Rasa (aesthetics)

In Indian aesthetics, a rasa () literally means "juice, essence or taste".Monier Monier-Williams (1899)
Rasa
Sanskrit English Dictionary with Etymology, Motilal Banarsidass (Originally Published: Oxford) It is a concept in Indian arts denoting the aesthetic flavour of any visual, literary or musical work that evokes an indescribable feeling in the reader or audience.Rasa: Indian Aesthetic Theory
Encyclopedia Britannica (2013) It refers to the emotional flavors/essence crafted into the work by the writer or a performer and relished by a 'sensitive spectator' or ''sahṛdaya,'' literally one who "has heart", and can connect to the work with emotion, without dryness.

Rasas are created by one's bhava (one's state of mind).

The ''rasa'' theory has a dedicated section (Chapter 6) in the Sanskrit text '' Natya Shastra'', an ancient text on the arts from the 1st millennium BCE, attributed to Bharata Muni. However, its most complete exposition in drama, songs and other performance arts is found in the works of the Kashmiri Shaivite philosopher Abhinavagupta (c. 1000 CE), demonstrating the persistence of a long-standing aesthetic tradition of ancient India. According to the ''Rasa'' theory of the ''Natya Shastra'', entertainment is a desired effect of performance arts but not the primary goal. Instead, the primary goal is to transport the audience into another, parallel reality full of wonder and bliss, where they experience the essence of their own consciousness, and reflect on spiritual and moral questions.

Although the concept of rasa is fundamental to many forms of Indian arts including dance, music, theatre, painting, sculpture, and literature, the interpretation and implementation of a particular rasa differs between different styles and schools. The Indian theory of ''rasa'' is also found in the Hindu arts and Ramayana musical productions of Bali and Java (Indonesia), but with regional creative evolution.

Role in art

According to the ''Natya Shastra'', a ''rasa'' is a synthetic phenomenon and the goal of any creative performance art, oratory, painting or literature. Wallace Dace translates the ancient text's explanation of ''rasa'' as "a relish that of an elemental human emotion like love, pity, fear, heroism or mystery, which forms the dominant note of a dramatic piece; this dominant emotion, as tasted by the audience, has a different quality from that which is aroused in real life; rasa may be said to be the original emotion transfigured by aesthetic delight".

Rasas are created through a wide range of means, and the ancient Indian texts discuss many such means. For example, one way is through the use of gestures and facial expressions of the actors. Expressing ''Rasa'' in classical Indian dance form is referred to as Rasa-abhinaya.

The theory of rasas forms the aesthetic underpinning of all Indian classical dance and theatre, such as Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Kudiyattam, and others.

In Indian classical music, each ''raga'' is an inspired creation for a specific mood, where the musician or ensemble creates the ''rasa'' in the listener. However, predominantly all ''ragas'' and musical performances in Hindu traditions aim at one of six ''rasa'', wherein music is a form of creating "love, compassion, peace, heroism, comic or the feeling of wonder" within the listener. Anger, disgust, fear and such emotions are not the subject of ''rasa'', but they are part of Indian theories on dramatic arts. Of the six ''rasa'' that are aimed at in Indian music, each has sub-categories. For example, love ''rasa'' in Hindu literature has many musical flavors, such as erotic love (''sringar'') and spiritual devotional love (''bhakti'').

In the theories of Indian poetics, ancient scholars state that the effectiveness of a literary composition depends both on what is stated and how it is stated (words, grammar, rhythm), and this creates its ''rasa''. Among the most celebrated of these theories of poetics and literary works, are the 5th-century Bhartrhari and the 9th-century Anandavardhana, but the theoretical tradition of integrating ''rasa'' into literary works likely goes back to a more ancient period. This is generally discussed under the Indian concepts of ''Dhvani'', ''Sabdatattva'' and ''Sphota''.

