Centre for Yoga Studies

The Art of Personal Sādhana

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • RSS
Skip to content
  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • RSS
YOGA TEACHINGPersonal & Professional Study
YOGA JOURNALNews Views & Blog Posts
YOGA FREENOTESOnline Texts & Commentaries
  • WELCOME TO YOGA FREENOTES

    • Yoga Texts & Freenotes Overview
    • Saṃskṛta Indexed Word Glossary
    • Paul’s Contact Options
  • YOGA SŪTRA FREENOTES

    • Yoga Sūtra Freenotes Overview
    • Yoga Sūtra All Verses Online
    • – Yoga Sūtra – Chapter 1
    • – Yoga Sūtra – Chapter 2
    • – Yoga Sūtra – Chapter 3
    • – Yoga Sūtra – Chapter 4
    • Yoga Sūtra PDF Workbooks
    • Krishnamacharya’s Sūtra Quotes
    • Desikachar’s Sūtra Quotes
    • Paul’s Sūtra Quotes
    • Paul’s Sūtra Questions Collated
    • Paul’s Sūtra Key Words Collated
  • SĀṂKHYA KĀRIKĀ FREENOTES

    • Sāṃkhya Freenotes Overview
    • Sāṃkhya Kārikā All Verses Online
    • Sāṃkhya Kārikā PDF Workbook
    • Desikachar’s Sāṃkhya Quotes
    • Paul’s Sāṃkhya Quotes
  • BHAGAVAD GĪTĀ TEXTS FREENOTES

    • Bhagavad Gītā Freenotes Overview
    • Bhagavad Gītā Quotes Collated
    • Bhagavad Gītā All Verses Online
    • – Bhagavad Gītā Chapters 1-6
    • – Bhagavad Gītā Chapters 7-12
    • – Bhagavad Gītā Chapters 13-18
    • Bhagavad Gītā PDF Workbooks
    • Gītārtha Freenotes Overview
    • Gītārtha Quotes Collated
    • Gītārtha All Verses Online
    • Gītārtha PDF Workbook
  • UPANIṢAT TEXTS FREENOTES

    • Upaniṣat Texts Freenotes Overview
    • Upaniṣat Textual Quotes Collated
    • Upaniṣat Texts PDF Workbooks
  • HAṬHA YOGA TEXTS FREENOTES

    • Haṭha Yoga Freenotes Overview
    • Haṭha Pradīpikā All Verses Online
    • Yoga Rahasya Quotes Collated
    • Yoga Rahasya All Verses Online
  • ĀYURVEDA LIFESTYLE FREENOTES

    • Āyurveda Freenotes Overview
    • Āyurveda Collected Posts
  • WELCOME TO THE CENTRE FOR YOGA STUDIES

    rajas

    Devanāgarī: रजस् Translation: exciting Opposite words:tamas, sattva Related concepts:guṇa, prakṛti

    Appears in

    Sāṃkhya Kārikā:

    13 , 45 , 54

    Bhagavad Gītā:

    Chapter 17: 2


    Click here for complete Saṃskṛta Index

    Commentaries around

    “The ideal Dhyānam,
    which becomes easier with practice,
    requires certain preparations to reduce
    the tendency of the mind to be distracted,
    either by being jumpy and agitated, or dull and inert.
    Chief among these preparations are proper diet and Prāṇāyāma.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

    “Working together with and directed by past impressions,
    the three Guṇa, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas determine
    whether the mind is calm, agitated or dull.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4

    “What is Samādhi?
    It is the ability to experience the true nature of the objects of Meditation,
    through a mind rid of the provocation of excitability and inactivity.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20

    “These five Kleśa surround the heart of every individual.
    They are related to the three Guṇa known as Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
    As long as one chooses not to inquire into the true nature of one’s self and acts mechanically,
    they will unknowingly contribute to the dominance of the Kleśa.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 3

    “When Kleśa are on  the move, time should not be lost.
    Reflection is a must.
    Reduction of all the factors that increase Rajas and Tamas,
    including right food, company, study and Niyama is a must.
    Without them, reflection leading to a reduction of the power of Kleśa will not work.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 11

    “Sthira is the absence of Rajas.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46

    “Without Rajas Guṇa
    there can be no Pariṇāma.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 16

    ‎”Use Samavṛtti in Prāṇāyāma to reduce the power of Rajas and Tamas.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Five verse 27

    “For me, still to this day, one of the simplest, direct and most succinct definitions on the purpose of Āsana within the processes and practices of Haṭha Yoga, is the definition offered in the Haṭha Pradīpikā Chapter One verse 17.
    It is a definition valid for any situation, discussion or presentation, or as a response to questions from any background, or level of interest around why we practice Āsana.
    It can also be a springboard to linking physiological qualities, such as the relationship of Agni, to the energetic qualities of health and lightness of limb. Or investigation of the commentary by Brahmānada, as that explores psychological qualities such as the relationship of the Guṇa, Rajas, to mental qualities such as steadiness.”
    – Paul Harvey on Haṭha Pradīpikā Chapter One verse 17

    “Its the combination (of Guṇa) thats important.
    There is the simile of the oil lamp in the Sāṃkhya Kārikā Śloka 13.
    The cotton wick – Light Property (Sattva)
    The basin or bowl – Heavy Property (Tamas)
    The oil – Flows this way or that (Rajas)
    The moment you dip the cotton in the oil it takes on that property.
    Thus the Guṇa work together to produce the flame.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “Lightness or Sattva is not always correct.
    Sometimes it is necessary to create
    heaviness and activity for memory, etc.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    “There is an impression in some schools that Tamas and Rajas are to be rejected.
    This is not so, both are necessary. It is the combination thats important.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga

    General Guidelines for Practice Planning:
    “Look to cultivate a quality of Sattva by
    diminishing Tamas and channelling Rajas.”
    – 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
    – The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

    Different Types of Postural Activity in Āsana Practice
    “Furthermore, the consideration of movement
    or stasis sits within a relationship to the
    deeper purpose of Āsana within our journey
    through the body and the breath, to the mind
    and beyond, through considerations such as:
    In relation to the fluctuations of the Guṇa.
    Ideally, dynamic work is a state of still movement,
    rather than a state of active movement, as in Rajas.
    Equally, static work is a state of bright stasis,
    rather than a state of dull stasis, as in Tamas.
    Thus, in relation to the Guṇa, the application
    of both movement and stasis in Āsana need to be
    appropriately supported by a quality of Sattva.
    As in a quality of stillness within dynamic work
    and a quality of brightness within static work.”
    – 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
    – The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

    Links to Related Posts:

    • Yoga Sūtra on Stress – An interview with TKV Desikachar

     

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
    • Click to print (Opens in new window)

    Related

    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
    As it continues to develop your comments and suggestions on your experience and how it may be enhanced are very welcome via this link, thank you.
    Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: cysuk by Underscores.me.