In previous blog we have discussed about the effect of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas Gunas over human being.
In this blog I’ll explain about the things and their relation with the three Gunas.. Let us first come with color analogy.
Analogy of Color with Sattva, Rajas & Tamas
The three primary colors are – yellow, red and blue. From these three pure colors – red, yellow, and blue – a whole palette can be created.
By mixing three primary colors we obtain the three secondary colors – orange, green, and purple. By further mixing we create an almost infinite range, such as we see in a color chart for paints. Similarly, from the interaction of the three gunas there emerges the entire range of life forms.
On a colour chart, there is a section consisting of various reds, one
largely of yellows, another mainly of blues. Similarly, human society is
mainly influenced by passion (the red section).
The residents of the "higher planets" live mainly under the influence of goodness(represented by yellow), and the animal species are principally under the jurisdiction of ignorance (the blue section). Just as there is diversity within each section of colours, similarly within human society the three gunas create a range of individuals, each with distinct characteristics according to their specific mix of gunas. Some will be relatively more influenced by goodness (yellow), others by passion (red), and the remainder by the quality of ignorance (blue).
The colours are also linked with three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Blue, Green, White and light colours are
considered Sattvic. Rajasic colours are the bright fiery reds, oranges and pinks and the inert, tamasic colours are all dark browns, navy, blue, green and black. The dark colours are best avoided in a house, as they tend to sap your energy and cause depression. It is preferable to use softer, lighter and more sattvic colours throughout the residence.
Nakshatras and Gunas - this article explain in detail about the relationship between Nakshatras and Sattva, Rajas and Tamas Gunas.
Information about the gunas of the planets
If we mention the secondary level first and the tertiary level, second we can make the following summary.
Ketu is Rajas- Rajas
Venus is Rajas-Tamas
Sun is Rajas-Sattva
Moon is Tamas-Rajas
Mars is Tamas-Tamas
Rahu is Tamas-Sattva
Jupiter is Sattva-Rajas
Saturn is Sattva-Tamas
Mercury is Sattva-Sattva
Now we can draw some interesting conclusions about the character of the planets. I will give some examples of this.
Venus is a planet that has to do with love and lust. To get what we want we move into action (Rajas). The result of this action is that we are going deeper into material life (Tamas).
The Sun is a fiery planet (Rajas), however it represents the soul in the chart and has therefore Sattva characteristics.
Jupiter too is a fiery planet (Rajas), but again has Sattva characteristics because is the planet of the Guru and inner wisdom.
Saturn is a spiritual planet, because it is the planet of Sannyas (renouncing the world). Nevertheless, as we all know Saturn represents matter and therefore also Tamas.
Rahu has the same energies as Saturn only in a different order. It brings us deep into material life (Tamas). However, it only is doing this so we are able to outlive everything that this earth has to offer and then liberate ourselves (Sattva).
It may come as a surprise to some people that Mercury turns out to be the most spiritual planet. However, one thing that distinguishes us from animals, is our capacity to think and evaluate ourselves. Mercury as an airy planet can liberate us from this earth.
It is not a planet of materiality (Tamas) and neither does it like hard work and action (Rajas). It thinks about Tamas and Rajas instead of going into it.
It is not my intention to give all the answers, but merely to give the reader a system and to represent a way of thinking, which the reader can easily apply himself. After these examples, it will probably not be too hard to meditate about the character of Ketu, Mars and the Moon.
In the system of sankhya, matter is divided into different elements, both subtle and gross. The five gross elements,Corresponding to the five senses, are:
• Earth
• Water
• Fire
• Air
• Ether/Space (Akash)
Related Practices
The social system of varnashrama-dharma is based on an understanding of how matter conditions the soul. Some claim that the original system enabled mobility between the social classes (varnas) and was based not on birth but on personal character and inclination for a particular type of work. The members of the four varnas, such as the kshatriyas, were ascertained by the predominant influence of one or more gunas, as shown below:
Brahmanas (priests, teachers and intellectuals) – goodness
Kshatriyas (police, soldiers and administrators) – passion & goodness
Vaishyas (farmers, traders and merchants) – passion & ignorance
Shudras (workers, labourers and artisans) – ignorance
Environment and Three Gunas
It is noticed that Sattva guna is in affluence in the morning time. Rajas have control over the day time and the Tamas is the ruler of night.
Hence in India we have been suggested to wake up in the morning and do all yogic practices to get more advantage of naturally present Sattva guna .
Interestingly, CO2 (carbon dioxide) is also a factor which increases Tamas Guna. Have you ever noticed Yawning process?? With the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness. When you feel sleepiness or boring, you start yawning. It means when oxygen level decreases in our blood and CO2 level increased, our mind give instructions to nervous system to fulfill decreased Oxygen level and hence our mouth get opened wide to inhale more oxygen.
This factor has also a major role in increasing Tamas Guna in the night. Since CO2 level increases in the night because of every plant/Trees stop photosynthesis and start releasing CO2.
So we can conclude that all carbonated drinks (Soft Drinks) play role in increasing Tamas Guna.
In the next blog I'll list food which comes under Sattva , Rajas and Tamas category.
In this blog I’ll explain about the things and their relation with the three Gunas.. Let us first come with color analogy.
Analogy of Color with Sattva, Rajas & Tamas
The three primary colors are – yellow, red and blue. From these three pure colors – red, yellow, and blue – a whole palette can be created.
