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Prakriti (Matter) and Guna

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The eternal atman is entrapped within successive

Concepts

temporary bodies made of matter (prakriti). Everything

Key Points

Key Concepts

made of matter undergoes three stages of existence

Matter is inert, temporary, and

Introduction

(1) it is created, (2) it remains for some time and, (3) it

unconscious.

Atman: The Self

is inevitably destroyed. These three phases

It is composed of three qualities

Reincarnation and Samsara

correspond to the three gunas qualities or modes of

(gunas) corresponding to creation,

Karma

material nature. Passion (rajas) creates, goodness

sustenance, and destruction. They

Prakriti: Matter

(sattva) sustains and ignorance (tamas) destroys.

are:

Maya: Illusion

These three are ranked hierarchically, with ignorance

sattva (goodness)

Moksha: Liberation

considered the lowest and goodness the highest. Each

pure, elevating,

God: Perceived in Three

member of the Hindu trimurti representsone of the

enlightening

Ways

three gunas.

rajas (passion)

God: Two Main

Understandings
Sanatana Dharma
Varnashrama Dharma
One Goal, Different Paths
Scripture and Guru
Kala: Time
Creation

Core Values

Practice
Lifestyle
Tradition
Extras

motivates us to create,

All material phenomena can be analysed in terms of

acquire and enjoy

the gunas. According to the soul's preference for a

tamas (ignorance)

particular mode, it takes on a corresponding body. A

dirty, degrading,

person influenced mainly by goodness will be elevated

deluding, and

to the heavenly planets at death. Those largely in

passion stay in human society, and those infected with
ignorance enter into the lower species. Only pure
souls, transcending even sattva guna, attain liberation
(see moksha) and escape the entanglement of matter.

destructive
Each guna is controlled by one of
three main deities Vishnu,
Brahma, and Shiva respectively.

A Useful Analogy
The three primary colours yellow, red and blue
From these three pure colours red, yellow, and blue a whole
palette can be created.
By mixing three primary colours we obtain the three secondary
colours orange, green, and purple. By further mixing we
create an almost infinite range, such as we see in a colour
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).

Related Stories
Three Men Enter the Forest (STO-107)
How we perceive things according to the gunas.

The Story of Brighu Muni (STO-108)

The qualities associated with gunas: the trimurti.

Quote
"There's not one atom of yon earth
But once was living man;
Nor the minutest drop of rain,
That hangeth in its thinnest cloud,
But flowed in human veins."
Percy Shelley

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

Related Values and Issues

All behaviour can be analysed according to this threefold guna model and can be applied to
many personal, social, moral and health issues. Especially relevant might be:
the environment
health and diet
lifestyle
sustainability (sattva)
sex impulse (rajas)
drug abuse (tamas)

Personal Reflection
Can we identify our own behaviour in terms of these gunas? Do we notice different qualities
in, say, the different times of day?

Related Content
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:
1. Earth
2. Water
3. Fire
4. Air
5. Ether

Scriptural Passages
"From the mode of goodness, real knowledge develops; from the mode of passion, greed
develops; and from the mode of ignorance develops foolishness, madness and illusion."
Bhagavad-gita 14.17

See also: Bhagavad-gita 14.520.

Also many verses in the 17th and 18th chapters.

Meaning and Purpose

Why do people act and respond differently?
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"Heart of Hinduism" is Copyright: ISKCON Educational Services, 2004