Guna meaning in Vedic astrology: sattva, rajas and tamas

Also called: gunas, sattvik, rajasik, tamasik, sattva, rajas, tamas

Definition

Gunas are the three qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas, and in Vedic astrology each planet carries one of them.

P.V.R. Narasimha Rao (PVR) assigns them: the Sun, Moon and Jupiter are sattvik planets; Mercury and Venus are rajasik; Mars and Saturn are tamasik.

In his words, sattva guna means 'purity and truthfulness in one's thoughts and action'; rajo guna 'shows some passion, energy and impurity in thoughts and actions'; tamo guna 'shows a dark, mean and depraved spirit in thoughts and actions'.

PVR also warns against a common misconception: sattva does not mean patience or not hurting others. A warrior who fights without passion or ego can still act in a sattvik way, and the Sun is 'a king of the warrior class and yet he is saattwik'.

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Sources for this entry

P.V.R. Narasimha Rao, Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach

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