The GATE Grind

GATE 2024 XH2 (English) – Question 56

Critical Theories and Intellectual Traditions · Indian Literary and Aesthetic Traditions: Rasa, dhvani, vakrokti, alamkara, riti, aucitya and other indigenous frameworks · 2 marks · Multiple select

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. Rasa is a form of categorizing a text by its genre.
  2. According to Abhinavagupta, Rasa is best experienced collectively and in unison with others.
  3. Rasa is purely an aesthetic emotion, not to be confused with real-life emotions.
  4. Rasa is evoked only by performances like drama and dance.

Practise this question in The GATE Grind →

Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (B) According to Abhinavagupta, Rasa is best experienced collectively and in unison with others.; (C) Rasa is purely an aesthetic emotion, not to be confused with real-life emotions.

Explanation

For Abhinavagupta rasa is an aesthetic, universalised experience of the spectators who share it (B) and is distinct from ordinary emotion (C). It is not a genre classification, and poetry also evokes rasa.