Nav Ras - The Nine Human Emotions

In ancient Sanskrit literature, there is a mention of nine types of human emotions - called Nav-Rasa.

The same concept is found in the ancient Sangeet Shastras, the Indian classical music literature. 

While studying Indian classical music, I read an authentic Shloka on this topic and then taught it also for many years, which explains these Nav-Rasa - the nine emotions.

    “Shringaar, Haasya, Karuna, Raudra, Veer, Bhyaankah

     Veebhats-o-Adbhut Iti Ashto Rasa ShaantsTathaamatah”

“Passion, happiness, sympathy, Courage, Terror, Fear,

disgust, and confusion - these are the eight Rasas (emotions), and then there is also the peace.”

One day, however, it caught my eye again - and while pondering over it, I found a whole different meaning of this shloka.

I wondered why the author said, “these are the eight Rasas, and then there is peace also.”

Initially, we always thought that eight plus the Shaant Ras makes it nine. But then a question comes to mind - why the author did not include it in the first place and said: “iti Nava Rasa” - that these are the nine Rasas?

Was it for some poetical reason - or is there another deeper, hidden meaning behind it? 

Perhaps the writer was trying to say that the above are the eight emotions that can be experienced with the outside influence- and the Shaant Rasa or Peace is not the same. 

We are always trying to find Shaanti - the peace from the outside. We think of it as similar to the other emotions - that it can also be created from outside influence. 

While in fact, it is nothing but the absence of all other emotions. 

Instead of trying to find peace - perhaps we should try to eliminate the others.

Because - a still and thoughtless mind is always at peace.

                                         ‘Rajan Sachdeva’