IKS- Indian Knowledge System
The Rasa Theory in Bharata's Natyashastra Introduction, Bharata's Natyashastra, the foundational text of Indian dramaturgy, presents the earliest and most profound articulation of Rasa Theory - the unique aesthetic framework through which emotional experience in art is conceptualized. Developed between 200 BCE and 200 CE, this Sanskrit treatise is a monumental contribution to performance arts and literary criticism. Among its key innovations is the concept of rasa, the aesthetic experience of emotion evoked in a sensitive spectator (sahridaya) through the medium of dramatic performance. This theory has had enduring influence not only in traditional Indian aesthetics but also in modern interpretations of literature and performance. Conceptual Foundations of Rasa, In the Natyashastra, Bharata defines rasa as the essence or flavor derived from a combination of expressive elements in drama. The formul...