Here is a comprehensive list of attributes (guṇa-dharmas) of the three guṇas — Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, based on Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and Vedānta philosophies, as well as the Bhagavad Gītā:
🟡 SATTVA (सत्त्व) — Purity, Harmony, Light
Core Nature: Clarity, knowledge, peace, and upliftment.
Attributes:
- Lightness (laghutva)
- Clarity (prakāśa)
- Purity (śuddhi)
- Wisdom (jñāna)
- Contentment (tuṣṭi)
- Compassion (dayā)
- Detachment (vairāgya)
- Joyfulness (ānanda)
- Forgiveness (kṣamā)
- Self-control (saṁyama)
- Equanimity (samatva)
- Faith (śraddhā)
- Truthfulness (satya)
- Harmony (samañjasa)
- Modesty (lajjā)
- Devotion (bhakti)
Effects:
- Leads to spiritual progress and liberation.
- Increases discrimination (viveka).
- Makes the mind tranquil and reflective.
🔴 RAJAS (रजस्) — Activity, Passion, Movement
Core Nature: Energy, desire, restlessness, and attachment.
Attributes:
- Activity (pravṛtti)
- Restlessness (aśānti)
- Passion (kāma)
- Desire (icchā)
- Attachment (rāga)
- Ambition (abhilāṣa)
- Egoism (ahaṅkāra)
- Greed (lobha)
- Anxiety (cintā)
- Mental agitation (manodhvani)
- Effort (udyama)
- Pain from striving (duḥkha)
- Competition (spardhā)
- Jealousy (īrṣyā)
- Impatience (akṣamā)
- Pride (mada)
Effects:
- Binds the soul through attachment to actions and results.
- Fuels worldly involvement and emotional turbulence.
⚫ TAMAS (तमस्) — Inertia, Darkness, Obstruction
Core Nature: Heaviness, dullness, ignorance, and obstruction.
Attributes:
- Ignorance (ajñāna)
- Heaviness (gurutva)
- Laziness (ālasya)
- Inertia (jaḍatā)
- Confusion (moha)
- Delusion (bhrānti)
- Negligence (pramāda)
- Sleep (nidrā)
- Sloth (tandrā)
- Resistance to change (anivartanīya)
- Obscuration (āvaraṇa)
- Stubbornness (dr̥ḍhatā in ignorance)
- Depression (śoka)
- Dullness (māndya)
- Fear (bhaya)
- Dependency (āśrayitṛtva)
Effects:
- Binds the soul through ignorance and delusion.
- Causes downward movement and bondage in lower states of existence.
🧭 Summary Comparison
| Attribute | Sattva | Rajas | Tamas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motion | Balance | Overactive | Inert |
| Mental State | Clear, joyful | Agitated, passionate | Dull, sleepy |
| Binding Power | Through knowledge | Through attachment | Through ignorance |
| Effect on Soul | Elevates | Entangles | Deludes |