Understanding The 3
Gunas
The essential elements of Vedic Astrology
3 Types of Gunas
There are 3 types of Gunas which exist on this plain regardless of
understanding of astrology. The three gunas are listed below.
Sawta
Rajas
Tamas
Each planet, zodiac sign and nakshatra are ruled by one of these elements.
These elements are just as important as the 5 elements we know in nature
as (Air, Water, Fire, Earth & Ether) One must have a good knowledge what
these gunas mean. When you see a planet in astrology your brain will
automatically sign a guna to it; same goes for when the eye observes the
zodiac sign or nakshatra.
What are Gunas?
Gunas are the glue that binds us on this plain which is also known as bho
mandala. These are the three elements which keeps us attracted and
conecting with nature. There is no good or bad guna they just are. Just like
day and night, one is neither good neither bad, but they just exist in this
element called life.
Gunas exist on the same path as astrology. The entire spiritual realm relies
on these gunas to exist and to understand God. These elements exist in
nature, since astrology is derived from nature they become part of this
divine science.
Think of Gunas as the three jackets given to us so we can reflect our sense
to the world. We might reflect who we are by wearing either the black,
brown or white jacket. But each living entity on this planet has to wear a
jacket. The ones who don’t simply escape the cycle of death and rebirth.
Sattwa Guna
Sattwa stands for something which is pure, untouchable,
unchangeable and transparent as a glass of water. This guna can
be related to the supreme being Vishnu. The pure form of existence.
This guna shows us the world as is, what is the true nature of this
world and how we must drink the clear water to understand it. This
guna is not God’s favorite guna. It just simply shows us God in it’s
purest form and the most real. This is the light bulb which shows
exactly what’s in the room regardless of the fact the room might be
dirty, filthy or immaculate.
This Guna shows the seed principle of living without any B.S. added
by someone else. Whatever the nature and universe has to show, it
shows itself through the “clear” glass of Sattwa.
Rajas Guna
Rajas is the quality of Bhrama. Bhrama is the creator of physical
universe. The quality of Rajas works on the same plain. It’s all about
creation, creativity and achieving goals. This is a outward guna
which is about expanding one’s horizon and expanding creation
around them. This guna brings about tendency to build things which
can be enjoyed by others. A tree is a sattwa existence of God. It is
what it is, it cannot be a mountain, lake or river. Tree is a tree. The
Rajas guna of tree is to give shade, fruits for appetite and to climb it
as a way to be active and adventure seeking. This is the two gunas
seen in once entity of God. Enjoyment is not evil, it’s not bad, it’s
one of the nature of what everything is.
Tamas Guna
Tamas is the quality related to Shiva: The God of destruction, death and endings.
Tamas is not the guna to runaway from because without it the first two will not be
complete. There needs to be ending to start something fresh. We die so we can be
recycled and reborn.
The most noticeable quality of tamas is laziness, darkness, decomposing, ignorance
and to show us what we are afraid of. No one wants to see a dead body, limbs on
street, floods, destruction, murder and killing. A tree is a tree, it gives fruits, shade
and pleasure but if the tree falls on you it will also kill you instantly, or the tree could
have a snake wrapped around it without you knowing and it bits you. Tamas shows
us what occurs when we have illusion about things in life, as in a tree will never harm
me; but it can.
Tamas is a quality that works on the notion of ending, and cutting things out. A
surgeon with tamas quality will not hesitate to cut the leg instead of saving it or
preserving it. The illusion tamas brings is not showing the clear glass but to have the
glass with dirt, insects and baby snake so you do not fool yourself thinking God will
be there to save you at each moment. In a way it’s not illusion, it’s simply a way to
show how nature works. Nature can give pleasure, pain and show you God in all its
form.
Gunas Relation to Astrology
The quality of three gunas can be found in basic elements of astrology. Each planet, zodiac
zodiac sign including
nakshatra possess such quality. In astrology there 12 zodiac signs,
signs, 9 planets of (Vedic Astrology) and 27
Nakshatras (constellations) working behind the scene of a zodiac sign.
Zodiac Signs with their respective gunas:
gunas:
Sattwa Guna:
Guna: Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius and Pisces
Rajas Guna:
Guna: Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Libra
Tamas Guna:
Guna: Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Aquarius
Planets with their respective gunas:
gunas:
Sattawa guna:
guna: Sun, Moon, Jupiter
Rajas guna:
guna: Venus, Mercury
Tamas guna:
guna: Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu
Nakshatra: 27 nakskhtra in total. 1ST 9 are Rajas, the next 9 are Tamas,
Tamas, the last 9 are Sattawa.
Sattawa.
We can discuss nakshatra gunas during our nakshatra lesson. It’
It’s essential you remember these gunas like you
remember your alphabets. Anytime you see a chart you should automatically
automatically know what initiate quality a planet
posses when you look at it.
Calculation Misconception
Be careful of what software you use to calculate your sidereal charts.
charts. Many big names big
companies do not keep up with the coding and the software starts to slip in it’
it’s calculation of
degrees and minutes. This can change not only the Nakshatra but also your divisional charts.
I personally use the only software I have ever trusted Prashara Light.
The second choice for me would be Shri Jyotish Starr.
Any app you download you must match it with these two software.
I also use Lahiri Ayanamsa.
Ayanamsa. What is an Ayanamsa?
Ayanamsa? It’It’s a way to calculate the celestial patterns of
stars. The angle by which we study the monition of the planets. Many astrologers follow many
times of “Ayanamsa”
Ayanamsa”.
Lahiri/Chitra Paksha
B.V. Raman
K.P.
Pushya Pakasha
Fragan Bradley
Shri Yukteswar
Mula
You are free to follow any of these as long as you can get accurate
accurate results and help somone.
somone. In
this course I will be using Lahiri only.
