Rajas

The term 'rajas' literally means the active quality of mind. It is among the triguna(three fundamental qualities). [A.S.Sutra Sthana 1/29] It is characterized by enthusiasm, activity, and interest. Intellectual constitution, bio categorization, or body-mind categorization is a fundamental concept in ayurveda. Every individual has unique physical, physiological, and psychological attributes.Ayurveda provides a structure to help understand an individual's mental composition. The differences among the individuals can be easily understood by understanding the concept of shariraand manasprakriti(somatic and psychic composition). The concept of the manas in ayurveda includes details of psychology, mind, and mental health. Characteristics of mana (mind) are three in number viz. sattva, rajas, and tamas. These three represent consciousness, activity, and inertia, respectively. When any one of these three is found dominant in an individual, that reflects the individual's nature. In ShreemadbhagwatGeeta, three character qualitiesor the triguna are described in detail. Sattva, rajas, and tamas are described as trigunaof prakriti

1. Sattva guna is the trait of intelligence or light, which is the trait of complete stability.
2. Rajas guna represents action, motion or ignorance.
3. Tamas guna represents inactivity and darkness.

These three initial characteristics work in unison,forming all the substances in this universe. Rajas guna is responsible for the activity of any object in the universe[Su.Sa.ShariraSthana1/9] andSankhya ideology. It represents action, creation, and passion. Hence it is one of the attributes of the mind.[Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.SutraSthana1/57][Cha.Sa.SutraSthana8/5]
This article describes the concept of rajas guna and its importance in healthcare practices.

Contributors

Section/Chapter	Concepts / Rajas
Authors	Bhojani M.K.1, Jain Rahul1, Joglekar Aishwarya 2
Reviewer	Basisht G.3
Editor	Deole Y.S.4
Affiliations	1 Department of Kriya Sharira, A.I.I.A. , New Delhi, India 2 Department of Samhita Siddhanta, D. Y. Patil college of Ayurved and research centre, Pune, India 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 4 Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabhvidya Nagar, Anand, Gujarat, India
Correspondence email	meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of publication:	March 02, 2023
DOI	10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.130

Synonyms

Shabdakalpadruma mentions multiple synonyms of the term Raja such as action, mutation, excitement. Some other meaning of the word Rajas in other contexts are Paraga (pollens), Strikusuma (menstrual blood), Dhuli(dust) etc., change, creation, generation, and passion. In the present context, rajas as guna of prakriti(as mentioned in Sankhya Philosophy and Bhagwadgeeta) and mana (according to ayurveda) is considered.

Etymology

The word rajas is acquired from two terms, 'ranja' (means to be attached or devoted to) and 'asunnalopah' (something) , rajas is bound with the sansara, it refers to attachments, desires, greed and who doesn't have satisfaction in life.
Rajas guna is the quality representing activity, variability and urgency, second of the three guna.[ Monnier Williams dictionary]

Characteristics of rajas guna

Rajas gunais chala(mobile), upasthambaka (supporting/encouraging),pravrittikara in nature(explained in detail on the part of the philosophical aspect of rajas guna) [Sankhyakarika]

• Rajas dominant individuals are bound with doshas, active, greedy, roshaamsha(anger/wrath)??[Cha.Sa.ShariraSthana4/36].
• Rajas dominant individuals have qualities such as cunningness, unhappiness (dukha), selfishness, cruelty, self-appraisal, anger,and desirousness. [Su.Sa.ShariraSthanaSharira. 1/18]
• AshtangaSangraha has considered sattva,rajas,tamasas mahaguna (A.S.Sutra Sthana 1/29)

Description of rajas dominance in Shreemad Bhagavad Geeta:

Rajas dominant individuals are bound with samsara (the indefinitely repeated cycles of birth,misery and death), attachments, desires, and greed and don't have life satisfaction. [ShreemadbhagwatGeeta, Gunatrayavibhaga Yoga, 14/7-17]
Following are the characters of rajas guna:

1. Ragatmaka: leads to attachment to material happiness and sexual urges
2. Trishnasamudbhava: derived from excessive desire and ambition
3. Karmasangenabadhnatijeevam:binds the soul through attachment to actions
4. Lobha:greediness
5. Pravritti: restlessness
6. Arambha:commencement of different karma or actions
7. Karmanamashamaspruha: Excessively driven towards
8. Dukkha:cause of sorrow and unhappiness

Rajas guna and panchamahabhuta relations

Vayu mahabhutais dominant in rajas guna,withchalatva(movement)as common quality. Agni mahabhutais dominant in sattva and rajas guna.They havecommon qualities like prakashatva (illumination)and chalatva (movement).[Su.Sa. ShariraSthana 1/20][Dalhana on Su.Sa.ShariraSthana 1/20] Thus, it can be stated that the dravyawith vayuand agnimahabhutaconstitution dominaterajas guna.

