According to Ayurveda all objects living and non-living are made up of 5 basic elements. Prithvi (earth element), Jala (water element), Agni (fire element), Vayu (air element) and Akasaha (space element)
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Aakasha or Ether or space element
Meaning of Pancha mahabhuta
Ayurveda quotes ” इह हि द्रव्यं पञ्च महा भूतात्मकम्।”. All objects living or nonliving are made of Pancha mahabhuta or 5 basic elements. Which means
Pancha means 5 in number
Maha means in large quantity (just like omnipresent) or present everywhere.
Bhuta means elements or Existence
These are present in all the live, active, and inert objects of the universe. This also includes human beings, animals, and plants. Since they are present in all components of the universe they are called Maha Bhuta.
5 maha bhuta
- Prithvi – Earth, Soil, or Mud
- Ap or Jala – Water
- Teja or Agni – Fire
- Vayu – Air
- Akasha – Space or Ether
Prithvi or Earth element:
Wherever there is a hard, heavy, and solid object it contains earth or pruthvi as a major element. Example – rock, mud, dry wooden log, metals in solid form, etc.
Hardness, heaviness, roughness, and solid structure are characteristics of earth elements or Prithvi maha bhuta.
In our body- Nails, bones (asthi dhatu), teeth, muscles (mamsa dhatu), tendons, hair, etc contain earth as a major element.
AAP or Water element:
When an object is soft, slimy, or in liquid form, that means it contains more water element. Example – juice of the fruit, water, sap from plant etc.
Softness, sliminess, and coldness are characteristics of the water elements.
In our body –Blood (rakta dhatu), sweat, semen (shukra dhatu), body fluids, etc contain water as major element.
Teja or Agni or Fire element
Whenever an object increases the temperature of another substance and makes it hot, glowing, and penetrates deep layers of that substance, that shows the presence of a fire element. Heat, light, sharpness, and glow are characteristics of the fire element. Example- Sun, lava, forest fire, etc
In our body – temperature, skin glow, metabolism, vision, eyes, etc. have fire as a major element.
Vayu or Air element
All types of gases, atmospheric air, movements, growth, represent air element. The air element is always dry and light. Hence it moves fast.
In our body – Movements of organs, pulsation of blood vessels, all the sensory and motor activities, regeneration of tissues, breathing, blinking of eyes all happen due to air element.
Aakasha or Ether or space element
Wherever there is a space it is akasha. Space between planets, satellites, pores in a stone, pores in the soil, etc represents space. This element differentiates substances and expands.
In our body- All sinuses of the body, space between cells, the lumen of blood vessels and nerves, hollow tubes of the digestive system, ducts of glands, etc constitute akasha or space element.
Panchamahabhuta dominance in Tridosha
Vata – Akasha + Vayu
Pitta – Agni + Jala
Kapha – Pruthvi + Jala
Panchamahabhuta dominance in Sapta Dhatu
Rasa (lymph) – Jala +
Rakta (blood) – Jala + Agni ++
Maamsa (muscle) – Pruthvi ++ Jala
Medas (fat) – Jala +++, Pruthvi +
Asthi(bone) – Pruthvi ++ , Aakasha+
Majja (marrow) – Jala +++ Pruthvi +
Sukra (semen) – Jala ++ Pruthvi +
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Author: Dr.Savitha Suri , Consultant Ayurvedic Physician
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