rájas n. 'coloured or dim space', the sphere of vapour or mist, region of clouds, atmosphere, air, firmament (in Veda one of the divisions of the world and distinguished from div or svar, 'the sphere of light', and rocanā divaḥ, 'the ethereal spaces', which are beyond the rajas, as ether is beyond the air

• often rajas, = the whole expanse of heaven or sky', divided into a lower and upper stratum, the rajas uparam or pārthivam and the rajas uttamam or paramam or divyam

• hence du. rajasī, 'the lower and higher atmospheres'

• sometimes also three and RV. i, 164, 6 even six such spheres are enumerated, hence pl. rajāṃsi, 'the skies') RV. AV. TS. VS. Br.

• vapour, mist, clouds, gloom, dimness, darkness RV. AV.

• impurity, dirt, dust, any small particle of matter RV. &c. &c. (cf. go-r○)

• the dust or pollen of flowers Kālid. BhP.

• cultivated or ploughed land (as 'dusty' or 'dirty'), arable land, fields RV.

• the impurity, i.e. the menstrual discharge of a woman GṛS. Mn. MBh. Suśr. &c

• the 'darkening' quality, passion, emotion, affection MBh. Kāv. &c

• (in phil.) the second of the three Guṇas or qualities (the other two being sattva, goodness, and tamas, darkness

• cf. IW. 85

• rajas is sometimes identified with tejas, q.v

• it is said to predominate in air, and to be active, urgent, and variable) Sāṃkhyak. VarBṛS. Suśr. &c

• 'light' or 'day' or 'world' or 'water' Nir. iv, 19

• a kind of plant (= parpaṭa) Bhpr.

• tin L.

• autumn L.

• sperm L.

• safflower L.

• m. N. of a Ṛishi (son of Vasishṭha) VP. [Cf. Gk. ? ; Goth. riqis.] [863, 2]