Solar System & Navrasas: Self

Awareness Activity
Know your dominating emotions and state of
mind

An activity with multidisciplinary approach to

collaborative method of learning to enable the learners
to learn about their emotions and state of mind through
the study of the solar system, navrasas (nine emotions)

Sunipa Sen
2/11/2017
 Solar System: Self Awareness Game

Solar System

(Self Awareness)- Variation-1

Learning Objectives:

Activity is appropriate for adolescent and adult learners.

Participants appreciate different human characteristics

(For H i g h School Education and College Education/Vocational Education) blend awareness

on emotional intelligence with the formal curricular learning: an instance of blending two
or more subjects or disciplines that are part of the curriculum for Application Based
Learning. The participants learn about the solar system, the Navarasas of the nine emotions
and how they can metaphorically assimilate the knowledge of the planets and the nine
emotions to be aware of themselves and their dominant emotional trait.
Participants learn about the characteristics of the nine planets of the solar system and
metaphorically assimilate them with their personality traits.
Participants learn about the navrasas and identify their dominant emotions.
Participants learn to analyse each other
Participants learn to understand each other and be aware of their own abilities and
personality trait.
Participants learn teamwork through collaborative learning.

Materials (Props) Needed:

Modeling (Chart) papers

Marker pens of different colours

Scribbling pads for each participant

Writing pens for each participant

Two placards with Words START and STOP written on either of them.

Colour powder of nine different colours for the nine planets and orange colour for Sun

All the participants to get together and draw on the entire surface area of the floor, the nine
planets around the sun using the colour chalk or chalk powder

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Notes for the Facilitator

Number of participants: 10 to 15.

Duration: 90 minutes (1.5 hours).

Location: preferably an open air (outdoor) activity. Preferred location can be an open
basketball or volley ball court with cemented floor; courtyard or large terrace. The activity
can also be conducted at a Science Centre or Theatre (Refer to the post: Significance of
Science Centre and Planetarium in Learning and Development)
Divide the participants in nine groups of two participants each.

Take a printout of A Facts about the Nine Planets (For all the participant.)

Take a printout of B Characteristics of the Nine Planets (For all the participants.)

Take a printout of C the behavioural (Emotional) characteristics of Humans

according to Indian Theatre Philosophy (Naatya Shastra)
Facilitate a discussion among the participants how to study about the nine planets of the
solar system and based on the characteristics how to identify each planet with a particular
emotion or rasa from among the navrasas or nine emotions.
Then assign a planet to each of the nine teams and ask the teams to identify the rasa or
emotion the planet signifies based on its characteristic features described in handouts A, B
and C . Then they are to fill the Planet-Rasa (Emotion/Mental State) Matrix Form. Allot them
10 minutes and coordinate the activity using START and STOP placards.

Then have the teams draw a Large diagram of the Solar System made with the help of the
colour powders (viz. Chalk or chalk powder) to cover the entire floor space of the venue for
the activity.

Then have each team positions itself beside its patron planet and explains why it signifies one
of the nine emotions or rasas. Coordinate the activity with the START and STOP placards to
ensure that it is completed within 15 minutes.

Then have the participants fill up My Personality: Fact Sheet for themselves and for the
other participants too. Coordinate the activity using the START and STOP placards and to
ensure that it is completed within 15 minutes.

Facilitate the participants to discuss each Personality Fact Sheet the fellow participants need
to substantiate their inputs on a participants Fact Sheet through specific experience in the
form of events or anecdotes.

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Feb. 13 Solar System: Self Awareness Game

Based on the inputs from other participants and own observation of oneself, each
participant will then identify the planet which best represents the participants personality or
dominant emotion.

Participant will then use the three sheets of modeling paper to draw the impression of
three planets (Note: it should not be the exact picture of the planet) according to their
defined personality:

1. Planet One (Emotion): Participant has defined oneself as in the Fact Sheet.

2. Planet Two (Emotion): Participant has been defined as by other participants.

3. Planet Three (Emotion/Mental State): The planet, whose personality type the
participant aspires to develop into.
Facilitator will coordinate this activity using the START and STOP placards and ensure that
the participants complete the activity within 10 minutes.

Each participant then will present each of the three emotions through mono-acting each
of the three emotions. Facilitator and other particpants can comment and discussion
p e r f o r m a n c e of each and every participant providing valuable suggestions on self
development. Facilitator can coordinate the activity using the START and STOP placards
and ensure the activity is completed within 30 minutes.

