GUNAS
Guna, depending on the context, means: string, thread, or strand; or virtue, merit, excellence; or quality, peculiarity, attribute, property, virtue, trait, and element etc.
In Samkhya philosophy, Prakriti (maya) is said to have three gunas (qualities/elements): sattva (rhythm), rajas (motion) and tamas (resistance).
When these qualities are in equilibrium, there is inertia and the maya is ineffective; but, when this equilibrium ends, the action of maya begins.
According to Sikhism, these three gunas are the Maya of God. (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 1123).
Tamo/Tamas is a symbol of imbalance, disorder, chaos, anxiety, impurity, destruction, delusion, negativity, dullness or inactivity, apathy, inertia or lethargy, violence, viciousness, and ignorance;
Rajo/Rajas is a symbol of passion, activity, drivenness, movement, dynamism passion, restlessness, and aggressive activity; egoism, individualization
Sato/Satava is a symbol of goodness, purity, holiness, harmony, positive-ness, calmness, and tranquillity.
26 Divine Gunas (qualities):
According to ancient books, the divine qualities are the following 26 non-changing qualities (we are born with and/or must cultivate):
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)