SABDA AS REALITY: RAJA RAO’S PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE IN THE LIGHT OF BHARTRIHARI’S VAKYAPADIYA

Abstract

Bhartrihari’s Vākyapadiya occupies a seminal position in the Indian philosophy of language by advancing the doctrine of sabda dvaita, which posits an ontological identity between sabda  (the Word), Brahman (Ultimate Reality), and the phenomenal world. Language, in this tradition, is not merely representational but constitutive of reality itself. Against this philosophical background, the present paper undertakes a critical and systematic examination of Raja Rao’s philosophy of language and poetry, as articulated in his essays and reflections on literary creation. The study specifically explores how Raja Rao addresses foundational questions such as: What is poetry? Who is a poet? And what is the ultimate purpose of poetry? By situating Raja Rao’s literary thought within the metaphysical framework of Bhartrihari’s Vakyapadaya, the paper argues that Rao redefines poetry as a spiritual discipline (sadhana) rooted in the non-dual realization of Sabda brahman. The paper demonstrates that the theory of sphoṭa deeply informs Raja Rao’s conception of poetic language, the four levels of vak (vaikhari, madhyama, paśyanti, and para), and the Upanishadic understanding of Om as the sonic embodiment of the Absolute. In doing so, the paper positions Raja Rao as a modern Indian writer who successfully integrates classical Indian linguistic philosophy with contemporary literary expression