Leadership and Gunatraya Vibhag Yog , Bhagwad Geeta , PART 1

The God seeks Comrades and claims love.

The Devil seeks slaves and claims obedience. 

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore

As per Vedic philosophy human nature is derived from three gunas: Satva, Rajas and Tamas Or Satvaguna, Rajoguna and Tamoguna.

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः ।

निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ॥ १४-५॥

Satva, Rajas and Tamas are gunas born out of Nature*,

It embodies indestructible Atma in physical body.

In 14^th chapter of Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta Krishna explains about all this three gunas to Arjun. As said by Krishna in above mention shloka, all three gunas are created from Cosmic Nature and influence all Jeevatma and ultimately whole universe. As they also affect human nature** It has straight and significant influence on human behavior and his/her leadership qualities.

Before going forward one thing is required tobe clarified. Each human is leader in one or another place, If not than in one or the other time frame. Generally while reading/ Discussing about leadership we try to (Consciously/subconsciously) put our boss , higher authorities , elders in family in that role and mostly find their leadership flows. At the same point of time we forget that best practice is to keep our self in the center and understand your own leadership traits.

Each human is influenced by all three gunas in different ratio. I am just trying to explain a basic idea of Leader influenced primarily by one of the gunas.  

1.    Sattvaguni Leader

2.    Rajoguni Leader

3.    Tamoguni Leader

Sattvaguni Leader:

“There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.”
 G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens: A Critical Study

Shri. Narendra Modi use to say “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” this morality defines Sattvaguni Leader. For whom each follower/subordinate is firstly a human than anything else. His communication to others is free from authoritative spirit. Such leader encourages star performing subordinates and look at them with pride and not as someone competing with him. They believe administrative authorities are tool for betterment of organization and not a tool to showcase power vested in him.

तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् ।

सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ॥ १४-६॥

Satvaguna being unstained, Illuminates and

Bind human by happiness and knowledge.

In other words Satvaguna Leader illuminates the team/ organization based on knowledge and brings happiness. Less central control and more individual freedom.

* Nature = Cosmic Prakruti

** nature = Human Prakriti