guna

American  

[goon-uh] / ˈgʊn ə /

noun

1. (in Sankhya and Vedantic philosophy) one of the three qualities of prakriti, or nature, which are passion rajas, dullness or inertia tamas, and goodness or purity sattva.

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Etymology

Origin of guna

First recorded in 1860–65, guna is from the Sanskrit word guṇa thread, quality

Example Sentences

He quickly texted the link to a colleague, adding: “Dudeeee. This is guna be what it is.”

From Science Magazine • Nov. 21, 2023

Black peppercorn is bought whole and pounded using a standing mortar and pestle, called a guna, every time it's used.

From Salon • Jul. 12, 2021

The argumentation of the Sâ@nkhyas that the pradhâna may be called all-knowing on account of knowledge constituting an attribute of the guna Goodness is inadmissible.

From The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya Sacred Books of the East, Volume 1 by Thibaut, George

Thus guna is as it were surface, remove this and there can be no gunî.

From Sacred Books of the East by Various

Similarly a daughter-in-law is given a fresh name on coming into the house, and on her arrival her mother-in-law looks at her for the first time through a guna or ring of baked gram-flour.

From The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India - Volume IV of IV Kumhar-Yemkala by Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane)