Rasa (रसः)

“Rasa” is one among the five qualities of dravya (substance). The term “rasa” means taste or the perception of taste. Also the guna (quality) of the rasendriya is known as rasa (the rasa dhatu among the saptdhatus is distinct from this rasa) Rasa in dravya(substance) are known by their effects in our body.

Etymology

रस्यत आस्वाद्यत इति रसः | (Char. Samh. 1.64)

Meaning: Rasa means which can be perceived by the tongue or that which can be tasted.

Types

There are shadrasa meaning six in number:

Rasa svaduamla lavana tiktushana kashayaka

Shad dravyam ashritastey ch yathapurva balavaha (a.h 1.14)

1. Svadu/Madhura(sweet)

2. Amla(sour)

3. Lavana(salty)

4. Katu(pungent)

5. Tikta(bitter)

6. Kashaya(astringen)

These rasa are in decreasing order of providing strength to the body, meaning madhura rasa imparts maximum strength whereas Kashaya rasa lowest.

Each of these rasa constitutes of two mahabhutas, but their origin is from jala mahabhuta.

Uplabdhi of rasa(determination of taste)

According to Darshana shastra rasa can be determined by three modes;

Pratyaksha

Anumana

Aptopadesha

Here mainly pratyaksha pramana is used. When any dravya(substance) comes in contact with rasanendriya a peculiar taste is perceived this is called “rasana pratyaksha)

Concept of Anurasa:

The rasa in a dravya which is avyakta or ishatvyakta. These rasas are perceived by anumana pramana but can only be understood by aptopdesha. For eg; madhura rasa in Swarna, rajata dravya are avyakta and are inferred by observing their effects in our body. Also some rasa are not perceived at first but are perceived at the end or not at all. For eg; in haritiki at first it tastes Kashaya rasa but at the end madhura rasa is perceived.

Properties of rasa

Madhur rasa

तत्र, मधुरो रसः शरीरसात्म्याद्रसरुधिरमांसमेदोस्थिमज्जौजःशुक्राभिवर्धन आयुष्यः षडिन्द्रियप्रसादनो बलवर्णकरः पित्तविषमारुतघ्नस्तृष्णादाहप्रशमनस्त्वच्यः केश्यः कण्ठ्यो बल्यः प्रीणनो जीवनस्तर्पणो बृंहणः स्थैर्यकरः क्षीणक्षतसन्धानकरो घ्राणमुखकण्ठौष्ठजिह्वाप्रह्लादनो दाहमूर्च्छाप्रशमनः षट्पदपिपीलिकानामिष्टतमः स्निग्धः शीतो गुरुश्च| स एवङ्गुणोऽप्येक एवात्यर्थमुपयुज्यमानः स्थौल्यं मार्दवमालस्यमतिस्वप्नं गौरवमनन्नाभिलाषमग्नेर्दौर्बल्यमास्यकण्ठयोर्मांसाभिवृद्धिं श्वासकासप्रतिश्यायालसकशीतज्वरानाहास्यमाधुर्यवमथुसञ्ज्ञास्वरप्रणाशगलगण्डगण्डमालाश्लीपद- गलशोफबस्तिधमनीगलोपलेपाक्ष्यामयाभिष्यन्दानित्येवम्प्रभृतीन् कफजान् विकारानुपजनयति |

It nourishes the saptdhatu, provides longevity, helps maintaining sensory organs, enhances bodily strength and lusture. Helps pacifying pitta and vata dosha, any poisonous effects on body, burning sensation and thirst. It is advantageous for skin, hair and throat. It promotes strength to those who are weak and emaciated. It has guna(properties) of being snigdha(unctuous),sheeta(cold) and guru(heavy).

These are qualities of dravya which contain madhura rasa. Although if consumed in excess amounts may lead to various abnormalities and diseases.

