Navarasa : An Anthology
A sculptural interpretation of the nine rasas of Indian aesthetics.
Year - 2026
Dimensions - H 27 x W 27 x D 6 Inches (Unframed)
Material - 9 Paper Sculptures (Acid-free paper, acrylic finish)
Format- Wall Mounted
Status- SOLD, Private Commission, India
In the Indian aesthetic tradition, the Navarasas are considered the nine fundamental emotional essences that shape human experience. First articulated in the Natyashastra, these rasas are not merely emotions to be expressed, but states to be experienced, contemplated, and ultimately recognised within ourselves.
Beauty, laughter, compassion, courage, anger, fear, disgust, wonder, and peace - together they form the complete spectrum of our inner world.
For centuries, these emotional essences have informed Indian art, dance, music, theatre, poetry, and storytelling, reminding us that to be human is to move through many emotional landscapes, each equally essential to our experience.
Navarasa Anthology reimagines these nine rasas through a series of animal forms, each handcrafted in paper and brought together as a single body of work. Every sculpture becomes an embodiment of an emotional state, while the collection as a whole forms a meditation on the richness and complexity of being human.
A journey through nine emotions.
A reflection on what it means to be fully human.
Details of Individual Rasas
Shanta (Peace / Tranquility)- Dove
The gentle stillness that remains when the mind finds its centre.
Dimensions- H-21.5, W-12.5, D-8.5 cm
Karuna (Compassion) - Elephant
The rasa of empathy and tenderness- the ability to recognise suffering and respond with kindness and care.
Dimensions- H-20.5, W-23, D -9 cms
Veera (Courage) - Stallion
The quiet strength to rise, endure, and act with unwavering conviction.
Dimensions- H-25, W-20, D -8.5 cms
Hasya (Laughter) - Chimpanzee
The playful rasa of humour, lightness, and the joy that opens the heart.
Dimensions- H-25, W-20, D -8.5 cms
Shringara (Beauty) - Gazelle
The quiet strength to rise, endure, and act with unwavering conviction.
Dimensions- H-29, W-26, D -11.5 cms
Adhbhuta (Wonder) - Peacock
The rasa of awe and curiosity, where the familiar becomes luminous and new.
Dimensions- H-25, W-11, D -8.5 cms
Bhayanaka (Fear) - Cobra
The rasa of fear and alertness, awakening instinct, caution, and inner vigilance.
Dimensions- H-18, W-15, D -15 cms
Raudra (Anger) - Tiger
The fierce rasa of intensity, power, and the force that rises against disorder.
Dimensions- H-19.5, W-20, D -10 cms
Bhibhatsa (Disgust) - Hyena
The rasa of aversion, confronting what unsettles us and revealing what we instinctively turn away from.
Dimensions- H-18, W-22, D -11 cms
The anthology is brought together in a deep shadow-box frame, preserving each sculpture as an individual presence while holding them as one complete work.