Three types of Shraddha
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, that there are three types of Shraddha. Krishna refers to three types of shraddha (faith) as Sattvik, Rajasik and Tamasik based on the tri-guna. The three types of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas (tri-guna) can be found in many domains.
Sattva, Rajas and Tamas
Sattva is generally associated with Knowledge and information. Sattva adds newer information and knowledge. Newer knowledge is added when diverse information are received, analysed and processed. Sattva is said to be laghu, prakAsam in saMkhya kArika. Sattva is that makes it easy and enlightening. It is buoyant and radiating like knowledge.
Rajas is associated with energy and passion. Rajas adds energy and passion. How does passion manifest..? When the same information is received and processed, it leads to increase in passion/energy. Rajas is said to be upastambhakam and calam in saMkhya kArika. Rajas is staying and flowing. It is stopping and moving like energy.
Tamas is ignorance. Tamas is lack of knowledge and energy. When no information is received and analyzed, it leads to lack of knowledge, ignorance and status quo. Tamas is said to be guru and varanakam in saMkhya kArika. Tamas is heavy and covering up. It is darkness (varanakam) and non-moving (guru which means heavy).
The 3 types of Shraddha
Sattvik shraddha/faith is developed when diverse/multi-fold information is received and processed. This type of shradda/faith evolves over a period. It grows, diminishes, changes and is in search of truth always.
Rajasik shraddha/faith is developed when the same information is experienced again and again. This is passionate faith. This type of shraddha/faith grows forever. It never diminishes or evolves. Here there is no search or search has ended.
Tamasik shraddha is developed when there is total lack of information. This is ignorant faith.
Shraddha in different domains
“tri-vidha bhavati sraddha dehinam sa svabhava-ja” - All embodied one’s manifest with tri-guna sraddha as their inherent nature. (17.2).
Shraddha is faith. All the karma that we perform are based on shraddha (faith).
With faith we serve/worship. With faith we eat food. With faith we perform sacrifices (Yajna). With faith we perform austerities (tapa). With faith we perform charity (dAna).
Our worship (yaj), food (Ahara), sacrifice (Yajna), austerity (tapa) and charity (dAna) are also of three types. (17.7).
Those who are knowledgeable and who seek knowledge from their karma are sattvik. Those who are passionate and seek energy from their karma are rajasik. Those who are ignorant and have no idea about what they are doing, they are tamasik.
Shraddha of Worship
Worshipping/serving is an act that invoke the power of that divinity in us.
Devas are symbols of immortality and knowledge of immortality. Those who seek that knowledge, seek that new and different information, invoke/worship the devas.
Yaksha/Raksha are symbols of wealth and power. Those who seek wealth and power worship them.
Those who are ignorant about worship serve/worship the dead. (17.4). The dead are symbols of past. Those who are clouded in darkness invoke that past.
Shraddha of Ahara
Watery/Juicy foods (rasya), bland and Solid (snigdha, sthira) are foods that increase the ayuh (duration of life), strength (bala), health (Arogya), happiness (sukha) and affection (priti). They are the food of sattvik who are knowledgeable about food.
Those who know and understand the nature of different foods, have information on various foods, choose the rasya, snigdha and sthira foods, so that they get longer life.
Bitter (katva), Sour (Amla), Salty (lavanam), Hot (usna), pungent (tiksna) and dry (rukSa) foods are taken by the rajasik, who are passionate about food.
Those who are passionate about the taste of food and focus on its taste, take more of the same thing leading to food that has excess of some taste in it.
Tasteless, stale, putrid, unclean, decomposed kind of foods are taken by the tamasik, who are ignorant of food.
Those who don’t know about what all foods are needed or possible (lack of information), take what they get.
Shraddha of Yajna
A Yajna performed without worrying about the result, following all the rules, with a focussed mind is done by those who are knowledgeable about Yajna.
Those who know and understand what different types of Yajna and their results, focus not on their result, but on how they need to be performed well. But to perform Yajna without focussing on the result, they need to have a broader picture and diverse information on what Yajna is all about.
A Yajna performed with expectation of pride, material yields is done by those who are passionate about Yajna.
People who perform Yajna, forced by an external event, expecting a result, reinforced by their beliefs and earlier experiences are rajasik.
Those who see Yajna as a ‘specific action’ with a specific ‘result’ without having all around information, who perform more of the same thing (yajna) are rajasik or driven by passion/emotion.
A Yajna done without following the rules, without the appropriate verses, without distribution of food, without sraddha, without daksina/fee is done by those who are ignorant about Yajna.