Amla rasa:

अम्लो रसो भक्तं रोचयति, अग्निं दीपयति, देहं बृंहयति ऊर्जयति, मनो बोधयति, इन्द्रियाणि दृढीकरोति, बलं वर्धयति, वातमनुलोमयति, हृदयं तर्पयति, आस्यमास्रावयति, भुक्तमपकर्षयति क्लेदयति जरयति, प्रीणयति, लघुरुष्णः स्निग्धश्च| स एवङ्गुणोऽप्येक एवात्यर्थमुपयुज्यमानो दन्तान् हर्षयति, तर्षयति, सम्मीलयत्यक्षिणी, संवेजयति लोमानि, कफं विलापयति, पित्तमभिवर्धयति, रक्तं दूषयति,मांसं विदहति, कायं शिथिलीकरोति, क्षीणक्षतकृशदुर्बलानां श्वयथुमापादयति, अपि च क्षताभिहतदष्टदग्धभग्नशूनप्रच्युतावमूत्रितपरिसर्पितमर्दितच्छिन्नभिन्नविश्लिष्टोद्विद्धोत्पिष्टादीनि पाचयत्याग्नेयस्वभावात्, परिदहति कण्ठमुरो हृदयं च |

Amla rasa dravya or sour tasting substances are appetizing, improves agni(digestivefire),enlightens mind, causes tingling over teeth, provides nourishment and energy. Enhances sensory organs and strengthens body.maintains normal flow of vata dosha in body.is good for heart. It increases salivation, helps moisten the food and aids digestion.it has guna (properties) of being laghu(light),snigdha( unctuous) and ushna(heat).

If consumed in excess amounts leads to teeth sensitivity, increases thirst, liquefies kapha dosha, increases pitta dosha, causes rakta dhatu morbidities, weakens muscles and causes laxity. Weakens the body. leads to suppuration in already present wounds, fractures, cuts etc. causes heart burn and burning sensation in throat.

Lavana rasa:

लवणो रसः पाचनः क्लेदनो दीपनश्च्यावनश्छेदनो भेदनस्तीक्ष्णः सरो विकास्यधःस्रंस्यवकाशकरो वातहरः स्तम्भबन्धसङ्घातविधमनः सर्वरसप्रत्यनीकभूतः, आस्यमास्रावयति, कफं विष्यन्दयति, मार्गान् विशोधयति, सर्वशरीरावयवान् मृदूकरोति, रोचयत्याहारम्, आहारयोगी, नात्यर्थं गुरुः स्निग्ध उष्णश्च| स एवङ्गुणोऽप्येक एवात्यर्थमुपयुज्यमानः पित्तं कोपयति, रक्तं वर्धयति, तर्षयति, मूर्च्छयति , तापयति, दारयति, कुष्णाति मांसानि, प्रगालयति कुष्ठानि, विषं वर्धयति, शोफान् स्फोटयति, दन्तांश्च्यावयति, पुंस्त्वमुपहन्ति, इन्द्रियाण्युपरुणद्भि, वलिपलितखालित्यमापादयति, अपि च लोहितपित्ताम्लपित्तविसर्पवातरक्तविचर्चिकेन्द्रलुप्तप्रभृतीन्विकारानुपजनयति |

Lavana rasa dravya aids digestion, is appetizing, expectorant,

Pacifies vata dosha, increases salivation, improves circulation by cleansing the channels, provides laxity to the body, liquefies kapha, goes well with food, not very guru (heavy)in nature, is snigdha(unctuous),ushna( hot).

When consumed in excess aggravates pitta dosha, rakta dhatu, excessive thirst, fainting, causes skin diseases,damages teeth and sensory organs, causes inflammations, leads to hairfall, greying of hair and also causes diseases like vatarakta(gouty arthritis), eczema, alopecia etc.

Katu rasa:

कटुको रसो वक्त्रं शोधयति, अग्निं दीपयति, भुक्तं शोषयति, घ्राणमास्रावयति, चक्षुर्विरेचयति, स्फुटीकरोतीन्द्रियाणि, अलसकश्वयथूपचयोदर्दाभिष्यन्दस्नेहस्वेदक्लेदमलानुपहन्ति, रोचयत्यशनं, कण्डूर्विनाशयति , व्रणानवसादयति, क्रिमीन् हिनस्ति, मांसं विलिखति, शोणितसङ्घातं भिनत्ति, बन्धांश्छिनत्ति, मार्गान् विवृणोति, श्लेष्माणं शमयति, लघुरुष्णो रूक्षश्च| स एवङ्गुणोऽप्येक एवात्यर्थमुपयुज्यमानो विपाकप्रभावात् पुंस्त्वमुपहन्ति, रसवीर्यप्रभावान्मोहयन्ति, ग्लापयति, सादयति, कर्शयति, मूर्च्छयति, नमयति, तमयति, भ्रमयति, कण्ठं परिदहति, शरीरतापमुपजनयति, बलं क्षिणोति, तृष्णां जनयति; अपि च वाय्वग्निगुणबाहुल्याद्भ्रमदवथुकम्पतोदभेदैश्चरणभुजपार्श्वपृष्ठप्रभृतिषु मारुतजान् विकारानुपजनयति |

Katu rasa helps to keep the mouth clean, improves digestion and food absorption, cleanses nasal channel, causes lacrimation, enhances sensory organs, alleviates alasaka(digestive disease), swellings, heaviness of body, improves appetite, relieves itching, heal wounds, kill worms, helps remove blood clots, cleanses bodily channels, pacifies kapha dosha, is laghu(light), ushna(hot) and ruksha(dry) in guna(property).

