Rasa

The Sanskrit term “rasa” denotes a wide spectrum of meanings viz. “sap”, “juice”, “essence”, “taste, flavor”, “delight”, “charm,” and “sentiment,” etc. In Ayurveda, the term denotes taste/flavor, primary circulating nutritional fluid (ahararasa), fresh juice of plant (svarasa).In the context of rasashastra it indicates quicksilver, mercury (parada) and other precious metals. In Ayurveda, the primary taste is one of the identifying markers of the dravya. Apart from the contemporary meaning of taste, the concept of rasa has a wider pharmacological approach. The taste plays a vital role in deriving the pharmacological activity profile of the medicines.A physician, well acquainted with the classification of rasa and dosha, seldom commits blunders in ascertaining the etiology, symptomatology, and treatment of diseases. This chapterdescribes concept of rasa (taste) with its applications in pharmacotherapeutics.

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts/Prakriti/Manas prakriti
Authors	T.Saketh Ram1, Deole Y.S.2
Reviewer	Basisht G.3,
Editor	Basisht G.3
Affiliations	1National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, C.C.R.A.S. Hyderabad, India 2Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India 3Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
Correspondence emails	dr.saketram@gmail.com, dryogeshdeole@gmail.com carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of publication:	November 18, 2022
DOI	In process

Usage of term “rasa” in different Indian Knowledge systems

The term rasa is used for denoting various meanings in various classical knowledge systems as below.

Table 1: Difference meanings of rasa

Name of the Indian Knowledge System	Usage of the term “rasa”
Ayurveda	Taste, flavour as perceived by tongue; Primary circulation nutritional fluid (rasadhatu) Fresh Juice of a plant (svarasa)
Rasashastra	Mercury; any precious metal as gold.
Nyaya, Vaisheshika Darshana	Taste as perceived by tongue;
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy), Kavyashastra (science of poetry), Shilpashastra (iconography)	“sentiment” or “aesthetic sense” or “emotion”; rasa is the name given to bhava when it is immediately apprehended by the consciousness without veils. Shringara(the erotic), hasya(the comic), karuṇa (the pathetic), raudra (the furious), veera(the heroic), bhayanaka(the fearful), bibhatsa(the disgusting), adbhuta (the wondrous). shanta(the peaceful)
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)	Term denotes number “six” and number “nine”; six is based on six tastes and nine is based on nine emotions; In general practice for six “ritu=seasons” is employed instead of six tastes e.g.ritucakra denoting sixth group in 72 melakara ragas of Carnatic music.
Miscellaneous usage	Water, any liquid as milk, ghee, oil etc., nectar, semen, exudation- plant resin etc.,

Etymology & derivation

rasa: masculine vocative singular stem: rasa
As per “Dhatuvritti, 316” the root √rasaderives the meaning “āsvādanasnehanayoḥ (रसआस्वादनस्नेहनयोः।रसयति।रसतिइतिअपिशपि।)” which may be broadly understood in the following manner: The Sanskrit “rasa” is composed of two roots “ra” means “giving” “bestowing” “granting” “yielding” and “sa” means “wisdom” “knowledge” “paradise”. Together these roots create “rasa” meaning “to grant knowledge,” “to yield happiness,” “to bestow paradise,” all of which are the “essence” of life, so the Sanskrit dictionary defines “rasa” as “essence”. This article deals with the aspect of rasa as taste/flavor.