Rasa (theology)

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Rasa (IAST rāsa) - Sanskrit theological concept specific to Krishna centered bhakti traditions, such as Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The theological use of the word can be found very early, about two thousand years before the Nimbarka or Caitanya school of bhakti, in a phrase that Chaitanya traditions frequently quote: "Truly, the Lord is rasa" (raso vai sah) of Brahma sutras. This statement expresses the view that God is the one who enjoy the ultimate rasa or spiritual rapture, emotions.[1]

Its belived Rupa Goswami developed, under the direct guidance of Caitanya, the articulated and formulated theology of rasa "the soul's particular relationship with the divinity in devotional love".[2]

Rupa's text draws largely from the foundational theory of rasa formed by Bharata Muni, the originator of Sanskrit dramaturgy, or Natya Sastra (perhaps as early as the second century B.C.E.)[3] These relationship with the divinity in devotional love, rasa, can closely resemble the variety of loving feelings that humans experience for one another.[4] Rasas are distinguesed as lower and higher and according to Bhagavat Gita (11.44) it appears clearly, the three higher rasas are acknowledged and preferred by Arjuna.[5] The higher rasas are described as loving, friendly and fraternal types of relationships.

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[edit] Rasa dance

In the tradition of Vaishnavism of Manipur Rasa Lila is depicted within classic Manipuri dance, and revolves around the same story of the love between Krishna and the cowherd girls and tells the divine love story of Krishna, svayam bhagavan and Radha, his divine beloved. This form of dance was started by Bhagya Chandra in 1779 and in some parts of India is still performed every year on Krishna Janmashtami (the festival to clebrate Krishna’s birthday). According to different traditions, the rasa-lila is performed either by boys and girls, or by boys only. The dance is performed holding dandi or sticks and is often times accompanied with folk songs and devotional music.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Schweig 2005, p. 79
  2. ^ Schweig 2005, p. 78
  3. ^ Schweig 2005, p. 79
  4. ^ Schweig 2005, p. 80
  5. ^ Schweig 2005, p. 84

[edit] References

  • Schweig, G.M. (2005). Dance of divine love: The Rasa Lila of Krishna from the Bhagavata Purana, India's classic sacred love story.. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ; Oxford. ISBN 0691114463. 

[edit] Links


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