Tamas

Tamas means darkness, illusion, ignorance, inertia, inactivity, dullness etc. It is one of the three fundamental qualities along with sattva and rajas. Tamas has two significant characters i.e. resistance and heaviness. These are responsible for restraining or controlling thoughts. It induces lethargy, fatigue, sleep etc. As per Bhagavad Gita, tamas is responsible for ignorance and sleep. It is the leading cause of darkness in the mind, negligence & delusion, illusion & hallucinations.The excessive lazy and sleepy person has a tamas dominant psychic constitution (Tamasika manas prakriti). [ Cha. Sa. ShariraSthana 4/36]This article describes the concept and applications of tamas.

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts/Tamas
Authors	Bhojani M. K. 1, Kabadwal Dipti2
Reviewer	Basisht G.2,
Editor	Deole Y.S.3
Affiliations	1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2Department of Samhita Siddhant, A.I.I.A., New Delhi, India 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 4Department ofKayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence emails	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:	November 21, 2022
DOI	In process

Etymology and derivation

Tamas is the Sanskrit word that means darkness, inert, dullness or inactivity. It is derived from the word ‘tama’ meaning darkness.

Classical interpretations

Sattva, rajas, and tamas are connected with three doshas (Vata, pitta, kapha) [Su. Sa. ShariraSthana 4/23] Therefore, all neurophysiological functions of the body are coordinated by them. Tamas has been described in the context of three types of mental strengths (trividha sattva), psychological constitutions (prakriti), & psychological characteristics (manasaguna). [Cha. Sa. ShariraSthana 4/36]

• It is mentioned in the context of three fundamental universal qualities (mahaguna) [As Sa, sutra sthana 1/41].
• Tama is described under mahaprakriti [Su. Sa. ShariraSthana 4/97] & twelve pranas. [Su. Sa. ShariraSthana 4/3]
• Tamas is described as karanadravya. (Acharya Prabhakara)

Properties of tamas: Pungent (katu) & astringent (kashaya) [As. Sa. Sutra Sthana 12/91] a]. It increases the desire for pleasure (kamavardhaka), reduces fatigue in the body and mind (klamahara), responsible for darkness. It leads to confusion (mohajanak), hallucination (drikabhramaka), heaviness (guru), and forgetfulness (avaraka). [Bhava Prakash Nighantu 1: 4: 273]

Characteristics of tamasika person

Overthinker or depressed (vishada), atheist (naastika), does not follow proper rules & regulations (adharmasheela), lethargy (akarmasheela), fond of excessive sleep (nidaralu), senseless (durmedhastvam). [ Su. Sa. ShariraSthana 1/18]

Interrelationship of tamas with five basic elements (panchamahubhuta) and dosha

During the evolutionary process, the five basic elements are created by the combination of triguna.12) [Su Sa ShariraSthana 1/3-4] The earth element (prithvimahabhuta) is created by tamas. [SuSa. ShariraSthana 1/20]. Sattva entity is cause for reflection of a person's purity, essence, and intelligence. Rajas is responsible for all the movements of body or mind. Tamas is responsible for the equilibrium of the quality of sattva and rajas. Kapha dosha is made up of water (jala), earth (prithvi).[As. sa. Sutra Stana20/3]Kapha dosha maintains the equilibrium of vata and pitta dosha and also reduces adverse effects of vata& pitta dosha. Rajas is connected with vata dosha, sattva with pitta dosha, and tamas with kapha dosha as per similarity in creation and functions. he diet and regimen that increases physical entities also enhance psychological entities.