Nava Rasa - India trip Summer 2023.

 People familiar with Indian art and culture will know Nava rasa.  Navarasa means nine emotions; rasa means an emotional state of mind.

 

Will use Nava Rasa as my framework, to elaborate on my recent vacation to  India.

 

The first rasa is Shringara, which is often translated as "love" or "romance." It is used to convey feelings of intimacy, passion, and desire. Going on vacation, it brings our family together. At home in the US, we are distributed across 4000 sq ft home. But on vacation, we find our family members just within our reach. No calling /texting on the phone, just addressing their name, will find them next to you. The kids rarely sit with us here, but when on vacation, they fight or take turns to sit or lie down next to us… It is a feeling of bonding. Love it. 

Another community view that gave me a surprising shock, was the number of women coming out of their houses to work and build their careers to support their families. I am just comparing India now and 15/20 years back. Found women working in every role - Restaurants, Gas stations, supermarkets.. everywhere. I saw more women on two-wheelers, either to work or take their kids to after-school activities. Love the woman empowerment increasing in Chennai.

 

The second rasa is Hasya, which means "laughter" or "humor." It is used to convey a sense of joy, playfulness, and lightheartedness. 

My daughter had a lot of fun feeding the stray dogs on the street. She will stand from the 2nd-floor balcony and feed them. Also, with several crows playing ‘Catch it’ – she threw a piece of food/snack, and the crows will catch and eat them. They are not afraid of humans. 

Another serious issue but made me laugh. My Co-sister, when traveling in their car as a passenger, does not like to wear a seat belt. But the AI built-in reminds her to wear the belt with an annoying sound. To silence it, she will buckle the seat belt, but not secure herself.  Sad!

 

The third rasa is Karuna, which means "compassion" or "sorrow." Karuna is used to evoke feelings of empathy, sadness, and sympathy. Kind-heartedness or compassion (karuna),

I like to call out my brother’s wife Uma here. She just took care of him as my mother would take care of me. My brother provided the food menu for each day, and she prepared them meticulously. Kudos to her!  Also, a shout out to my co-sister ‘Anu akka’ for providing the idli and dosa batter for 3 weeks for me to prepare the breakfast for my family, with less elbow grease. 

 

The fourth rasa is Raudra, which means "anger" or "rage." Raudra is used to convey feelings of aggression, frustration, and intensity. One thing all will be mad at is the Traffic in Chennai. You need to keep a buffer of 45 to 60 mins any time you are traveling. Else you will be late for your appointments. Understand the Govt must work on all these infrastructures, but there is no traffic rule/regulation. E.g., if you are turning, you stop, look, and then turn when safe. But there you honk, and you have the right of way! 

 

The fifth rasa is Veera, which means "valor" or "heroism." Veera is used to convey a sense of bravery, courage, and strength. Want to highlight my dad, with 1 eye affected with Glaucoma and hearing deficiency came out with us on a trip to Hyderabad and Shridi. I was more worried about dropping him back, home safe and sound after the trip. He does not want us to walk beside him and guide him with the steps. He wanted me to walk in front of him. Based on the way I walk climbing up/down steps - he will follow. I believe he learned this art, as he was aging…. With his hearing deficiency, he will never say ‘I did not hear it’, he will say ‘I cannot understand it’ - so I had to repeat what I was trying to convey. Senior citizen personality - yes need to learn it, I know I will be there very soon!  

 

The sixth rasa is Bhayanaka, which means "fear" or "terror." Bhayanaka is used to evoke feelings of anxiety, terror, and horror. What is more fearful, than your kid getting sick during 2 weeks of his vacation? My son left the US with stomach pain and consulted the doctor here in the US, Came with off-the-counter medicine. But the pain was so acute - we ended up doing an endoscopy for him there. The doctor in India – a GI specialist was 82 yrs old. On just pressing my son’s tummy asked for Endoscopy. My son was jumping up and down, without any prior lab test or examination, and he was asking for Endoscopy. But finally, he agreed and nothing serious. Everything was normal, except for some Bacterial infection. Prescribed a course of medicine for a week. But Hari being Hari took it for 1 day only. But later he was asked to complete the same course of medicines, when he came back to the US, by the doctors here. The GI doctor shared a tip, most of the GI issues are due to - hurry/worry and hot curry. 

 

The seventh rasa is Bibhatsa, which means "disgust" or "revulsion." Bibhatsa is used to convey feelings of aversion, nausea, and repulsion. Who does not like to eat delicious, appetizing food? I had a great aversion to food whenever I travel to India. This started with the 2018 trip. That is a sign of aging too…  But as Michelle Obama in her book ‘The light we carry’ say - Balance is needed for Health. She did not qualify the health with mental, physical, or emotional bcos she knew that this statement applies to all 3. People who I met in my close circle - I just shared only 1 mantra ‘Eat Less’. Sometimes if my family went out without me, I text them ‘Eat Less’. Yes, less is more. Once in a day, you can have a perfect meal, but not all 3 times in a day - BF, lunch, and dinner. I asked them to take 1 meal light - replace one of the meals in a day with Fruits. There is a good advantage when you eat fruits - no need to cook them. Not sure how many of them would listen, will just request out of 21 meals in a week, pls have fruit at least one time. And sometimes people eat more and have immediate medicine to rectify - just like a journal entry. Eat one extra Gulab jamoon, and increase the insulin dosage that day…. Pathetic.  

 

The eighth rasa is Adbhuta, which means "wonder" or "amazement." Adbhuta is used to evoke feelings of awe, surprise, and fascination. What fascinated me was the sibling rivalry and hidden love. I know we all will agree to it… Best do not get in between siblings - morning they will quarrel and the same day evening they will party… Brothers and sisters are each other’s superheroes with super-healing powers; consider yourself lucky to have them

 

I found Chennai a little greener than what I saw 15/20 years back. Yes, there is a lot of vegetation everywhere, believe this is supported by the Government too. I see a lot of people growing plants in their limited space and pots available to them. Urban trees /plants are city coolers! Great Going in becoming more Greener – which will help in offsetting global warming effect.

 

The ninth and final rasa is Shanta, which means "peace" or "tranquility." Shanta is used to convey a sense of calmness, serenity, and relaxation. What else can give us peace, than visiting our Family Deity and the temple of our favorite god (Ishta Devata). This was the only goal for our India visit. With all the blessings from above, it went well. Since my wedding, I had visited my In-laws' side family Deity many times, but my husband and my kids had never been to my dad’s side Family Deity. Planned it and fulfilled it too. Thinking of the visits to these temples gives a lot of peace and calmness to our souls. Also, I shave my head for religious reasons.

 

Navarasa is a rich and complex concept that plays a key role in Indian art and culture. The nine rasas - Shringara, Hasya, Karuna, Raudra, Veera, Bhayanaka, Bibhatsa, Adbhuta, and Shanta - are used to convey a wide range of emotions and moods in different artistic contexts. Will cherish these super, sweet, and soft moments, until my next visit to my motherland!