Planets : Rasas - KATU and TIKTA / Shri PVR ji

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Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevay

 

Priya Guru Shri Narasimha ji,

Sadar Pranam.

 

The Katu Rasa - lorded by SUN - has been interpretted as pungent or

the taste of Onion, ginger, pepper in 'VA: An Int. Approach'. Mars

has been said to lord over the bitter taste as that of Karela, Neem

etc. I have read the same interpretation at SJC at two other places

at least.

Here I have a difference of opinion. The taste Katu is the 'Bitter'

taste as that of Karela, Neem etc. The taste that is pungent is that

of Chillies- particularly red one, Onion, pepper etc. However the

taste of ginger is certainly lorded by SUN under KATU, alongwith the

taste of Neem and Karela.

Why I say this - First, I have learnt this from the notes of my

grandfather who was an Ayurvedacharya and Vaidya (expired 1958 at the

age of 93+) and verbally from my grandma and father - family

knowledge. Katu rasa is supposed to be that of Karela, Kutaja, Neem

etc. and these things always have medicinal qualities, capable of

propitiating Pitta-dosha. The Tikta or Teekshna Rasa on the other

hand is represented by Pepper, Chillie, Onion and Mustard etc. which

increase Pitta.

Secondly, I have followed these meanings in past with correct

interpretation about tastes and prashna.

Thirdly, and most logically, Onion etc. are tamasik and therefore

should be lorded by MARS and not SUN which is essentially Sattvik.

I understand that Sun is universal healer and very few diseases can

be ascribed to it except fevers. Mars on the contrary, plays part in

various diseases as its true aggressive nature.

The Sanskrita-Hindi and Sanskrita-English dictionaries do not give

the precise meaning and equate KATU and Tikta rasas, except the one

named 'Sanskrita Shabdarth Kaustubh' - Chaukhamba Prakashan, by

Chaturvedi Dwarika Prasad and Tarineesh Jha, Varanasi which has

described the words properly.

Submitted for kind consideration please.

 

Shri Krishnarpanamastu.

With Kind Regards,

Himanshu Mohan