Rasa: the essence of tastes

Are you a sweet tooth? or

You love your spicy food?

My only question for you is - are you ready to include all the tastes in you diet?

Ayurveda places rasa as the essence of life.

The definition of Rasa is

knowledge perceived through Rasanā Indriya 

The Rasana Indriyas are gustatory sensation located at Jihvā (tongue).

The father of Ayurveda Maharishi Charaka says rasa is experienced when a substance comes into contact with the tongue. He further states that the immediate taste perceived of substance is the rasa and the after taste is called anurasa (a sequel to the main rasa).

In Ayurveda, rasa is not just limited to the taste buds, it also creates a certain actions which is linked to flavors experienced by retronasal olfaction and chemesthesis irritation.

So, “rasa” is a complex and wholesome sensory experience of the mouth, nasal passage, taste buds, olfactory and chemesthetic receptors. So, Rasa is considered as a guide to the nourishment of the body.

There are 6 rasas:

• Madhura - Sweet

• Amal - Sour

• Lavana - Salty

• Katy - Pungent

• Tikta - Bitter

• Kashaya - Astringent

An ideal diet according to Ayurveda is to include all the six rasas.

The strength, complexion, immunity of a living system is under the control of diet which in turn is under control of the six rasas. - Sushruta

All the rasa in balance will balance your doshas resulting in balanced life.

Let me know which rasa is missing out in your diet.

Lokam samastham sukhino bhavantu.