Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.3331

c7.3331

(v) Before the origin of the Universe the shapeless qualityless Parāśakti permeated everything. From it there were born three powers: Jñānaśakti, Kriyāśakti and Arthaśakti. The power of Sattvaguṇa was Jñānaśakti, the power of Rajoguṇa was Kriyāśakti and the power of Tamoguṇa was Arthaśakti. From the divine power of Tāmasa came the five basic things, sound, colour, touch, taste and smell. The quality of the sky was sound, the quality of air was touch, the quality of fire was colour, the quality of water was taste and the quality of earth was smell.