Bhava can be loosely translated as ‘feeling’ or ‘emotion’ in Hindu art and dance. It is latent within human beings. Bharata says that a bhava denotes a state of being constituted by permanent or transitory emotions.
Bhava (s) are manifest by a set of vibhavas (determinants). Vibhavas
are the agents, objects or situations that cause the bhavas. The visible
physical changes caused by the vibhavas are called anubhavas (consequents). Shivering
and change of complexion are examples of anubhavas.
Sthayi bhavas (durable emotional states) are the abiding emotions.
Bharata lists eight such bhavas namely rati (love), hasya (laughter), shoka
(sorrow), krodha (anger), utsaha (enthusiasm), bhaya (fear), jugupsa (disgust)
and Vismaya (wonder).
Sanchari or Vyabhichari Bhavas (transitory emotional states)
appear and disappear in relation to the sthayi bhavas. Bharata lists 33 such
bhavas. Chinta (anxiety), nirveda (despondency), shanka (apprehension), marana
(death) are some transitory emotional states.
Dhananjaya, in his Dasarupa, compares sthayi bhava to the
ocean. Like the ocean, the static emotion takes in all the other bhavas in it,
but maintains its originality and essence.
The emotions are clearly visible even in the case of
painting and sculpture. It is the curve of a line or a stroke of a brush or the
blending of colors which convey emotions.
In the case of sculptures, through proper chiseling, emotions
can be produced. Both in painting and sculpture, the artist must be mature ad
proficient. He should make the invisible content visible to the onlooker.
In the case of music, it is melody and rhythm which create emotions,
unlike in dance and drama. The other fine arts demand creativity and
imagination in the artist as well as the viewer.