Props will be given to every participant before beginning the activity.

The Start Stop placards will be used by the facilitators to begin or end the activity.

Variation 2 of the Activity:

Activity can also be performed as part of distance learning programe.

This can be effectively executed using Internet, Skype, Video conference, White Boards,
Video Snippets and links to various website providing necessary information on the Nine
Planets of the Solar System as well as the Navrasas.
Participants can first use the reference links to study about the planets and the Navrasas.
Through Skype group discussion or video conference, the team activity can be executed as
detailed above.
Electronic or online forms can be provided to the participants to fill based on online chat or
call between the members of each team.
The members can then display their three posters and also enact the dominant personality
traits depicting or acting events of their life.
The participants, under the supervision of the facilitator, can discuss each others dominant
personality traits points on self development.
.

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Feb. 13 Solar System: Self Awareness Game

Variation 3 of the Activity

This activity can also be developed into a mobile game or an Edutainment based ELearning
Activity. The activity can be simulation based as a self-learning activity for a single learner or in
the form of simulation based collaborative activity for group learning.

For Reference:

On the Solar System: The Nine Planets:

The facilitator can help the participants refer to the following links to learn more about the nine
planets and sync the characteristics with the Nine Emotional Traits (Nav Rasas):
http://nineplanets.org/
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-neptune/en/
http://space-facts.com/

On the Nav Rasas:

Navrasa: The Yoga of Nine Emotions: http://www.rasas.info/
http://www.the-emotions.com/basic-emotions.htm
http://www.damthemovie.com/navarasa.php
Navrasa by Leela Samson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2RFe8fcMcY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAZs0p8Kl_o&t=25s
https://www.mygov.in/sites/default/files/mygov_145095304729153344.pdf

The facilitator can make necessary changes in the Sample Handouts A, B and C on the Nine
Planets and Navrasa.

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Feb. 13 Solar System: Self Awareness Game

A. FACTS ABOUT THE NINE PLANETS

Mercury

Distance from Sun: 36 million miles

Diameter: 3,032 miles
Average Temperature: 333 F
Surface: Silicate rock
Revolution: 88 days
Day: 175.94 days
Number of moons: 0
Neat Fact: Closest planet to the Sun.

Venus

Distance from Sun: 67 million miles

Diameter: 7,521 miles
Average Temperature: 867 F
Surface: Silicate rock
Revolution: 224.7 days
Day: 116.75 days
Number of moons: 0
Neat Fact: Rotates in the opposite direction from the other planets.

Earth
Distance from Sun: 93 million miles
Diameter: 7,926 miles
Average Temperature: 59 F
Surface: Water, basalt, and granite rock
Revolution: 365.25 days
Day: 24 hours
Number of moons: 1
Neat Fact: Travels around the Sun at a speed of >66,000 miles per hour.

Mars

Distance from Sun: 142 million miles

Diameter: 4,213 miles
Average Temperature: -81 F
Surface: iron-rich basaltic rich

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Revolution: 687 days

Day: 24 hours 39 minutes 35 seconds
Number of moons: 2
Neat Fact: The largest volcano in the Solar System is on Mars. It is called Olympus Mons.

Jupiter

Distance from Sun: 484 million miles

Diameter: 88,732 miles
Average Temperature: -162 F
Surface: Liquid hydrogen
Revolution: 11.9 years
Day: 9 hours 55 minutes 30 seconds
Number of moons: 63
Neat Fact: The four largest moons were found by Galileo in 1601; the others were
discovered in 2003.

Saturn
Distance from Sun: 887 million miles
Diameter: 74,975 miles
Average Temperature: -218 F
Surface: Liquid hydrogen
Revolution: 29.5 years
Day: 10 hours 39 minutes 23 seconds
Number of moons: 47
Neat Fact: Galileo discovered the rings around Saturn with a simple early telescope.

Uranus

Distance from Sun: 1.8 billion miles

Diameter: 31,763 miles
Average Temperature: -323 F
Surface: Liquid hydrogen and helium
Revolution: 84 years
Day: 17 hours 14 minutes 23 seconds
Number of moons: 27
Neat Fact: Its north pole stays dark for 42 years at a time.

Neptune

Distance from Sun: 2.8 billion miles

Diameter: 30,603 miles
Average Temperature: -330 F
Surface: Liquid hydrogen and helium
Revolution: 164.8 years
Day: 16 days 6 hours 37 minutes

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Number of moons: 13
Neat Fact: Neptune can have winds up to 2400 miles per second.

