153. ABHINAVAGUPAT'S THEORY OF ÆSTHETICS 173

ABHINAVAGUPAT'S THEORY OF ÆSTHETICS 173

Abhinava on Santa in a separate section.

(IV) Abhinavagupta maintains that the nnmber of Rasas is only nine. Of these, four are the principal and the rest are subordinate. Those Rasas are principal, which are due to basic mental states, which lead to any one of the four recognised aims of human life. Thus, Srngara has Rati as its basic mental state, which leads to the attainment of Kama and consequently to Dharma and artha; Raudra springs from Krodha and leads to Artha; Vīra is based upon Utsāha and leads to Dharma and Artha; Santa is based upon Tattvajnana and leads to Mokşa. These four, therefore, are the principal Rasas. Though occasionally they may be found to occupy a subor- dinate position, yet it is an undeniable fact that there are dramas, in which each of them is separately found to be the principal. As Hasa etc. do not independently lead to any Purușärtha, but do so only as parts of Rati etc., they are recognised to be subordinate. 1

Abhinavagupta admits only eight Sthayibhavas. For, they are such mental states that no human being can be without them; they are basic and do not presuppose any other mental state for their being; they are natural; we cannot question "why do they rise ? e. g. we can question, why is a person tired; but can we similarly question why is he enthusiastic ?

He definitely asserts that there are no more than nine Rasas. These are the only Rasas fit for exposition. For, they are related to objectives of human life and are extremely interesting to human mind. He admits Rasas to be nine, not because this number was recognised in the literary circle,2 to which he belonged, but because no

1. A, Bh., Vol. I., 283-4. 2. A. Bh., Vol. I., 341.