Location of Rasa
By V. M. Kulkarni
Summary
This essay addresses a key question in Indian aesthetics: where does rasa, the aesthetic emotion evoked by art, reside? V. M. Kulkarni reviews classical theories from Bharata to Abhinavagupta that variously locate rasa in the performer, the text or the audience. He analyses arguments for each position and examines how different art forms influence the experience of rasa. Kulkarni suggests that rasa is not fixed in any single locus but emerges through the interaction of expressive performance, suggestive language and the sensitive spectator. Understanding this relational nature of rasa, he argues, enriches appreciation of drama, poetry and music and bridges ancient aesthetic theory with modern interpretations.
Conclusion
By surveying classical positions on the locus of rasa and proposing a relational view, Kulkarni deepens our understanding of Indian poetics. The article reminds readers that aesthetic experience arises from collaboration between artist, text and audience, highlighting the dynamic nature of art appreciation.