Understanding the theory of Guṇa through the lens of Sāttvika Purāṇas

The doctrine of guṇa is one of the key ideas in Indian intellectual tradition and has been interpreted in philosophical, religious, and literary contexts. This paper focuses on its treatment in the Sāttvika Purāṇas and examines how these texts present the three guṇas as a framework for understanding the world and human experience. Special attention is given to the Viṣṇu, Bhāgavata, Nāradīya, Garuḍa, Padma, and Varāha Purāṇas. The study highlights the ways in which these Purāṇas connect guṇa with creation, moral conduct, social order and spiritual progress. It also shows that, while the guṇas shape the manifested universe, the highest reality is consistently described as transcending them.