Qualities (2): Rasa (Taste)

Rasa (taste) is the second quality. It is a special quality. According to Praśastapāda rasa (taste) is perceived by tongue.^[1] Viśvanātha also defines rasa (taste) as that which is apprehended by the tongue. The taste of atoms of water is eternal but all other taste is non-eternal.^[2] Similar definition is forwarded by Annaṃbhaṭṭa also. In his view also quality is known as rasa (taste) which is perceived by tongue.^[3] The word guṇa is added in this definition to avoid the over-pervasion to rasatva. Tastehood or the generality of taste is perceived by tongue, so there is over-pervasion. However, with the addition of the word guṇa this over-pervasion can be avoided, tastehood being different from quality.^[4] Śivāditya makes this definition more clearly by stating that the quality of rasa possesses the generic character rasatva and is perceptible by tongue.^[5] Taste is of six kinds, viz., sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent and bitter. The substratums of rasa are earth and water. All the six varieties of rasa subsist in earth but water has only the sweet variety.^[6] Viśvanātha states that rasa is both eternal and non-enteral. The rasa of the atom of water is eternal, while others are non-eternal.^[7]