Tamas

views updated

Tamas (Skt.). In Sāṃkhya, one of the three strands (guṇas) of material nature (prakṛti).

In the external world, tamas is manifested as heaviness, darkness, and rigidity. In the individual it is reflected as fear, sloth, stupidity, indifference, etc., and is considered a negative force in humans.

More From encyclopedia.com