Gunathraya refers to the operating principles of Prakriti .Sattva guna
(Sentient force), Rajo guna (mutative force) and Tamo guna (static force) the
forces constituting Prakriti. ‘Siva Saktiatmakam Brahma’, means that
consciousness and power together constitute Brahma. In Nirguna Brahma the
forces of Sattva, Raja and Tama are dormant and not active. There the Supreme consciousness alone is felt and experienced by the purified individual soul. But
Saguna Brhama is formed by the combination of three forces taking the seed of
creation from the Supreme consciousness. We can see innumerous forms and
things around the world due to the permutation and combination of these three
forces. The influence of three forces is present in human beings as well as in other
living and non-living beings.This is well discussed in this chapter.
Sattvaguna refers to the good qualities such as love and affection,
consideration for others, moral qualities, devotion to God etc. It is the purest form
of Prakriti white and transparent. Rajoguna is characterised by power, material
pleasures, getting control over others, amassing wealth and fame, the colour
ascribed to it is red. Tamo guna (static force) refers to the mean propensities
common to man and animals and the colour ascribed to it is black. The influence
of these three forces is present in every human mind. A study of these forces helps
one for the psychoanalysis of the individuals. The human mind is generally
classified into Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasika, according to the intensity of the
influence of these forces.
One who goes beyond the influence of these three gunas only can enjoy
the Divine bliss.
Sri Krisna said: I shall tell you of the supreme wisdom, the highest of all wisdoms. The sages who knew it reached the highest perfection and got liberated from the worldly existence.
Those who, practicing this wisdom, fixing their mind on Me, need not worry about their birth after entering into My being; at the time of the cosmic dawn or death at the cosmic night. Once they attain Me they have no return thereafter. Rebirth and death are the state of those who have not attained perfection. At the time of Pralaya all those created beings would merge in to the ParaPrakriti, the primodial Prakriti, at the time of cosmic night and that they all would take birth in the beginning of the cosmic day (Prabhava).
Arjuna, My Paraprakriti is responsible for the creation of all beings and is the womb of all creatures. I place my seed in the womb of Paraprakriti. Paraprakriti is the state of subtle Prakriti, the un-manifest Prakriti and is the source of life. Paraprakriti receiving the seed of Purusa creates the world. Aparaprakriti is the visible world everywhere. Everything created is the Aparaprakriti.
All things are created by the Mother Nature taking the seed from Me being the farther of the created.
The operative principles of Prakriti; Sattva, raja and tama qualities bind the soul to the body. As the unit soul is bound by Prakriti by its power the soul loses freedom and becomes a slave of sorrow and happiness. In the course of time there arises the desire for the liberation of the soul and it finds out a suitable method and that the individual starts doing right actions for freeing the soul. Slowly the soul gets released from the bondages of Prakriti and escapes into the Divine Purusa.
Arjuna, the nature of Sattva guna is pure and bright. But it creates the desire for the wellbeing and knowledge. The Sattva guna also binds the soul. It is said that Sattvaguna is the purest form of Prakriti and is with white light. Mind becomes pure when Sattvaguna is predominant in one. Sattvika are those whose minds are dominated by Sattvaguna and are good by not performing wrong deeds. But they are interested in their wellbeing and also for getting knowledge. As their minds are purified they are very near to the Divine. If they perform, right action taking the ideation of the Supreme without the desire for results; will soon attain liberation.
Arjuna, the nature of Rajo guna (mutative force) increases once sensual desires, passion and attachments. It binds a soul through attachments and desire for fruits of action. Power, wealth, fame, sensual enjoyments, aristocratic bend of mind etc. are marked by the influence of Rajoguna. The term Raja (king) is related to Rajo guna.
Ignorance is generated from Tamoguna. The soul is deluded mainly by sensual enjoyments. The Tamoguna dominated persons think that their body is everything and even the atma is the body. Tamoguna induces people to do wrong actions. More sleep, eror, idleness etc. are the symptoms of Tamoguna. Animal instincts become predominant with the nature of Tamoguna. Most of the criminals are dominated by Tamoguna.Tamoguna binds the soul to animal instincts and one becomes illcultured. Once a friend told if a man and a woman dominatd byTamoguna get married their relationship would be that of a healthy cow and a strong bull. They would be animal like.