As an example, the literary work '' Bhagavata Purana'' deploys ''rasa'', presenting the bhakti of Krishna in aesthetic terms. The rasa it presents is an emotional relish, a mood called Sthayi Bhava. This development towards a relishable state is created through emotional conditions which are called ''Vibhavas'', ''Anubhavas'' and ''Sanchari Bhavas''. Vibhavas means Karana or cause: it is of two kinds - ''Alambana'', the personal or human object and substratum, and ''Uddipana'', the excitants. Anubhava, as the name signifies, means the ensuants or effects of emotion. ''Sanchari Bhavas'' are those passing feelings which are ancillary to a mood. Later scholars added more emotional states such as the ''Sattvika Bhavas''.C.Ramanujachari and Dr. V. Raghavan. ''The Spiritual Heritage of Tyagaraja''.

In the Indian theories on sculpture and architecture ('' Shilpa Shastras''), the ''rasa'' theories, in part, drive the forms, shapes, arrangements and expressions of images and structures. Some Indian texts on sculpture suggest nine ''rasas''.

Sahṛdayatā

Abhinavagupta defines ''sahṛdaya'' in ''Locana'', his commentary on ''Dhvanyāloka. Saṛdaya''-s are those spectators who:

# "have been exposed to appreciation of literary work and who have made it a habit to think about the literary work"
# "because of this previous exposure, attuned their minds to create the reflection of poetic emotions in their minds"

In his philosophical work, Abhinavagupta believed that ''sahṛdayatā'' (aesthetic sensitivity), is crucial within the context of music and bhakti. Abhinavgupta suggests that fullness of delight is essential for developing aesthetic sensitivity. This delight is not limited to pleasant experiences but also includes painful ones, as both can lead to an expansion of consciousness. He emphasizes that the capacity for enjoyment is closely linked to receptivity to the ultimate experience and labels those unable to appreciate good music as "ahrdaya" (heartless, insensitive). Aesthetic sensitivity is viewed as a necessary condition for spiritual sensibility, both of which are expressed by the term ''sahṛdayatā''.

History

The word ''rasa'' appears in ancient Vedic literature. In ''Rigveda'', it connotes a liquid, an extract and flavor. In '' Atharvaveda'', ''rasa'' in many contexts means "taste", and also the sense of "the sap of grain". According to Daniel Meyer-Dinkgräfe, ''rasa'' in the Upanishads refers to the "essence, self-luminous consciousness, quintessence" but also "taste" in some contexts. In post-Vedic literature, the word generally connotes "extract, essence, juice or tasty liquid".

Rasa in an aesthetic sense is suggested in the Vedic literature, but the oldest surviving manuscripts describing the ''rasa'' theory of Hinduism, are of ''Natya Shastra''. The Aitareya Brahmana in chapter 6, for example, states:

The ''Natya shastra'' presents the ''rasa'' theory in Chapter 6. The text begins its discussion with a sutra called the ''rasa sutra'':

According to the ''Natya shastra'', the goals of theatre are to empower aesthetic experience and deliver emotional ''rasa''. The text states that the aims of art are manifold. In many cases, it aims to produce repose and relief for those exhausted with labor, or distraught with grief, or laden with misery, or struck by austere times. However, entertainment is an effect, yet not the primary goal of arts, according to the ''Natya shastra''. The primary goal is to create ''rasa'' so as to lift and transport the spectators towards the expression of ultimate reality and transcendent values.

The '' Abhinavabhāratī'' is the most studied commentary on ''Natyasastra'', written by Abhinavagupta (950–1020 CE), who referred to ''Natyasastra'' as the ''Natyaveda'' as well. Abhinavagupta's analysis of ''Natyasastra'' is notable for its extensive discussion of aesthetic and ontological questions. According to Abhinavagupta, the success of an artistic performance is measured not by the reviews, awards or recognition the production receives, but only when it is performed with skilled precision, devoted faith and pure concentration, so that the artist gets the audience emotionally absorbed into the art and immerses the spectator with the pure joy of a ''rasa'' experience.

