Triguna is the 3-mental qualities or Guna that are responsible for the psychic nature and behavior of all livings. In Hinduism and Sikhism, Guna is the concept, describes the “quality, peculiarity, attribute, characteristic” of the human mind. 

Rajas (passion, active, confusion), Sattva (goodness, constructive, harmonious), and Tamas (darkness, destructive, chaotic) are the 3-Gunas that exists in all living bodies (human, animal, food, etc.). In the case of humans, it signifies the personality, inherent nature, and psychological traits of the person.

The entire concept is called Triguna Theory in Ayurveda. The Triguna characteristics are:

• Sattva/ Goodness: The purest form of Triguna Ayurveda consists of qualities like intellect, wisdom, patience, forgiveness, sharp memory, self-control ability, generosity, spirituality, happiness, saneness, integrity, kindness, non-violence. Sattva Guna stabilizes the nervous system, purifies the mind and body.

Satta Guna people should add Sattva Guna foods: fresh, organic veggies, sweet, juicy seasonal fruits, nourishing food, simple cooked food, ghee (Indian butter), milk, honey, almonds, dates, wheat, barley, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, fennel seeds, ginger, etc. 

Sattvic diet food endures lifespan, ensure good health, happiness, and well-being.

• Rajas/ Passion: Raja guna qualities involve too many actions like greed, anger, selfishness, mania, over-excitement, cruelty, and good-hygiene. Rajas are the quality of ultimate desire and longingness, excites initiate changes within. 

Raja Guna people if consuming Rajas guna food such as too hot, sour, bitter, dry, salty, and acidic food, garlic, onion, that increases weight and feel heaviness for a long-span after consuming. These foods fuel-up greed, egoism, jealousy, anger, sexual desires, and fantasies. 

• Tamas/ Ignorance: Tamas Guna dominant people have negative qualities concerning violence, greed, negligence, sluggishness, madness, dullness, depression, atheism, poor-hygiene, fearfulness, the mentality of darkness and delusion, revenge, insulting others, materialism and passivity. 

Tamas grow Ama (toxin) and wastages in the body and fills negative energies in an individual’s mind. 

Tamas Guna food: meat, fish, eggs, mushrooms, canned or preserved food, rotten, musty, tasteless foods, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, etc., which are hard to digest and increase negative traits like mood-swings, hatefulness, suicidal tendency, insecurity, delusion and fasten the aging process. 

Try to adhere to Triguna yoga plus add Triguna foods like Sattvic diet into your intake to console your Gunas, Doshas (3-bodily humor), and get rid of negative traits. Live a soulful life ahead. 

Feature Image Credit: WeRIndia.