In the Natya Shastra, bhava is the emotional state an actor portrays, and rasa is the aesthetic flavour or experience that portrayal evokes in the audience. Put simply, bhava is what the performer expresses, and rasa is what the spectator tastes. Rasa is produced from bhava.
Key takeaways
- Bhava is the emotion the actor conveys.
- Rasa is the aesthetic experience the audience feels.
- Rasa arises out of bhava during performance.
- Together they form the core of Indian aesthetics.
What is bhava?
Bhava is the emotional state a performer creates on stage, love, anger, grief, wonder. The Natya Shastra describes stable dominant emotions and the many transient feelings that colour them.
What is rasa?
Rasa, literally taste or essence, is the refined emotional experience the audience savours. When an actor’s bhava is skilfully expressed and received, it blossoms into rasa in the spectator’s heart.
How are they related?
The relationship is cause and effect: the actor’s bhava, supported by situation, gesture, and music, produces rasa in the audience. One cannot exist without the other, which is why they are always discussed together.
Frequently asked questions
Is rasa the same as bhava?
No. Bhava is the emotion portrayed; rasa is the experience it evokes in the audience.
Who defined rasa and bhava?
The Natya Shastra, attributed to Bharata Muni.
Can you have rasa without bhava?
No. Rasa is produced from well-expressed bhava.