satvika

Satvika, or satvik, is an Indian philosophical and dietary term derived from Sanskrit sattva, meaning purity, goodness, or essential quality. As an adjective, satvika describes qualities associated with sattva, one of the three gunas in Samkhya philosophy and its later Hindu developments. Sattva denotes harmony, clarity, truthfulness, compassion, and balance; rajas denotes activity and desire; tamas denotes ignorance and inertia. In classical texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras, a satvik temperament is valued as conducive to spiritual growth, ethical living, and mental steadiness.

In practice, a satvika person is said to cultivate nonviolence (ahimsa), truthfulness, self-control, kindness, and equanimity. Diet and daily routines are also described in satvic terms. A satvik diet emphasizes pure, fresh, light, and nourishing foods, often vegetarian and prepared with care. It typically aims to minimize stimulation and heaviness associated with other dietary categories, though exact classifications vary among traditions. Foods described as rajasic or tamasic are believed to provoke restlessness or dullness and are discouraged in a satvic regimen.

In modern usage, satvika is employed more broadly to denote environments, activities, or media that promote calmness, ethical living, and mental clarity. While rooted in Hindu philosophy, the term is used across Indian spiritual and wellness contexts to describe a temperament or lifestyle aligned with purity and balance.