The Moraic Metres in Prosody as Depicted in the Vṛttaratnākara

This research, implemented in the form of textual study, aims at examining the peculiarities of morae (mātrā) metres in the teaching of prosody with reference to the Kedāra Bhaṭṭa's Vṛttaratnākara [Vr]. Moraic metres is one of the main two categories of prosodic metres such as the moraic and the syllabic. They have a variety of classifications in conformity with different occurrences of morae in the practice of versification. This genre also plays a main role in the practice of the composition of verses in Sanskrit. One of the crucial features of moraic metres is that such metres are not counted in syllables. Therefore, this kind of metres cannot be found in the Vedic literature where only the count of syllables is available or else there are only syllabic metres which are counted by means of syllables. As far as prosody is concerned, though most of the scholars excessively focus on popular facts in the subject, such as characteristic areas syllabic metres and their varieties, etc., this is one of the commonly neglected areas of the subject, regarding which many prosodic works are not even discussed. Therefore, the objective of this research is to make a critical study on the theme with reference to the Vr, being very popular among the readers, regarded as a handbook of prosody, which also covers all aspects of the discipline including the discussion of theories pertaining to the moraic metres by means of several kārikās or aphorisms in its second chapter. Since they are presented in aphoristic style, they are of the requirement of further explanations. Explanatory notes on each moraic metres together with illustrations are gathered with the assistance of select commentaries of the text. The confirmation of importance of getting better understanding of this crucial point in the study of prosody is another aspect of this research. The methodology applied in this research, which is determined by qualitative approach, is to collect and analyze data with respect to primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. This study will provide significant motivation for making the subject familiar to beginners, increasing their desire of them in scope and stretching the space of its rapid growth among the local and foreign readers.