Tamas (तमः)

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Tamas (तमः) is one of the Trigunas. It is considered as one of the doshas of manas (mind).

तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् |

प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत || 8|| B.G 14.8

Meaning: tamo guṇa, which is born of ignorance, is the cause of illusion for the embodied souls. It deludes all living beings through negligence, laziness, and sleep.

Tamo guṇa is the antithesis of sattva guṇa. Persons influenced by it get pleasure through sleep, laziness, intoxication, violence, and gambling. They lose their discrimination of what is right and what is wrong, and do not hesitate in resorting to immoral behavior for fulfilling their self-will. Doing their duty becomes burdensome to them and they neglect it, becoming more inclined to sloth and sleep. In this way, the mode of ignorance leads the soul deeper into the darkness of ignorance. It becomes totally oblivious of its spiritual identity, its goal in life, and the opportunity for progress that the human form provides.

अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च |

तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन || 13|| B.G 14.13

Tamo guṇa results in delusion of the intellect, laziness, and inclination toward intoxication and violence.

Signs of Tamas dominance in manas:

तामसान्यज्ञानं विषादः प्रमादो निद्राऽऽलस्यं क्षुत्तृष्णा

शोको मात्सर्यं विप्रतिपत्तिः परातिसन्धानं सत्त्वगुण-

वैपरीत्यं च||२१|| A.S.SHA 5/21

Tamas as dosha of manas

तत्र सत्त्वं मनस्तस्योपप्लवो रजस्तमश्च इत्येवम्भूतात्मकं

देहमाहुः||२२|| a.s.sha 5/22

रजस्तमश्च मनसो द्वौ च दोषावुदाहृतौ||२१|| A.S.SU 1/21