O Bharata, Sattvaguna binds a soul to happiness and wellbeing, Rajo guna to actions and Tamoguna to wrong actions and idleness. These three forces of Prakriti are present in everybody but in varying degree of their predominance. These forces are necessary for the existence of everybody. A pure mind, right action, good sleep etc. are there in one dominated by the force of Sattvaguna. Eagerness to do right action and to strive for real knowledge are the qualities of Sattvaguna.
Arjuna, sometimes Sattvaguna dominates Rajoguna and Tamoguna and sometimes Rajoguna dominates Sattvaguna and Tamoguna and sometimes Tamoguna may dominate Sattva guna and Rajo guna. Though these three forces exist in everybody in varying degree of their influence by action one can improve the influence of one of these forces i.e. one can cause to improve the influence of Sattvaguna or Rajoguna or Tamoguna by appropriate actions. The influence, in one person, of these forces goes on changing every now and then.
When one’s sensory and motor organs get brightened with light and discernment, it is taken for granted that in him there is the dominance of Sattvaguna. Sattvaguna is characterized by brightness. One can develop the influence of Sattva guna by virtuous action and right ideation of the Supreme.
When one’s mind is predominated by Rajo guna; craving for wealth and sensual desires increase. He will always try for the satisfaction of his strong drives or desires.
Arjuna, in whose mind Tamoguna is predominant, ignorance, darkness, idleness and the tendency of committing criminal offences are intensified. An individual predominant with Tamoguna will not be ready to perform even his rightful duties. He may raise lame excuses for not performing his duties or actions. Some hold that they are not ready to work under anybody, while they may not take initiative and show enthusiasm to any work independently. Such people are sensuous and wish to be lazy and comfortable at the expense of others.
When one person dies while his mind is dominated by Sattvaguna he will attain the world of the men of noble deeds, i.e. the heavens (ethereal world).
It is stated that if a person’s mind while leaving his body is predominant with Rajoguna; his next birth would be among the men of those busy with actions for amassing wealth and power. If one dies while Tamoguna is predominant he would take the next birth as a stupid creature such as insect or beast.
The result of Sattvika action is harmless though they are interested in their wellbeing. But the result of Rajasika action is strong mental torture and sorrow and that of thamasika action is ignorance and darkness.
From Sattvaguna knowledge, Rajoguna craving and from Tamoguna ignorance, wrong action and reduced sensibility of mind will take place.
Those who dominated by Sattvaguna move towards the higher planes of knowledge but those with Rajoguna predominance stay in the middle, while those with Tamoguna predominance go down.
He who knows that the doer of all actions is Prakriti characterized by three forces and knows that the Supreme self is indifferent and beyond the preview of Prakriti and also knows that the atma is only a witnessing entity; attains Me.
When the soul becomes free from the grip of the three forces of Prakriti it also becomes free from birth and death, happiness and sorrow and ultimately attains a state of immortality and eternal bliss.
Arjuna asked: O Lord, what is the status of one beyond gunas? What are his rituals? How does he win the influence of the gunas?
Sri Krisna said: Arjuna, he who does not hate light and activity or long for when they are absent; is said to be beyond the influence of three forces of Prakriti ; Sattva, Raja and Tama.
He who is not disturbed by the influence of the three forces and knows that he moves within the gunas and tries to attain the Supreme does not fall from the higher state of mind. A person who knows that the forces are that of the Prakriti and that the atma is beyond the gunas shall not have a down fall. He who is established in the Supreme and considers sorrow and happiness equally and also for whom soil, stone and gold are alike, who is wise and not affected by fame or ignominy and also sees friends and enemies equally and has surrendered his doer ship of action to God;is said to be beyond the influence of the three gunas.
He who fixing his mind on Me, worships Me with full devotion is said to have overcome the influence of forces of Prakriti.
I am the origin and the ground of the imperishable Brahma and the source of eternal virtue, immortality and bliss.