Pluto

Distance from Sun: 3.6 billion miles

Diameter: 1,485 miles
Average Temperature: -369 F
Surface: Rock and frozen gases
Revolution: 247.7 years
Day: 6 days 9 hours 17 minutes
Number of moons: 3
Neat Fact: Some scientists do not consider Pluto to be an actual planet.

More Planet Facts

Largest Planet: Jupiter

Smallest Planet: Pluto
Fasting Orbiting Planet: Mercury
Slowest Orbiting Planet: Pluto
Hottest Planet: Venus
Coldest Planet: Pluto
Shortest Day: Jupiter
Longest Day: Mercury

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B.
Characteristics of the Nine Planets
Terrestrial Planets: Planets that resemble Earth in its physical characteristics: Mercury, Venus,
Earth and Mars.

1. Mercury: (Roman Mythology: God of Commerce, travel and thievery. Greek Mythology:
Hermes: Messenger of Gods) It is the fastest as it travels around the sun in only 88 days. It
has a weird elliptical orbit around the sun. It has frequent volcanic activities. It is the second
hottest planet. It has very little atmosphere so it is exposed to extreme heat, cold, sun
radiations and meteoric hits (since the meteors do not burn up while travelling through the
thin layer of atmosphere around mercury. Traces of water have been found on Mercury. Its
temperature is between 90K and 700K.

2. Venus: (Greek: Aphrodite and Roman: Goddess of Love and Beauty) It is the slowest to
travel around the Sun. Similar to structure and size to planet Earth. It is the hottest planet in
the solar system. It has thick yellow clouds made of sulphuric acid. It has high volcanic
activities. It has dense atmosphere contributing to Greenhouse Effect on the planet. It is
the only planet in the solar system, which rotates anti-clockwise around the sun. It is
considered to be the brightest of all planets in the solar system (when viewed from planet
Earth). No water has been found on Venus. It has temperature of about 400 degrees Celsius.

3. Earth: Also known as the ocean planet has abundance of water. It is the densest of all
planets. Free oxygen available in its atmosphere, water and stable temperature makes it
the only planet supporting life forms. (Noteworthy: Interaction of Earth and Moon slows
down its speed to travel around the Sun). One satellite

4. Mars: (Greek: Ares and Roman Mythology: God of War) Also known as the Red Planet
has active volcanic activities. It has volatile atmosphere as it is always covered by dust

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storm caused by its atmosphere. Water has been found on Mars. It has very thin atmosphere and
magnetic fields exist in some regions of the planet. It is a relatively cold and dry planet. It has two
satellites.

Jovian Planets: These planets are all larger and more massive than the Earth. Since they rotate faster,
they are more flattened at the poles than are the terrestrial planets. They are less dense than the earth, as
they are composed of gaseous matter, predominantly hydrogen. They are: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune.

5. Jupiter: (aka Jove Greek mythology = Zeus and also in Roman mythology = King of Gods and Son of
Cronus (Saturn)) Largest planet of the Solar System. It is made of 90% hydrogen and 10% helium. Water
exists deep below the surface of the planet. Its atmosphere is similar to that of Sun. It has very strong
magnetic fields; along with its atmosphere form the rings around the planet. Its three rings are said to be
the debris of its three unformed moons. These are visible when backlit by Sun. 16 satellites. The Red Spots
on the planet are atmospheric storms raging for more than 300 Earth years. It has nearly 50 satellites
(moons).

6. Saturn: (Roman: God of Agriculture; Greek God: Cronus, Father of Zeus) Planet mostly made of
hydrogen 75% and helium 25%. It has nine rings circling around it. These rings are mostly of water ice. Its
atmosphere is made of super fast winds. It is least dense of all the planets. It radiates more energy into
space than it receives from the Sun. It has significant magnetic field and its satellites along with its rings
are within its magnetosphere. It has eighteen satellites.

7. Uranus: (Greek God, Father of Cronus) It is the third largest in diameter. It has the brightest clouds
and 11 rings. It rotates backwards on its axis. It takes 84 years to revolve around the Sun. That is the
reason why seasons on the planet last for more than 20 years. It is made of Hydrogen, helium, Methane,
Ammonia and water. Due to methane gas and traces of water it appears blue-green in colour. It has
nearly horizontal rotational axis. Its magnetic fields are more powerful than that of the Earth. It has twenty
seven known moons.

