Kundalini Yoga Glossary
Rajas
Active, creative energy: the motivation and drive behind the desire to act.
Meaning
What Rajas Means
Rajas is one of the three Gunas, the conditions of matter in yogic philosophy, alongside Sattva and Tamas. It is active, creative or initiating energy: passionate, in motion, and the power of transformation.
In personal terms, Rajas is the energy and motivation behind the desire to act. It supplies the drive to support an idea and the capacity to carry it out, and is described as working principally through the third chakra, Manipura.
In Practice
How It’s Used
Among the three functional minds, Rajas rules the Positive Mind, which is balanced through Asana and Pranayama among Patanjali's Eight Limbs.
Symbolically, Rajas is one of the three forces Shiva's trident cuts through and renews, alongside Sattva and Tamas, clearing away what has decayed so new forms of life become possible.
