In the Samkhya system, one of the three universal constituents (Skt. guṇa) that are components of primal matter (Skt. pradhāna) or natural matter (Skt. prakṛti) and not qualities distinct from it. In different contexts, it refers to obscurity, darkness, heaviness, and a neutral feeling.
Tibetan: མུན་པ། mun-pa
Sanskrit: tamas
J. Hopkins: Darkness; Obscurity; Gloom
Synonyms: Darkness
Other languages