The 20 Gunas (Qualities Or Attributes)

The 20 Gunas (Qualities or Attributes) The Language of Ayurveda

Guru Manda Hima Snigdha Shlakshna Sandra Mridu Shtiraha Gunaha Susukshma Vishada Vimshati Sa Viparya yaha (Ashtanga Hrydayam: Sutrasthanam:I:18)

“Heavy, Slow, Cool, Unctuous, Smooth, Dense, Soft and Stable: These qualities, along with subtle and clear and their opposites comprise the 20 qualities.”

Guna (those which are Opposite Guna (those which are “promoting” or nourishing)* “reducing” or “lightening” — except liquid)* Heavy (guru) Light in weight (laghu) Slow or Dull (manda) Sharp, penetrating (tikshna) Cold (hima or shita) Hot (ushna) Oily or unctuous (snigdha or sneha) Dry (ruksha) Smooth (shlakshna) Rough (khara) Dense, thick or solid (sandra) Liquid (drava) Soft (mridu) Hard (kathina) Static or stable (sthira) Mobile or unstable (chala) Gross or big (sthula) Subtle (sukshma) Slimy, Cloudy or sticky (picchila) Clear or non-slimy (vishada) *as per Charaka Samhita:Sutrasthanam:XXII: 9-17