Rajas and vatadosha

Vatadoshais dominant in rajas guna(rajas bahula). [Su.Sa. NidanaSthana 1/8] Sharangadhara has also termed the vatadoshato be rajas guna dominant.

Relation between food and rajas guna

The Bhagwat Geeta mentions different types of diet preferred by individuals of sattvika, rajasika, and tamasika constitution.[ShreemadbhagwatGeeta,GunatrayavibhagaYoga, 14th Chapter].The individuals with rajasika constitution are fond of food with bitter (katu), sour, salty, and hot.This food is tikshna (sharp, pungent), excessively dry (ruksha),and causesa burning sensation in abdomen and gastrointestinal tract (vidahinah).These foods can cause mental suffering (dukkha, shoka) and affliction with different diseases (amayam). Thus,the rajas dominance can be determined by the type of food he prefers to eat.

Manasaprakriti and types of rajasikaconstitution

The predominance of a particular guna in mindimpacts the psychological constitution.This becomes the predominant manas prakriti or psychic trait of the person.[Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 8/5-6] Three types namely sattvika,rajasikaand tamasikabased on the predominance of particular guna are described.[Cha.Sa.ShariraSthana3/13]The rajasikaconstitution develops due to "roshansha" or dominance of anger, hyperactivityand negative emotions.It is broadly classified into six sub-types as follows:

1. Asura (traits resembling negative personalities): This type of people are brave (shura), cruel (chanda), jealous of others (asuyaka), having prosperity (aishvaryavat), deceitful (aupadhika), having terrifying personality (rudra), merciless (ananukrosha), selfish/ self-indulged(atmapujaka) in nature. (Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 4)
2. Rakshasa (traits resembling extra human characteristics): This type of person are intolerant (amarshina), show anger most of the time (Anubandhakopa), aggressive or violent(chhidraharin), cruel (krura), fondness towardsfood (aharatimatraruchi), love eating meat (amishapriyatama), excessive sleep (swapnabahula), hard worker (ayasabahula), jealous (irshyu) in nature. (Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 4)
3. Paishacha (traits like a dead body): This individualconsumes excess food (mahashana), fond of female attention (straina), love company of female (strirahaskama), have unrestricted food intake (mahashana),have unclean habits (ashuchi), don't bother about cleanliness (shuchidveshina),cowardly (bhiru), makes othersfrightful or intimidate others (bhishayitram), have unusual diet and lifestyle in comparison to others (vikritaviharaaharashila), in nature. (Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 4)
4. Sarpa (traits like snake): This type of people arefearless when they are angry (kruddhasura), frightfulwhen not angry (akruddhabhiru),hard workers (ayasabahula), very sharp in activities (tikshna),always lives in fear (santrasragochara),loves eating food and activities (aharaviharapara), in nature. (Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 4)
5. Praita (traits like a dead body): This type of people love eating food a lot (aharakama),always in suffering (atidukhasilacaropachara), jealous of other people (asuyaka),have no discrimination in behavior (asamvibhagina), very greedy(atilolupa),don't like to perform any work (akarmasila) in nature. (Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 4)
6. Shakuna (traits of bird): This type of person shows devotion for passion (anushaktakama), overindulge in food and activities (ajastramaharaviharapara), unstable conduct (anavasthitatva),very intolerant (amarshana), not interested in acquiring things(asamcaya), in nature. (Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 4)

Vagbhata states that rajasikaindividuals are characterized by bahubhashitva(excessive talkativeness), mana(excessive ego), krodha(anger), dambha(rebelness), matsar(dvesha)[A.H.ShariraSthana 3/7]
The difference observed in an individual's activities is due to karma (previous deeds of the person).[Cha. Sa.ShariraSthana 2/36]
Kashyapa has described seven types of rajasikaor krodhajasattva,where the yaksha sattva is additionally mentioned. [Ka.Sa. Sutra Sthana 28/24] The features of rajasikasattva,as explained by kashyapa are stated as below:

1. Engaged in charity (dananityata)
2. Excessive sleep (atishayana)
3. Loves wearing ornaments (alankarapriyatva)
4. Excess intake of food and drinks (atipanabhojana)
5. Excess indulgence in sexual activity (atimaithuna)
6. Loves eating (prabhakshana)
7. Excessive greed (nityopetampramuditam)

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