Five Elements in Ayurveda:आयुर्वेद के अनुसार पंचमहाभूत क्या हैं
Ayurveda is an age-old system of medicine that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. This Indian medical system is based on the Vedic texts and provides a comprehensive approach to achieving health and well-being. The cornerstone of Ayurveda’s philosophy is based on the concepts of Doshas and the Five elements.
In Ayurvedic philosophy, Five primary elements are described in ancient Ayurvedic literature. It is believed that the Five Elements, also known as Punch Mahabhuta (पंचमहाभूत) make up our natural world. These Five elements considered as most basic building blocks of the material world, are as follows.
- Space or Ether or Aakash (आकाश)
- Wind or Air (वायु)
- Fire ( अग्नि या तेजस)
- Water ( जल या आपः)
- Earth ( पृथ्वी)
1. Ether or Space or Aakash (आकाश)
Space is the first fundamental element in Ayurveda, sometimes referred to as Ether or Akasha (आकाश). It is the most subdued element among the five. It denotes ubiquitous or all-pervasive means present everywhere. This component represents spirituality. Nobody can feel ether or space. It encapsulates the essence of emptiness and serves as the canvas upon which other elements manifest. It is silent and unseen. It does not imply absence; on the contrary, it is the source of all things and the thread that unites existence. It is what contains everything.
In the realm of Ayurveda, the term “Ether,” also known as “Akasha,” describes the space or route within the human body, Ether is associated with the throat chakra, known as ‘Visuddhi’ which is an essential aspect of understanding Punch Mahabhut and how it relates to our health.
Ether or Space includes the paths throughout our organs, including the mouth, nose, ears, and joints. Ether and Air unite to generate Vata dosha. Individuals are etheric and spiritual if they possess a high amount of this element.
2. Wind or Air (वायु)
Air (वायु) is the second element of punch Mahabhut (पंचमहाभूत) Known as Vayu (वायु) in Sanskrit. It is connected to the first element, Ether because it evolves from Ether. It represents the capacity for motion and all forces and movements that occur as a result.
The Skin serves as an interface for the sense of touch and is regarded as the corresponding sensory organ of the Air element.
We associate air in our body with the air we breathe. Ancient Rishis acknowledged the air as synonymous with prana (life energy) as the direct source of life. Based on the direction of motion, Air is described in five forms according to its direction of movement.
- Inward (prana)
- Outward (vyana)
- Upward (udana)
- Downward (apana)
- Center (samana): force that stabilizes these movements toward the center
Air is present in the body in the form of motion. Its power allows the blood to circulate, breath to move, nerve impulses to travel, thoughts to flow, and joints to propel movement. The vitiation of the air element results in disorders related to both touch perception and grasping.
3. Fire (तेजस या अग्नि)
The third element, Fire or Agni, is an essential element associated with the first two components of Ayurveda. Fire burns both Space and Air. Fire is a symbol of digestion, energy, metabolism, and transformation. The human body produces energy, which is the function of Fire. Fire governs Digestive fire or Agni which resides in the stomach and small intestine. It is also responsible for regulating the stomach and aiding in the body’s absorption of food.
A strong ‘Agni’ ensures efficient digestion and nutrient absorption. The Eyes are considered sensory organs for fire elements. Fire also plays a crucial role in maintaining vision and clarity of perception. Fire also impacts our mind, and provides it with illumination and clarity.
Individuals with a Strong Fire element are often enthusiastic, possess leadership skills, and little impatient. People who have low Fire elements in their bodies have poor digestion.
4. Water (जल या आपः)
Water is also known as Jala the fourth element in Ayurveda. Since water is derived from the other three elements, it is related to them. Water regulates the bodily fluids. It exists in various forms in our body like saliva, blood, sweat, semen, etc. The tongue is considered a sensory organ for water elements.
This component has an association with both emotion and nourishment. The body is protected by the Water element from the negative effects of all other elements, which makes it special.
Water is linked with ‘Rasa’ leads to taste. Therefore Taste related problems are associated with the water element. Anyone can touch Water and even taste it and find it tasteless. Although our bodies find water soothing, it is inconsistent and unstable. A significant portion i.e. 70% of our body consists of water. Therefore imbalance of water elements can have various effects. Anyone having excess water elements in their body constitution leads to problems in the digestive fire and may cause weight gain while too little water elements can lead to problems like constipation.
5. Earth ( पृथ्वी)
The fifth element in Ayurveda, Earth, or Prithvi, is a mixture of the other four elements i.e. space, air, fire, and water. Earth is Stable and cool. This component represents grounding energy.
In the context of elements of Ayurveda (पंचमहाभूत), the Nose is considered a sensory organ of earth element. Earth element influences the body’s physical structure, encompasses muscles and bones, and controls one’s ability to smell. The water and Earth elements combine to form the Kapha constitution.
When the earth element is balanced as per elements of Ayurveda (पंचमहाभूत) it imparts stability, confidence, and a sense of groundedness. If earth element predominates in one’s body it can manifest as thick hair, skin, nails, lethargy, and a feeling of heaviness. An imbalance of earth elements can lead to weak bones, muscle weakness, elevated cholesterol levels, weight fluctuation, alteration in bone density, etc. Individuals with deficiencies of earth elements should eat a lot of nuts and root vegetables.
These Five elements elements of Ayurveda (पंचमहाभूत) form the basis of life and each has unique traits that allow it to exert influence over the mind and body of a human. You can make the necessary modifications to your diet and lifestyle by understanding these Five elements. These five elements combine to form Ayurveda Doshas i.e. Vata, Pitta & Kapha. for more details, you can read this article about Ayurveda Doshas
