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The Sanskrit word guna (guṇa) has the basic meaning of "string" or "a single thread or strand of a cord or twine". In more abstract uses, it may mean "a subdivision, species, kind", and generally "quality".
In Classical literature
In Classical literature (e.g. Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana), a Guna is an attribute of the 5 elements (each with an associated organ):
- 1. ether has sound (shabda) for its Guna (and the ear for its organ).
- 2. the air has tangibility and sound for its Gunas (and the skin for its organ).
- 3. fire has shape or colour, tangibility, and sound for its Gunas (and the eye for its organ).
- 4. water has flavour, shape, tangibility, and sound for its Gunas (and the tongue for its organ).
- 5. earth has all preceding Gunas, plus its own peculiar Guna of smell (and the nose for its organ).
In Samkhya philosophy
In Samkhya philosophy a Guna is one of three "tendencies" or "mental states": tamas, sattva, and rajas.
These categories have become a common means of categorizing behavior and natural phenomena in Hindu philosophy, and also in Ayurvedic medicine, as a system to assess conditions and diets.
- Sattva (originally "being, existence, entity") has been translated to mean balance, order, or purity. This typically implies that a person with this quality has a positive or even orderly state of mind. Such a persion is psychologically kind, calm, alert and thoughtful. Compare also the bodhisattvas in Buddhism.
- Rajas (originally "atmosphere, air, firmament") has been translated to mean overactivity or turmoil: "too active". A person with this mental state has a mind that is ever active, in turmoil, or in a chaotic state. That person is constantly seeking diversions and essentially has difficulty focusing their attention for long durations of time. (Rajas should not be confused with a raja.)
- Tamas (originally "darkness", "obscurity") has been translated to mean "too inactive", negative, lethargic, dull, or slow. Usually it is associated with darkness or ignorance. A tamas quality also can imply that a person has a self-destructive or entropic state of mind. That person is constantly pursuing destructive activities.
In Nyaya philosophy
In Nyaya philosophy, twenty-four Gunas are enumerated as properties or characteristics of all created things.
- 1. rūpa, shape, colour;
- 2. rasa, savour;
- 3. gandha, odour;
- 4. sparśa, tangibility;
- 5. saṃkhyā, number;
- 6. parimāṇa, dimension;
- 7. pṛthaktva, severalty;
- 8. saṃyoga, conjunction;
- 9. vibhāga, disjunction;
- 10. paratva, remoteness;
- 11. aparatva, proximity;
- 12. gurutva, weight;
- 13. dravatva, fluidity;
- 14. sneha, viscidity;
- 15. shabda, sound;
- 16. buddhi or jñāna, understanding or knowledge;
- 17. sukha, pleasure;
- 18. duḥkha, pain;
- 19. icchā, desire;
- 20. dveṣa, aversion;
- 21. prayatna, effort;
- 22. dharma, merit or virtue;
- 23. adharma, demerit;
- 24. saṃskāra, the self-reproductive quality;
In grammar
In Sanskrit grammar, guṇa is a technical term referring to the vowels a, e, o, i.e. the full grade ablaut stages (see Ashtadhyayi).
References
- The Ayurveda Encyclopedia by Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha
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