Question

What is the primary role of Rasa in Indian arts?

• A. To describe emotions in clear words
• B. To evoke an emotion or feeling that cannot be described
• C. To create conflicts in a drama
• D. To limit the emotional expression of performers

Answer 1

Answer:

B. To evoke an emotion or feeling that cannot be described

In Indian aesthetics, particularly in Bharata's Nāṭyaśāstra, Rasa is the ultimate goal of artistic expression. It is the aesthetic experience or emotional essence that a spectator feels while witnessing a performance. Unlike ordinary emotions, Rasa is universal and transcendent, allowing the audience to deeply experience the emotions conveyed by the performers without being personally involved.