Here Yajna is done because it is a ritual or tradition that just needs to be done (got out of the way). Here Yajna is performed with lack of knowledge and lack of passion.
Shraddha of tapa
Tapa are austerities that we perform for our well-being. Sattvik tapa is three-fold. (17.14,15,16)
First sattvik tapa is the tapa of the body which is worshipping the Deva, the learned, the guru, being simple, clean, following ahimsa. Second sattvik tapa is the tapa of the speech which is producing words that are truthful, beneficial, self-analytical and not produced out of udvega (words that don’t hurt others). Third sattvik tapa is the tapa of the mind, which is completely purified by being cool and moist mind and totally subdued by Atma (consciousness).
People who have diverse information on what tapa is with respect to speech, body and mind perform tapa in a knowledgeable way.
The rajasik tapa is the tapa done for a favor, pride is moving and unstable. Such a tapa is done by those who are passionate. (17.18).
People who perform tapa/austerity, forced by an external event, expecting a result, reinforced by their beliefs and earlier experiences are rajasik.
The tamasik tapa is the tapa performed when captured by foolishness (ignorance), done by torturing the self or ruining others is done by those who are ignorant of what a tapa is. (17.19).
Here the austerity is performed because it is a ritual or tradition that just needs to be done (got out of the way). It is total lack of knowledge.
Shraddha of dAna
A dAna given to a suitable person, irrespective of place and time, irrespective of return help, is given by those who are knowledgeable about dAna. (17.20).
People who have diverse and newer information on what a dAna actually is perform them in the above way.
A dAna performed for a return favor or grudgingly is done by those who perform dAna due to increased emotions or passion (17.21).
People who perform dAna, forced by an external event, expecting a result, reinforced by their beliefs and earlier experiences are rajasik.
A dAna given to unsuitable person, without respect or attention, at improper place/time is done by those who are ignorant of what a dAna is (17.22).
Here the dAna is done as a ritual or tradition to be completed (get out of the way).
What we learn
Sattvik is all about getting newer information, diverse perspectives and becoming more knowledgeable. Sattva in a way is diversity.
Rajasik is all about getting the same information, reinforcing our beliefs and faiths by receiving the same information again and again, leading us to become more passionate. Rajas, in a way, is conformance.
Tamasik is all about having lack of information, carrying our traditions and rituals to get out of our way. Tamas is ignorance.
-TBT
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, that there are three types of Shraddha. Krishna refers to three types of shraddha (faith) as Sattvik, Rajasik and Tamasik based on the tri-guna. The three types of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas (tri-guna) can be found in many domains.
Sattva, Rajas and Tamas
Sattva is generally associated with Knowledge and information. Sattva adds newer information and knowledge. Newer knowledge is added when diverse information are received, analysed and processed. Sattva is said to be laghu, prakAsam in saMkhya kArika. Sattva is that makes it easy and enlightening. It is buoyant and radiating like knowledge.
Rajas is associated with energy and passion. Rajas adds energy and passion. How does passion manifest..? When the same information is received and processed, it leads to increase in passion/energy. Rajas is said to be upastambhakam and calam in saMkhya kArika. Rajas is staying and flowing. It is stopping and moving like energy.
Tamas is ignorance. Tamas is lack of knowledge and energy. When no information is received and analyzed, it leads to lack of knowledge, ignorance and status quo. Tamas is said to be guru and varanakam in saMkhya kArika. Tamas is heavy and covering up. It is darkness (varanakam) and non-moving (guru which means heavy).
The 3 types of Shraddha
Sattvik shraddha/faith is developed when diverse/multi-fold information is received and processed. This type of shradda/faith evolves over a period. It grows, diminishes, changes and is in search of truth always.
Rajasik shraddha/faith is developed when the same information is experienced again and again. This is passionate faith. This type of shraddha/faith grows forever. It never diminishes or evolves. Here there is no search or search has ended.
Tamasik shraddha is developed when there is total lack of information. This is ignorant faith.
Shraddha in different domains
“tri-vidha bhavati sraddha dehinam sa svabhava-ja” - All embodied one’s manifest with tri-guna sraddha as their inherent nature. (17.2).
Shraddha is faith. All the karma that we perform are based on shraddha (faith).
With faith we serve/worship. With faith we eat food. With faith we perform sacrifices (Yajna). With faith we perform austerities (tapa). With faith we perform charity (dAna).
Our worship (yaj), food (Ahara), sacrifice (Yajna), austerity (tapa) and charity (dAna) are also of three types. (17.7).
Those who are knowledgeable and who seek knowledge from their karma are sattvik. Those who are passionate and seek energy from their karma are rajasik. Those who are ignorant and have no idea about what they are doing, they are tamasik.
