrates evaluation offered a way detailing its sources place history Sanskrit more generally. Gaurana’s is shown here constitute attempt at revising reinforcing analytical method by linking it wider Sanskritic traditions scholarship ritual, specifically tantra astrology Ultimately, argues project meant support larger social argument for brahmanical prerogatives domain work.