The Rasas are discussed in Chapter 6 of the Natyasastra, written by sage Bharata. These are primarily 8 in number known as the ASHTA-RASAS. These 8 Rasas as given in the Natyashastra, corresponding with their colours and presiding deities are listed below:

1. Sringara – light green(syama), Vishnu
2. Hasya – white, Pramatha
3. Karuna -grey(kapota), Yama
4. Raudra – red, Rudra
5. Veera -yellowish, fair (Gaura), Indra
6. Bhayanaka -black, Kala
7. Bibhatsa -blue, Mahakaal (Shiv)
8. Adbhuta – yellow, Lord Bramha

The rasas are always given in this particular order according to the Natyashastra. If you observe the list from down to upwards, it starts from Adbhuta, Bibhatsa, and Bhayanaka (wonder, aversion and fear), i.e. basic, simple emotions, which many living beings experience. Veera and Raudra come in the middle, then comes Karuna and Hasya. The list is crowned with Sringara. The literary meaning of “sringa” is horn, i.e., the peak. So “Sringara” is considered ‘Rasa Raja’, the highest of human emotive experiences.

There are 4 main independent Rasas- Sringara, Raudra, Bhayanak and Veer.  Hasya is produced from Sringara, Karuna from Raudra, Bhibatsa from Bhayanak and Adbhuta from Veer.

1. The Erotic Sentiment

The Erotic Sentiment (sringara) proceeds from the Durable Psychological State of love or Rati. It has as its basis a bright, white, pure, and beautiful attire. For example, one who is elegantly dressed is called a lovely person (sringarin). Hence the Erotic Sentiment has been so named on account of its usually being associated with a bright and elegant attire. It owes its origin to men and women and relates to the fullness of youth. It has two bases: union and separation. Of these two, the Erotic Sentiment in union arises from Determinants like the pleasures of the season, the enjoyment of garlands, unguents, ornaments, [the company of] beloved persons, objects [of senses], splendid mansions, going to a garden, and enjoying [oneself] there, seeing [the beloved one], hearing [his or her words], playing and dallying [with him or her]. It should be represented on the stage by Consequents such as clever movement of eyes, eyebrows, glances, soft and delicate movement of limbs, and sweet words and similar other things. Complimentary Psychological States in it do not include fear, indolence, cruelty and disgust.

The Erotic Sentiment in separation should be represented on the stage by Consequents such as, indifference, languor, fear, jealousy, fatigue anxiety, yearning, drowsiness, sleep, dreaming, awakening, illness, insanity, epilepsy, inactivity, fainting, death and other conditions.

The Erotic Sentiment is generally happy, connected with desired objects, enjoyment of seasons, garlands and similar other things, and it relates to [the union of] man and woman. The Erotic Sentiment arises in connection with favourable seasons, garlands, ornaments, enjoyment of the company of beloved ones, music and poetry, and going to the garden and roaming there. It should be represented on the stage by means of composure of the eyes and the face, sweet and smiling words, satisfaction and delight, and graceful movements of limbs.

2. The Comic Sentiment

The Comic (hasya) has as its basis the Psychological State of laughter or Hasa. This is created by Determinants such as, showing unseemly dress or ornament, impudence, greediness, quarrel, defective limb, use of irrelevant words, mentioning of different faults, and similar other things. The Comic Sentiment is to be represented on the stage by Consequents like the throbbing of the lips, the nose and the cheek, opening the eyes wide or contracting them, perspiration, colour of the face, and taking hold of the sides. Complementary Psychological States in it are indolence, dissimulation, drowsiness, sleep, dreaming, insomnia, envy and the like. This (Sentiment) is of two kinds: self-centred and centered in others. When a person himself laughs, it relates to the self-centered (Comic Sentiment), but when he makes others laugh, it (the Comic Sentiments therein) is centered in others.

As one laughs with an exhibition of oddly placed ornaments, uncouth behaviour, words and dress and strange movements of limbs, it is called the Comic Sentiment. As this makes [other] persons laugh by means of his uncouth behaviour, words, movement of the limbs and strange dress, it is also known as Hasya. This Sentiment is mostly to be seen in women and men of the inferior type, and it has six varieties. They are: Slight Smile (smita), Smile (hasita), Gentle Laughter (vihasita), Laughter of Ridicule (upahasita), Vulgar Laughter (apahasita) and Excessive Laughter (atihasita). Two by two they belong respectively to three types of persons – the superior, the middling and the inferior types, making a total of six varieties.

3. The Pathetic Sentiment

The Pathetic (karuna) Sentiment arises from the Psychological State of sorrow or Shoka. It grows from Determinants such as affliction under a curse, separation from dear ones, loss of wealth, death, captivity, flight accidents, from seeing the death of a beloved person, or from hearing something very unpleasant, or any other misfortune. This is to be represented on the stage by means of Consequents such as, shedding tears, lamentation, dryness of the mouth, change of colour, drooping limbs, being out of breath, loss of memory, weeping loudly, fainting, lamenting and bewailing, exerting the body or striking it and the like. Psychological States connected with it are indifference, languor, anxiety, yearning, excitement delusion, fainting, sadness, dejection, illness, inactivity, insanity, epilepsy, fear, indolence, death, paralysis, tremor, change of colour, weeping, loss of voice and the like.

