Note on Hindu aesthetics and the rasas

Rasas = flavours; tastes; to relish

To appreciate a work of art is to relish it. In talking about a work of art – painting, sculpture, music, poetry or drama – it is judged as fulfilling the requirement of rasa.

The objective aspect of rasa is the presence of the essential totality of the aesthetic qualities in a  work of art. The subjective aspect of rasa are the emotions evoked in the individual.

Any kind of art, to achieve excellence must be able to stimulate the viewer or  reader’s sensitivities and his susceptibilities, and his empathy. Works of art are therefore judged by whether there is realization of ‘rasa’, both  objectively and subjectively.

A work of art  must have the power to evoke the realization of one or more of the nine  rasa in the viewer or audience. There are nine varieties of rasa:

1. Love and beauty (Srngara rasa)
2. The comic (Hasya rasa)
3. The compassionate (Karuna rasa)
4. Anger (Raudra rasa)
5. The heroic (Vira rasa)
6. The terrible (Bhayanaka rasa)
7. The odius/loathsome (Bibhatsa rasa)
8. The amazing and wonderous (Adbhuta rasa)
9. Serenity (Santa rasa)