8. Neptune: (Roman mythology and Greek Mythology (Poseidon) = Sea God) It revolves around the
Sun in 165 years. Neptune's composition is probably similar to Uranus': various "ices" and rock with
about 15% hydrogen and a little helium. Like Uranus, but unlike Jupiter and Saturn, it may not have
a distinct internal layering but rather to be more or less uniform in composition. But there is most
likely a small core (about the mass of the Earth) of rocky material. Its atmosphere is mostly
hydrogen and helium with a small amount of methane.

Neptune's blue color is largely the result of absorption of red light by methane in the atmosphere but
there is some additional as-yet-unidentified chromophore which gives the clouds their rich blue tint.

Like a typical gas planet, Neptune has rapid winds confined to bands of latitude and large storms or
vortices. Neptune's winds are the fastest in the solar system, reaching 2000 km/hour.

9. Pluto: (Roman mythology and Greek Mythology (Hades) = God of the underworld) It is tiny, cold and
very distant. It takes 248 years to travel around the Sun. It is mostly covered with methane and nitrogen

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frost. It rotates backwards on its axis. It has elliptical orbit, therefore it experiences winter when it is
farthest away from the Sun. It has atmosphere (nitrogen, carbon dioxide and methane), but little or no
magnetic field. It has three moons and due to
its elliptical orbit, it is said to be closer to Sun than Neptune. Its orbit path intersects that of
Neptune but there is no danger of the two planets colliding with each other.

C.Navarasa
Denotes an essential mental state and is the dominant emotional theme of a work of art or
the primary feeling that is evoked in the person that views, reads or hears such a work.

Although the concept of rasa is fundamental to many forms of Indian art including dance,
music, Indian musical theatre and literature, the treatment, interpretation, usage and actual
performance of a particular rasa differs greatly between different styles and schools of
abhinaya (dramatics), and the huge regional differences even within one style.

The Rasas

Each rasa, according to Ntyasstra, has a presiding deity and a specific colour.
There are 4 pairs of rasas. For instance, Hasya arises out of Sringara. The Aura of a
frightened person is black,

Abbr. Rasa Meaning/Significance Colour

Sngr Sringara Love, Attractiveness Light green

Hsya Hasya Laughter, mirth. comedy White
Rdra Raudra Fury, Anger Red
Krna Karuna Compassion, mercy, sympathy Grey
Bbhs Bibhatsa Disgust, aversion Dark Blue
Bhnk Bhayaanak Fearful, horror, terror Black
Veer Veer Heroic Yellowish
Adbt Adbhut Wonder, Amazement Yellow
Shnt Shaant Peace, tranquillity Light Blue

In addition to the nine Rasas, two more appeared later (esp. in literature): Additional rasas:

Vtsalya () Parental Love

Bhakti () Spiritual Devotion

A Rasa is the developed realisable state of a permanent mood, which is called Sthayi
Bhava(Permanent mood)

The Rasas in the Performing Arts

Indian performing arts, a rasa is an emotion inspired in an audience by a performer. They

are described by Bharata Muni in the Ntyasstra, an ancient work of dramatic theory.
Rasas are created by bhavas: the gestures and facial expressions of the actors. Expressing
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Rasa in classical Indian dance form is referred to as Rasa-abhinaya. The Ntyasstra

carefully delineates the bhavas used to create each rasa.

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The theory of rasas still forms the aesthetic underpinning of all Indian classical dance and
theatre, such as Bharatanatyam,kathak,Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Kudiyattam, Kathakali
and others.

The Bhavas

The Natyasastra identifies eight rasas with eight corresponding Bhava (mood):

Rati (Love)
Hasya (Mirth)
Soka (Sorrow) Karuna Rasa
Krodha(Anger)
Utsaha (Energy) Veer Rasa
Bhaya (Terror)
Jugupsa (Disgust)
Vismaya (Astonishment)

Bhava (Cause: By Actor) Rasa (Effect: on Audience or Viewer)

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D Planet-Rasa(Emotions/Mental State) Matrix

Sngr Hsya Rdra Krna Bhbs Bhnk Veer Adbt Shnt Combination

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Juptr

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto

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E
Name: Date:

I am Planet: For my dominant emotion is:

I like Planet: For its emotion

can help me
(Reason)

Participant Name Planet Emotion Preferred planet Emotion

Dominating Emotion: Suggested

Emotion:

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