Introduction to Rasa-Anumiti-vada
Rasa-Anumiti-vada is a concept from Indian aesthetics, especially discussed in Sanskrit poetics. It explains how the feeling of Rasa (aesthetic emotion or flavor) is understood or inferred by the audience while experiencing art, literature, or drama. The term is made up of three words: “Rasa” (emotion or sentiment), “Anumiti” (inference), and “Vada” (theory).
What is Rasa?
Rasa refers to the emotional experience that a viewer or reader feels while watching a play or reading a poem. For example, emotions like love, fear, bravery, or sadness are all Rasas. The famous sage Bharata talks about Rasa in his book Natyashastra. He lists nine Rasas, such as Shringara (love), Hasya (laughter), Karuna (compassion), and Veera (heroism).
What is Rasa-Anumiti-vada?
This theory says that Rasa is not directly presented, but is understood or inferred by the audience. The reader or viewer uses their imagination and experience to connect with the emotions shown in the story. Rasa comes alive in their heart through inference.
So, according to Rasa-Anumiti-vada, the emotion (Rasa) is inferred by the audience based on the actions, dialogues, and situations shown in the performance or literature.
Example
If a play shows a king bravely fighting to protect his people, the audience may feel a sense of Veera Rasa (bravery). This feeling is not directly told, but is understood by seeing the king’s actions. The audience infers the emotion, which creates the aesthetic experience.
Importance
Rasa-Anumiti-vada highlights the role of the audience in creating emotional meaning. It shows that emotions are not just shown by the artist but are completed by the viewer’s mind. This makes art a shared experience between the creator and the audience.
Conclusion
Rasa-Anumiti-vada explains how the beauty of emotions in art is felt through inference. It helps us understand that aesthetic joy is not just about what is shown, but also about what is felt and imagined. This theory plays an important role in Indian poetics and deepens our understanding of how we experience art and literature.