RASA - GUNA & LAKSHANA

RASA

• Rasa means taste perceived by the tongue.

• It is one of the important tools for understanding the properties and actions of a dravya (substance).

• Each rasa has its own guṇa (qualities), karma (action), and lakṣaṇa (identifying features).

• There are ṣaḍrasas (six tastes) described in Ayurveda.

ŚLOKA

रसस्तु लिङ्गं तद्वत्यः स्पर्शनं गुण उच्यते।
रसगुणप्रधानेन कर्मसिद्धिः प्रजायते॥    — (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 26/66)

1. MADHURA RASA

• GUṆAS (QUALITIES):

  • गुरु (heavy)

  • शीत (cold)

  • स्निग्ध (unctuous)

• LAKṢAṆAS (CHARACTERISTICS):

  • Pleasant, stable, nourishing to the body.

  • Feels smooth and pleasing on the tongue.

  • Long-lasting and slow to clear from the palate.

• KARMAS (ACTIONS):

  • Balances vāta and pitta.

  • Increases kapha.

  • Promotes dhātu-puṣṭi (tissue nourishment), ojas, and longevity.

  • Heals wounds and soothes mucosa.

• EXAMPLES:

  • Milk, rice, ghee, sugar, dates.

ŚLOKA

गुरुः शीतः स्थिरः स्निग्धः पिच्छिलो मृदुरेव च।
स शुभ्रः श्लक्ष्णमध्यस्थो माधुर्यं स्यात् प्रकुर्वते॥    — (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 26/43)

2. AMLA RASA

• GUṆAS (QUALITIES):

  • गुरु (heavy)

  • उष्ण (hot)

  • स्निग्ध (unctuous)

• LAKṢAṆAS (CHARACTERISTICS):

  • Produces salivation.

  • Sharp, tingling taste.

  • Causes contraction and sets the teeth on edge.

• KARMAS (ACTIONS):

  • Pacifies vāta.

  • Aggravates pitta and kapha.

  • Increases digestion and appetite.

  • Enhances salivation and taste perception.

• EXAMPLES:

  • Tamarind, curd, lemon.

ŚLOKA

रूक्षाम्लमधुरं स्वादु तीव्रोष्णं स्फुटलिङ्गितम्।
सङ्कुचिताक्षिणं सर्पिःस्निग्धं प्रोक्तं स्यादम्लरसं॥   — (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 26/44)

3. LAVAṆA RASA

• GUṆAS (QUALITIES):

  • गुरु (heavy)

  • उष्ण (hot)

  • स्निग्ध (unctuous)

• LAKṢAṆAS (CHARACTERISTICS):

  • Strongly hydrating, moist taste.

  • Promotes salivation.

  • Softens substances and breaks down stiffness.

• KARMAS (ACTIONS):

  • Pacifies vāta.

  • Increases pitta and kapha.

  • Acts as lubricant and improves taste perception.

  • Helps in digestion and clearing obstruction.

• EXAMPLES:

  • Rock salt, sea salt.

ŚLOKA

स्निग्धो द्रवो मृदुः सर्पिर्गुरुस्तिक्तोऽल्पवेदनः।
कफपित्तकरो लवणो वातघ्नो लवणो रसः॥     — (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 26/45)

4. KATU RASA

• GUṆAS (QUALITIES):

  • लघु (light)

  • उष्ण (hot)

  • रूक्ष (dry)

  • तीक्ष्ण (sharp)

• LAKṢAṆAS (CHARACTERISTICS):

  • Strong, irritating taste that may induce cough.

  • Pungent aftertaste, causes tingling.

  • Penetrating, stimulates sensation.

• KARMAS (ACTIONS):

  • Increases vāta and pitta.

  • Decreases kapha.

  • Stimulates digestion and clears āma.

  • Breaks up fat, useful in obesity.

• EXAMPLES:

  • Ginger, garlic, black pepper.

ŚLOKA

कषायोष्णतिक्तकटुतैक्ष्ण्याद्यैरपि तत्समम्।
प्रविष्टं हन्यदुष्णं स्यात् कटुस्तिक्तारसस्तथा॥   — (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 26/46)

5. TIKTA RASA

• GUṆAS (QUALITIES):

  • लघु (light)

  • रूक्ष (dry)

  • शीत (cold)

• LAKṢAṆAS (CHARACTERISTICS):

  • Clean, sharp taste.

  • Removes stickiness.

  • Non-palatable in excess.

  • Causes dryness in the mouth.

• KARMAS (ACTIONS):

  • Increases vāta.

  • Decreases pitta and kapha.

  • Detoxifying, especially for rakta and pitta doṣas.

  • Useful in skin disorders, fever, diabetes.

• EXAMPLES:

  • Neem, bitter gourd, turmeric.

ŚLOKA

शीतं लघु कषायोष्णं कटुकं तिक्तमेव च।
दीपनं चामयो हन्ति रक्तपित्तकफापहम्॥    — (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 26/47)

6. KAṢĀYA RASA

• GUṆAS (QUALITIES):

  • रूक्ष (dry)

  • शीत (cold)

  • लघु (light)

• LAKṢAṆAS (CHARACTERISTICS):

  • Causes dryness in mouth.

  • Produces constriction and roughness.

  • Suppresses salivation.

  • Difficult to identify in mixed forms.

• KARMAS (ACTIONS):

  • Increases vāta.

  • Decreases pitta and kapha.

  • Stops bleeding, helps in diarrhea, wound healing.

  • Absorbent and drying in nature.

• EXAMPLES:

  • Unripe banana, jamun, lotus stem.

ŚLOKA

रूक्षं शीतं लघु प्रोक्तं वायुपित्तकफापहम्।
स्तम्भनं चामयं हन्ति कषायो रसनां शतम्॥   — (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 26/48)