Shraddha of Worship
Worshipping/serving is an act that invoke the power of that divinity in us.
Devas are symbols of immortality and knowledge of immortality. Those who seek that knowledge, seek that new and different information, invoke/worship the devas.
Yaksha/Raksha are symbols of wealth and power. Those who seek wealth and power worship them.
Those who are ignorant about worship serve/worship the dead. (17.4). The dead are symbols of past. Those who are clouded in darkness invoke that past.
Shraddha of Ahara
Watery/Juicy foods (rasya), bland and Solid (snigdha, sthira) are foods that increase the ayuh (duration of life), strength (bala), health (Arogya), happiness (sukha) and affection (priti). They are the food of sattvik who are knowledgeable about food.
Those who know and understand the nature of different foods, have information on various foods, choose the rasya, snigdha and sthira foods, so that they get longer life.
Bitter (katva), Sour (Amla), Salty (lavanam), Hot (usna), pungent (tiksna) and dry (rukSa) foods are taken by the rajasik, who are passionate about food.
Those who are passionate about the taste of food and focus on its taste, take more of the same thing leading to food that has excess of some taste in it.
Tasteless, stale, putrid, unclean, decomposed kind of foods are taken by the tamasik, who are ignorant of food.
Those who don’t know about what all foods are needed or possible (lack of information), take what they get.
Shraddha of Yajna
A Yajna performed without worrying about the result, following all the rules, with a focussed mind is done by those who are knowledgeable about Yajna.
Those who know and understand what different types of Yajna and their results, focus not on their result, but on how they need to be performed well. But to perform Yajna without focussing on the result, they need to have a broader picture and diverse information on what Yajna is all about.
A Yajna performed with expectation of pride, material yields is done by those who are passionate about Yajna.
People who perform Yajna, forced by an external event, expecting a result, reinforced by their beliefs and earlier experiences are rajasik.
Those who see Yajna as a ‘specific action’ with a specific ‘result’ without having all around information, who perform more of the same thing (yajna) are rajasik or driven by passion/emotion.
A Yajna done without following the rules, without the appropriate verses, without distribution of food, without sraddha, without daksina/fee is done by those who are ignorant about Yajna.
Here Yajna is done because it is a ritual or tradition that just needs to be done (got out of the way). Here Yajna is performed with lack of knowledge and lack of passion.
Shraddha of tapa
Tapa are austerities that we perform for our well-being. Sattvik tapa is three-fold. (17.14,15,16)
First sattvik tapa is the tapa of the body which is worshipping the Deva, the learned, the guru, being simple, clean, following ahimsa. Second sattvik tapa is the tapa of the speech which is producing words that are truthful, beneficial, self-analytical and not produced out of udvega (words that don’t hurt others). Third sattvik tapa is the tapa of the mind, which is completely purified by being cool and moist mind and totally subdued by Atma (consciousness).
People who have diverse information on what tapa is with respect to speech, body and mind perform tapa in a knowledgeable way.
The rajasik tapa is the tapa done for a favor, pride is moving and unstable. Such a tapa is done by those who are passionate. (17.18).
People who perform tapa/austerity, forced by an external event, expecting a result, reinforced by their beliefs and earlier experiences are rajasik.
The tamasik tapa is the tapa performed when captured by foolishness (ignorance), done by torturing the self or ruining others is done by those who are ignorant of what a tapa is. (17.19).
Here the austerity is performed because it is a ritual or tradition that just needs to be done (got out of the way). It is total lack of knowledge.
Shraddha of dAna
A dAna given to a suitable person, irrespective of place and time, irrespective of return help, is given by those who are knowledgeable about dAna. (17.20).
People who have diverse and newer information on what a dAna actually is perform them in the above way.
A dAna performed for a return favor or grudgingly is done by those who perform dAna due to increased emotions or passion (17.21).
People who perform dAna, forced by an external event, expecting a result, reinforced by their beliefs and earlier experiences are rajasik.
A dAna given to unsuitable person, without respect or attention, at improper place/time is done by those who are ignorant of what a dAna is (17.22).
Here the dAna is done as a ritual or tradition to be completed (get out of the way).
What we learn
Sattvik is all about getting newer information, diverse perspectives and becoming more knowledgeable. Sattva in a way is diversity.
Rajasik is all about getting the same information, reinforcing our beliefs and faiths by receiving the same information again and again, leading us to become more passionate. Rajas, in a way, is conformance.
Tamasik is all about having lack of information, carrying our traditions and rituals to get out of our way. Tamas is ignorance.
-TBT
