Gunastubschool: samkhya· Frawley — Astrology of the Seers

Tamas

तमस्tamas
gun-tamas

Definition

The Samkhya guna of inertia, dullness and darkness. Not developed in the medical-astrology chapter; stub minted for cross-reference completeness.
Traditional

Prāṇa relevance

Prāṇa relation not yet traced — a complete, acceptable terminal state.

Cross-book attributes (4) — fill / concur / diverge

Cosmogony RoleFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
tamas is the guṇa through which consciousness 'veiled in materiality' evolves into the five tanmatras (subtle sense-objects: sound, touch, form, taste, smell), which evolve directly into the Five Elements — the Samkhya descent into matter
Directional SeatFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
⚑ Tamas is seated in the SOUTHWEST corner: 'The southwest quadrant is the domain of tamas, of the past, where we have come from'; SW light has 'a southwestern, tamasic tinge'; SW offers 'ancestral inheritance, the weight of tradition, the support of memory'; it is the well-settled LOWER BODY, the place to 'put your back' for protection. SW's heavy/sleep activities (master bedroom, storage) are chosen precisely because they suit tamas (sleep 'promotes tamas, just as tamas encourages drowsiness').
Guna Of DwellingFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
⚑ The bedroom should modestly encourage tamas, because tamas makes sleep possible — 'not enough tamas and you won't get to sleep; too much and you'll never get out of bed.' Among the elements, relative to sattva ALL five elements are tamasic; Earth is the most tamasic, then Water, Fire, Air in decreasing tamas; even Space 'though sattvic, also promotes tamas substantially' by resisting change.
PhenomenologyFilledper txt-svoboda-vastu
Tamas (inertia): 'the expression of consciousness veiled in materiality that evolves into the five subtle objects [tanmatras]... which then evolve directly into the Five Elements themselves.' A tamas-blanketed mind 'sees the world in terms of objects to be doggedly gripped, and resists change even when change is essential.' Sleep is 'a very tamas-instigated and tamas-promoting activity'; tired formulaic reruns ratchet up tamas.

Connections (5)

corresponds-to · 5
  • ↔Mars (Mangala)Traditional
    Frawley's guna table places Mars among the Tamasic planets (Mars, Saturn, +Rahu/Ketu), with secondary rajas ('they give energy and power of will').
  • ↔Saturn (Shani)Traditional
    Frawley's guna table places Saturn (with Mars) among the Tamasic planets.
  • ↔Rahu (north lunar node)Traditional
    Frawley's guna table groups Rahu (with Mars, Saturn, Ketu) as tamasic ('Mars and Saturn (also Rahu and Ketu)').
  • ↔Ketu (south lunar node / comets)Traditional
    Frawley's guna table groups Ketu (with Mars, Saturn, Rahu) as tamasic, with secondary rajas ('Mars and Ketu have some Rajas, as they give energy and power of will').
  • ↔dir-nairrtyaModern
    SW confluence: 'The southwest quadrant is the domain of tamas, of the past' (PDF pp.190, 193); the well-settled lower body / consolidation / ancestors. The guna leg of the SW confluence.

Sources

  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersPart III ch.1 (not developed here; see Foundations theme)Modernunverifiedone of the three gunas; not detailed in the medical chapter

Notes from other books

  • txt-svoboda-vastuCross-patch tying gun-tamas to its confluence corner (SW). Connection gun-tamas ↔ dir-nairrtya minted. [MODERN — Svoboda]
  • txt-svoboda-vastuFills the Frawley STUB. Tamas is the inertia-quality; the tamasic room is the bedroom (sleep needs tamas). Note the Samkhya descent tamas→tanmatra→mahabhuta is given here (PDF p.077), tying the guṇa axis to the element axis.
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