If consumed in excess can cause impotency, malaise, weakness, loss of weight, unconsciousness, burning sensation in throat,loss of strength, excess thirst. Leads to increase in vata dosha and agni guna in body. Giddiness, burning sensation in body, tremors, pricking and tearing kind of pain and various vata disorders.

Tikta rasa:

तिक्तो रसः स्वयमरोचिष्णुरप्यरोचकघ्नो विषघ्नः क्रिमिघ्नो मूर्च्छादाहकण्डूकुष्ठतृष्णाप्रशमनस्त्वङ्मांसयोः स्थिरीकरणो ज्वरघ्नो दीपनः पाचनः स्तन्यशोधनो लेखनः क्लेदमेदोवसामज्जलसीकापूयस्वेदमूत्रपुरीषपित्तश्लेष्मोपशोषणो रूक्षः शीतो लघुश्च| स एवङ्गुणोऽप्येक एवात्यर्थमुपयुज्यमानो रौक्ष्यात्खरविषदस्वभावाच्च रसरुधिरमांसमेदोस्थिमज्जशुक्राण्युच्छोषयति, स्रोतसां खरत्वमुपपादयति, बलमादत्ते, कर्शयति, ग्लपयति, मोहयति, भ्रमयति, वदनमुपशोषयति, अपरांश्च वातविकारानुपजनयति |

Tikta rasa dravya even though are distasteful but increases appetite, counters poisons and worms, reduces giddiness, burning sensation, itching, various skin infections, thirst .Reduces fever, improves digestion, helps reduce excess moisture, fat, lymphatic fluid, sweat,pus,pitta dosha and kapha dosha. Reduces frequent urination and faeces .is ruksha(dry), sheeta(cold), laghu(light) in guna(property)

If there is excess utilization it will cause shoshana(dryness) of saptadhatu, coarseness in strotas(channel), weakness, fatigue, mental confusion, giddiness, dryness in mouth and various vata dosha related disorders.

Kashaya rasa:

कषायो रसः संशमनः सङ्ग्राही सन्धानकरः पीडनो रोपणः शोषणः स्तम्भनः श्लेष्मरक्तपित्तप्रशमनः शरीरक्लेदस्योपयोक्ता रूक्षः शीतोऽलघुश्च| स एवङ्गुणोऽप्येक एवात्यर्थमुपयुज्यमान आस्यं शोषयति, हृदयं पीडयति, उदरमाध्मापयति, वाचं निगृह्णाति, स्रोतांस्यवबध्नाति, श्यावत्वमापादयति, पुंस्त्वमुपहन्ति, विष्टभ्य जरां गच्छति, वातमूत्रपुरीषरेतांस्यवगृह्णाति, कर्शयति, ग्लपयति, तर्षयति, स्तम्भयति, खरविशदरूक्षत्वात् पक्षवधग्रहापतानकार्दितप्रभृतींश्च वातविकारानुपजनयति||

Kashaya rasa is constipating and binding in nature,helps in healing the affected part, pacifies kapha, pitta dosha and rakta dhatu .is ruksha(dry),sheeta(cold), heavy in guna(property)

If there over utilization of this rasa it leads to dryness in mouth, ache in heart, abdominal distention,speech disturbances, obstruction of various channels, darkening of complexion, impotency, indigestion,weakness, fatigue, excess thirst, stiffness,. Causes various vata dosha disorders.

In a nutshell,

Rasa	Mahabhuta	Guna(property)
Madhura	Prithvi, jala(earth+water)	Unctuous,heavy,cold
Amla	Prithvi, tejas(earth+fire)	Unctuous,light,hot
Lavana	Jala, tejas(water+fire)	Not very heavy,unctuous,hot
Katu	Vayu, tejas(air+fire)	Light,hot,dry
Tikta	Vayu, akasha(air+ether)	Dry,cold,light
Kashaya	Vayu, prithvi(air+earth)	Dry,cold,heavy