Rasa

Abstract

This chapter examines the concept of rasa in relation to Indian aesthetics. Rasa is at the heart of Indian thinking about the arts. The idea of alamkāra developed in the context of reflection on kāvya proved as inadequate as that of rasa developed in relation to the reflection on nātya in Bharata. Neither dhvani nor alamkāra can be accommodated within the theory of rasa. The dismal failure of Bharata's theory is clearly revealed in its incapacity to handle the notion of rasābhāsa that should have been just the place to come to grips with the problems raised by any theory that tries to be exclusively feeling centered.