Rasa (रसः)

This article needs editing. Add and improvise the content from reliable sources.

Rasa (Sanskrit: रसः) in general means the 'knowledge perceived through the rasanendriya or the sensory organ of taste (tongue)'. As "essence, juice, sap, taste, delight" the term rasa has wide import as discussed in Nyaya and Vaiseshika darshanas, Yoga darshana, classical Sanskrit Sahitya, Kavyashastra, Chandas, Ayurveda, Vrikshayurveda and other texts. In each of these texts, the term "Rasa" has a specific contextual meaning and concept.

Most commonly Rasa refers to "tastes" in literature dealing with the topic of dietetics and culinary art, Pakakala. Rasa in Ayurveda refers to "flavours" of six kinds as mentioned in Ashtangahrdaya samhita by Vagbhata and it indicates the pharmamacological behaviour of a substance. As it stands for fluid portion of the body, it is referred to as the water-originating principle.

In Indian aesthetics, Rasa has the connotation of emotional experience, and a systematic analysis of the nature of emotion is found in Natyashastra or the science of theatrics and dramatics. In this context rasa refers to "sentiment, aesthetic relish" or the relishable quality inherent in a work of art. Bharata Muni, the author of Natyashastra enumerates eight "fundamental" emotions occurring in humans as well as animals.