(Skt., ‘strand’ or ‘cord’). In Hindu
S
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00006.jpg)
kyha
, the three components, qualities, or attributes (i.e.
sattva
,
tamas
, and
r
jas
) of material nature (
prak
ti
). Everything mental and physical consists of these three gu
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as in varying degrees; only pure consciousness (
puru
a
) is without attributes (
nirgu
a
). Disturbance of the equilibrium of the gu
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as is the cause of creation, and all of creation can be classified according to the predominance of one of the three gu
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as.
In Jainism, gu
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
a is one of the qualities which apparent objects exhibit: any substance (
dravya
) has certain gu
![](/files/02/59/75/f025975/public/00026.jpg)
as which appear in different modes (
par
ya
).