Tamas is not just sleep

Tamas is not just the sleepy darkness and dullness that is sometimes encountered in meditation.

The very appearance of objects in the waking state is tamas!

AvaraNa shakti is due to tamas.
Vikshepa shakti is due to rajas.

JnAna shakti is due to sattva. 

In perception of objects this jnAna is malina sattva. 

Pure jnAna is guNAtIta.