4. The Furious Sentiment

The Furious (raudra) Sentiment has as its basis the Psychological State of anger or Krodh. The Furious Sentiment is full of conflict of arms, and in words, movement and deeds that are terrible and fearful. It owes its origin to Raksasas, Danavas and haughty men. In case of others too, this Sentiment may arise. It is caused by fights, this is created by Determinants, such as anger, rape, abuse, insult, untrue allegation, exorcizing, threatening, revengefulness, jealousy striking, cutting, mutilation and piercing in fights, and tumult of the battle and the like. Its actions are beating, breaking, crushing, fighting, drawing of blood, and similar other deeds. This is to be represented on the stage by means of Consequents, such as red eyes, knitting of eyebrows, defiance, biting of the lips movement of the cheeks, pressing one hand with the other, the release of many missiles, cutting off the head, the trunk and the arms, and the like, Complementary Psychological States in it are presence of mind, determination, energy, indignation, restlessness, fury, perspiration, trembling, choking voice and the like.

5. The Heroic Sentiment

The Heroic (vira) Sentiment relates to the superior type of persons and has energy as its basis or Utsah. This is created by Determinants, such as presence of mind, perseverance, diplomacy, discipline, military strength, aggressiveness, reputation of might, optimism, absence of surprise, influence and the like. It is to be represented on the stage by Consequents, such as firmness, patience, heroism, charity, diplomacy firmness, patience, pride, energy, aggressiveness, influence and censuring words and the like. Complementary Psychological States in it are contentment, judgment, pride, agitation, energy (vega), determination of purpose, indignation, remembrance, and the like.

6. The Terrible Sentiment

Terrible (bhayanaka) Sentiment has as its basis the Psychological State of fear or Bhaya. This is created by Determinants like hideous noise, sight of ghosts, panic and anxiety due to [untimely cry of] jackals and owls, staying in an empty house or forest, sight of death or captivity of dear ones, or news of it, or discussion about it, battle, entering an empty house or forest offending one’s superiors or the king. It is to be represented on the stage by Consequents, such as trembling of the hands and the feet, change of colour, looseness of the limbs, the mouth and the eyes, paralysis of the thighs, looking around with uneasiness, dryness of the drooping mouth, palpitation of the heart, horripilation and loss of voice. Its Complementary Psychological States are paralysis, perspiration, choking voice, trembling, loss of voice, change of colour, fear, stupefaction, dejection, agitation, restlessness, inactivity, fear, epilepsy and death and the like. This Terrible Sentiment should be always represented by tremor of hands and feet, paralysis, shaking of the body, palpitation of the heart, dryness of the lips, the mouth, the palate and the throat.

7. The Odious Sentiment

Odious (bibhatsa) Sentiment has as its basis the Psychological State of disgust or Jugupsa. It is created by Determinants like hearing of unpleasant, offensive, impure and harmful things or seeing them or discussing them, disgusting sight, tasters, smell, touch and sound which cause uneasiness. It is to be represented on the stage by Consequents, such as stopping movement of all the limbs, narrowing down of the mouth, vomiting, spitting, shaking the limbs [in disgust] narrowing down the mouth and the eyes, covering the nose, bending down the head and walking imperceptibly and the like. Psychological States in it are epileptic fit, delusion, agitation, fainting, sickness, death and the like.

8. The Marvelous Sentiment

The Marvelous (adbhuta) Sentiment has as its basis the Psychological State of astonishment or Vismaya. It is created by Determinants, such as sight of heavenly beings or events, attainment of desired objects, entry into a superior mansion, temple, audience hall (sabha), and seven-storied place and [seeing] illusory and magical acts, from words, character, deed and personal beauty. It is to be represented on the stage by Consequents, such as wide opening of eyes, looking with fixed gaze, horripilation, tears, [of joy], perspiration, joy uttering words of approbation, making gifts, crying incessantly ha, ha, ha, waving the end of dhoti or sati, and movement of fingers, joyful shaking of limbs, and the like. Complementary Psychological States in it are weeping, paralysis, perspiration choking voice horripilation, agitation, hurry, inactivity, death and the like.

9. Shanta Rasa

Shanta Rasa is yet a ninth Rasa, but NOT mentioned by Bharata. Still, it has been accepted as one of the rasas during the later periods. Sama or the placid static emotion gives rise to shanta rasa. Nirveda(detachment) is the permanent mood, spiritual knowledge , detachment towards worldly pleasures , going to places of pilgrimage, devotion towards God and teachers etc are the Vibhavas. Yama, Niyama, yogic postures, wearing ascetic garments, kindness towards all beings are the anubhavas. Depression, aversion, knowledge, recollection courage, stupefaction etc are the sanchari bhavas. When all these conditions prevail, Shanta Rasa is produced.