By mixing three primary colors we obtain the three secondary colors – orange, green, and purple. By further mixing we create an almost infinite range, such as we see in a color chart for paints. Similarly, from the interaction of the three gunas there emerges the entire range of life forms.
On a colour chart, there is a section consisting of various reds, one
largely of yellows, another mainly of blues. Similarly, human society is
mainly influenced by passion (the red section). The residents of the "higher planets" live mainly under the influence of goodness(represented by yellow), and the animal species are principally under the jurisdiction of ignorance (the blue section). Just as there is diversity within each section of colours, similarly within human society the three gunas create a range of individuals, each with distinct characteristics according to their specific mix of gunas. Some will be relatively more influenced by goodness (yellow), others by passion (red), and the remainder by the quality of ignorance (blue).
The colours are also linked with three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Blue, Green, White and light colours are
considered Sattvic. Rajasic colours are the bright fiery reds, oranges and pinks and the inert, tamasic colours are all dark browns, navy, blue, green and black. The dark colours are best avoided in a house, as they tend to sap your energy and cause depression. It is preferable to use softer, lighter and more sattvic colours throughout the residence.
Nakshatras and Gunas - this article explain in detail about the relationship between Nakshatras and Sattva, Rajas and Tamas Gunas.
Information about the gunas of the planets
If we mention the secondary level first and the tertiary level, second we can make the following summary.
Ketu is Rajas- Rajas
Venus is Rajas-Tamas
Sun is Rajas-Sattva
Moon is Tamas-Rajas
Mars is Tamas-Tamas
Rahu is Tamas-Sattva
Jupiter is Sattva-Rajas
Saturn is Sattva-Tamas
Mercury is Sattva-Sattva
Now we can draw some interesting conclusions about the character of the planets. I will give some examples of this.
Venus is a planet that has to do with love and lust. To get what we want we move into action (Rajas). The result of this action is that we are going deeper into material life (Tamas).
The Sun is a fiery planet (Rajas), however it represents the soul in the chart and has therefore Sattva characteristics.
Jupiter too is a fiery planet (Rajas), but again has Sattva characteristics because is the planet of the Guru and inner wisdom.
Saturn is a spiritual planet, because it is the planet of Sannyas (renouncing the world). Nevertheless, as we all know Saturn represents matter and therefore also Tamas.
Rahu has the same energies as Saturn only in a different order. It brings us deep into material life (Tamas). However, it only is doing this so we are able to outlive everything that this earth has to offer and then liberate ourselves (Sattva).
It may come as a surprise to some people that Mercury turns out to be the most spiritual planet. However, one thing that distinguishes us from animals, is our capacity to think and evaluate ourselves. Mercury as an airy planet can liberate us from this earth.
It is not a planet of materiality (Tamas) and neither does it like hard work and action (Rajas). It thinks about Tamas and Rajas instead of going into it.
It is not my intention to give all the answers, but merely to give the reader a system and to represent a way of thinking, which the reader can easily apply himself. After these examples, it will probably not be too hard to meditate about the character of Ketu, Mars and the Moon.
In the system of sankhya, matter is divided into different elements, both subtle and gross. The five gross elements,Corresponding to the five senses, are:
• Earth
• Water
• Fire
• Air
• Ether/Space (Akash)
The Traigunya and the Pancamahabhutas
1: The pure quality Sattva is more related with Akash the space element.
2: The mixed quality Rajas is more related with Vayu the air element.
3: The pure mixed qualities Sattva Rajas are more related with Agni the fire element.
4: The pure lesser qualities Sattva Tamas are more related with Jala the water element.
5: The lesser quality Tamas is more related with Pruthvi the earth element.
Related Practices
The social system of varnashrama-dharma is based on an understanding of how matter conditions the soul. Some claim that the original system enabled mobility between the social classes (varnas) and was based not on birth but on personal character and inclination for a particular type of work. The members of the four varnas, such as the kshatriyas, were ascertained by the predominant influence of one or more gunas, as shown below:
Brahmanas (priests, teachers and intellectuals) – goodness
Kshatriyas (police, soldiers and administrators) – passion & goodness
Vaishyas (farmers, traders and merchants) – passion & ignorance
Shudras (workers, labourers and artisans) – ignorance
Environment and Three Gunas
It is noticed that Sattva guna is in affluence in the morning time. Rajas have control over the day time and the Tamas is the ruler of night.
Hence in India we have been suggested to wake up in the morning and do all yogic practices to get more advantage of naturally present Sattva guna .
Interestingly, CO2 (carbon dioxide) is also a factor which increases Tamas Guna. Have you ever noticed Yawning process?? With the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness. When you feel sleepiness or boring, you start yawning. It means when oxygen level decreases in our blood and CO2 level increased, our mind give instructions to nervous system to fulfill decreased Oxygen level and hence our mouth get opened wide to inhale more oxygen.
This factor has also a major role in increasing Tamas Guna in the night. Since CO2 level increases in the night because of every plant/Trees stop photosynthesis and start releasing CO2.
So we can conclude that all carbonated drinks (Soft Drinks) play role in increasing Tamas Guna.
In the next blog I'll list food which comes under Sattva , Rajas and Tamas category.
Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteHere's another way the 3 gunas manifest in life:
Sattva - Childhood (Innocence, Purity)
Rajas - Adulthood (Passion, Dynamism)
Tamas - Old Age (Slowness, Inertia)