There is a common belief that meals like meat, fish, alcohal, garlic, onions, and tobacco are tamasic foods. Many spiritual leaders often seen asking their followers to avoid them. Indian scriptures have classified all living beings and objects on this Earth into three broad categories namely
(i) Saatvik (ii) Raajasi and (iii) Taamasi,
The categorization is based according to their qualities and nature i.e. 'best, median and worst.' The three gunas / qualities can be described as sattva / saatvik (purity, harmony), rajas / raajasi (passion, activity), and tamas / taamaasi (darkness, inertia). Putting some lights into the Tamasic our Sanskrit says:
अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैकृतिकोSलसः |
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ||
Ayuktah praakrutah stabdhah shatho naikrutikolasah.
Vishaadee deerghasootree cha kartaa taamas uchyatye.
Ayuktah = unfit, not suitable.
Praaksutah = ordinary, uncultured.
Stabdha = stubborn, obstinate.
Shatho = a wicked person,rascal .
Naikritikolasah = naikritiko + alasah.
Naikritik = dishonest, vile.
Alasah = lazy. dull.
Vishaadee = sad,dejected,
Deerghasootree = slow, dilatory.
Cha = and,
Kartaa = doer.
Taamasa = malignant person.
Uchyate = is called, is named.
i.e. A person who is unfit, uncultured, stubborn, wicked, dishonest, lazy, depressed and dilatory in doing any work is termed as a person of 'Taamasi' nature.
Tamasic qualities, in Hindu philosophy, represent a state of inertia, ignorance, and delusion. They are associated with negativity, lethargy, and a tendency towards destruction. Tamas is characterized by a lack of understanding and an inability to perceive reality clearly. This can lead to poor judgment and misguided actions. Tamas can manifest as an unhealthy attachment to things, people, or even destructive behaviors and addictions. It is often described as a downward pull on energy, hindering spiritual growth and causing a person to be stuck in negative patterns.
Tamasic qualities can hinder spiritual growth and prevent a person from realizing their true self. Yogic practices aim to balance the three gunas, including tamas, to elevate consciousness and achieve spiritual progress. To achieve enlightenment, many individual avoid being Tassmic and always aim at achieving the other two qualities in life.
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