3.2. Three Guṇas of Māyā

Svāminārāyaṇa states that māyā consists of three guṇas:

“Māyā has three essential qualities, or guṇas, known as sattva (literal goodness), rajas (passion) and tamas (darkness).” (Vacanamrut Loyā 10, p.319).

Similarly, Bhadreshdāsa pronounces:

“eṣā sarvairanubhūyamānā guṇamayī sattvarajastamākhyatriguṇātmikā… māyā” (GSB 7/14, p.163).

“Māyā’ s these three Guṇas; sāttvika, rājasika, and tāmasika, are experienced by all.”

Thus, māyā is real (sat). Māyā is possessed of three guṇas, and hence, is a concrete, qualified and real entity. It is the power or accessory of Puruṣottama. It repeatedly performs the same function (of evolving and enveloping the worlds) as willed by God. Svāminārāyaṇa makes a distinction between two prakṛtis, the higher and the lower. The higher prakṛti is called Mūlaprakṛti or Mahāmāyā; while the lower prakṛti is called pradhāna or māyā. Both possess these three guṇas. These three guṇas of māyā are the root cause of the bondage of jīvas and īśvaras. Even sāttvika guṇa binds jīvas and īśvaras and brings the cycle of birth and death.

Most hazardously, tamoguṇa is a cause of delusion, anger, greed, quarrelsomeness, fear, violence, illusion, dejection, connivance, etc. Significantly, however, no one guṇa works separately; there is always a group of guṇas, although guṇa can have a more pervasiveness over the other two guṇas. Beyond these māyic qualities, there is a liberated state which is called nirguṇa (without the guṇas) or guṇātita state.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Bhagavad-Gītā 14/26