Bhaav Series - Part 1 of 15: Bhaav – Language of Our Emotions

Have you ever caught yourself smiling during a quiet morning, or feeling unexpectedly heavy after a busy day—even though “nothing happened”?
These subtle shifts in our emotional landscape happen all the time. Yet, we rarely stop to understand them.

In our fast-paced lives, we experience countless emotions—joy, stress, love, irritation, calm, motivation, sadness—but we often move on without engaging with them. We’re taught to suppress, manage, or move past feelings rather than explore them.

But Indian philosophy invites us to take a different approach. It introduces us to a powerful and profound concept: Bhaav.

Understanding Bhaav – More Than Just a Feeling

“Bhaav” (भाव) in Sanskrit means emotion, sentiment, or more deeply, our inner emotional state. Unlike fleeting moods, Bhaav is a core vibration that runs beneath our thoughts, words, and actions.

It’s the silent force that shapes how we:

• interpret situations

• relate to others

• find meaning in our experiences

• and ultimately, how we evolve as human beings

In Indian aesthetics (called Ras theory), Bhaav is the raw emotional experience. When it is felt deeply and expressed with awareness, it matures into Ras - the essence, flavour, or emotional "juice" of an experience.

So, for instance:

• The pride you feel after cracking a tough problem isn’t just pride—it’s your Bhaav of accomplishment coming alive

• The calm you feel while sipping tea on your balcony isn’t ordinary—it’s a Bhaav of peace that your body and mind are expressing

• The frustration when a to-do keeps getting pushed isn’t random—it’s your Bhaav of restlessness or resistance

These experiences are not distractions—they are data points of the soul. They are messengers.

Bhaav is Not About Judging Emotions

One of the most liberating aspects of Indian emotional philosophy is that it doesn’t divide emotions into “good” or “bad.”

There is no shame in sadness, no guilt in anger, and no pedestal for happiness. Each emotion has a place. Each one has a lesson.

This perspective teaches us that instead of avoiding or controlling emotions, we should try to experience them consciously and express them harmoniously.

This creates emotional balance—what modern psychology calls emotional intelligence, but what our ancient texts simply call self-awareness or swabhava jñana (knowledge of one’s true nature).

Bhaav is Not Just for Artists or Saints

Often, we think of emotions as something only poets, dancers, or spiritual seekers need to be in touch with. But that’s far from the truth.

Bhaav is for:

• the entrepreneur trying to build a meaningful business

• the manager navigating difficult conversations at work

• the mother balancing her family’s needs with her own

• the student feeling overwhelmed by expectations

• the leader wanting to inspire without burning out

In every space—career, relationships, creativity, leadership, spirituality—your Bhaav determines the energy you bring.

To ignore it is to disconnect from your own compass. To honour it is to walk your path with clarity and grace.

Why This Series?

I am starting this Bhaav Series to revisit the emotional wisdom rooted in Indian culture—and to bring it into the context of modern life.

Over the next few posts, we’ll explore 9 core Bhaavs—the emotional foundations described in the Natyashastra and Indian aesthetics:

1. Sringaar (Joy, Love, Beauty)

2. Veer (Courage, Confidence)

3. Karuna (Compassion, Sadness)

4. Raudra (Anger, Passion)

5. Hasya (Laughter, Lightness)

6. Bhayanak (Fear, Vulnerability)

7. Bibhatsya (Disgust, Rejection)

8. Adbhut (Wonder, Curiosity)

9. Shaant (Peace, Stillness)

We’ll see how these Bhaavs show up in our daily routines, professional lives, relationships, and self-growth—and how we can learn to be more aware, expressive, and aligned.

Coming Up Next:

“Joy in Routine – Discovering Sringaar in Our Professional Life”

Can there be beauty in your work emails? Can filling an Excel sheet become an act of joy? In the next post, we explore how Sringaar—the Bhaav of love and beauty—can be found in the most ordinary routines, and how it can bring a sense of flow, creativity, and connection to your professional life.

Until then, try this:

🧘‍♂️ Pause.
☕ Feel.
📝 Reflect.

Ask yourself: What Bhaav am I carrying today?
You don’t need to change it. Just notice it.

Because that awareness alone is the first step towards emotional mastery.