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 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 recognised within ourselves.
Beauty, laughter, compassion, courage, anger, fear, disgust, wonder and peace- together they form a spectrum of our emotional world.
For centuries, these emotional essences have informed Indian art, dance, music, theatre, poetry and storytelling, reflecting the many emotional landscapes we move through as human beings.
Navarasa Anthology reimagines the nine rasas through a series of animal forms, each handcrafted in paper and brought together as a single body of work. Each sculpture embodies a different emotional state, while together they reflect the richness and complexity of human experience.
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