Elements

Bharata Muni enunciated the eight rasas in the ''Nātyasāstra'', an ancient Sanskrit text of dramatic theory and other performance arts, written between 200 BC and 200 AD. In the Indian performing arts, a ''rasa'' is a sentiment or emotion evoked in each member of the audience by the art. The ''Natya Shastra'' mentions six rasa in one section, but in the dedicated section on ''rasa'' it states and discusses eight primary ''rasa''. Each rasa, according to Nātyasāstra, has a presiding deity and a specific colour. There are 4 pairs of rasas. For instance, Hāsya arises out of Sringara. The Aura of a frightened person is black, and the aura of an angry person is red. Bharata Muni established the following:

* (शृङ्गारः): Romance, Love, attractiveness. Presiding deity: Vishnu. Colour: Śyāma (Dark-brown-black)
* (हास्यं): Laughter, mirth, comedy. Presiding deity: Shiva. Colour: white
* (रौद्रं): Fury. Presiding deity: Rudra. Colour: red
* (कारुण्यं): Compassion, mercy. Presiding deity: Yama. Colour: grey
* (बीभत्सं): Disgust, aversion. Presiding deity: Mahakala. Colour: blue
* (भयानकं): Horror, terror. Presiding deity: Kāla. Colour: black
* (वीरं): Heroism. Presiding deity: Indra. Colour: Bright White
* (अद्भुतं): Wonder, amazement. Presiding deity: Brahma. Colour: yellow

Śāntam rasa

A ninth rasa was added by later authors. This addition had to undergo a good deal of struggle between the sixth and the tenth centuries before it could be accepted and the expression "''Navarasa''", (the nine rasas), could become established.

*: Peace or tranquility. deity: Vishnu. Colour: perpetual white.

Shānta-rasa functions as an equal member of the set of rasas, but it is simultaneously distinct as being the most clear form of aesthetic bliss. Abhinavagupta likens it to the string of a jeweled necklace; while it may not be the most appealing for most people, it is the string that gives form to the necklace, allowing the jewels of the other eight rasas to be relished. Relishing the rasas and particularly shānta-rasa is implied to be almost as good as, but never quite equal to the bliss of self-realization experienced by yogis.

List of bhavas

According to the ''Natyashastra'', bhavas are of three types: ''sthayi'' (stable), ''sanchari'' (travelling) and ''sattvika'' (pure) . These classifications are based on how the rasas are developed or enacted during the aesthetic experience. This is seen in the following passage:

पुनश्च भावान्वक्ष्यामि स्थायिसञ्चारिसत्त्वजान्॥६.१६॥ (')

Sthayi

The ''Natyasastra'' lists eight '' Sthayibhavas'' with eight corresponding ''rasas'':
*''Rati'' (Love)
*''Hasya'' (Mirth)
*''Soka'' (Sorrow)
*''Krodha'' (Anger)
*''Utsaha'' (Energy)
*''Bhaya'' (Terror)
*''Jugupsa'' (Disgust)
*''Vismaya'' (Astonishment)

Sattvika

The ''Natyasastra'' outlines eight ''anubhavas'' or ''sattvika bhavas'':

* ''Stambha'' (Stupefaction)
* ''Sveda'' (Sweating)
* ''Romancha'' (Feeling thrilled)
* ''Svarabheda'' (Break in voice)
* ''Vepathu'' (Trembling)
* ''Vaivaranya'' (Pallor)
* ''Ashru'' (Tears)
* ''Pralaya'' (Swoon or death)

Influence on cinema

''Rasa'' has been an important influence on the cinema of India. Satyajit Ray has applied the ''Rasa'' method of classical Sanskrit drama to movies, for instance in '' The Apu Trilogy'' (1955–1959).

In Hindi cinema, it is the theme of the film Naya Din Nayi Raat, where Sanjeev Kumar plays nine characters corresponding to nine ''Rasa''.

See also

* Abhinaya
* Natya Shastra
* Rasa lila
* Telugu literature
* Sanskrit Literature
* Sanskrit Theatre

Notes

References

Bibliography

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

External links

Rasa (sentiments) in the Natya-shastra
Translated into English by Manomohan Ghosh
"Rasas" as Springs of Art in Indian Aesthetics
Radhakamal Mukerjee
Archive

"Rasa" as Aesthetic Experience
G. B. Mohan Thampi
Archive

The Theory of Rasa
P. J. Chaudhury
The Aesthetics of Ancient Indian Drama
V. Raghavan

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rasa (Aesthetics)
Dance in India
Concepts in Indian aesthetics
Literary theory
Sanskrit words and phrases