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Pancha mahabhuta
Ayurveda believes
that everything in this universe is made up of five basic elements.
These five elements are space (akash); air (vayu), fire (tej), water (aap), earth
(prithvi) and collectively they are termed as Panchmahabhuta. Every thing, including living and
nonliving things, is made up of these basic elements. Every matter
contains all of these five elements.
These elements refer
to the etheric, gaseous, radiant, fluid and solid states of matter
respectively. The principle natures of elements are space,
movement, light, cohesion and density. The elements are subtler and
prime substances from which different objects are made.
A single living cell
is a unique
combination of these
five elements - the earth element
gives structure to the cell. The water element is present in the cytoplasm or
the liquid within the cell membrane. The metabolic processes being
carried out in the cell symbolize the fire element. The gaseous exchange-taking place symbolizes the air element. The space occupied by the cell symbolizes the Space or ether element.
The pores or channels through which nutrition reaches the cell and the
metabolic waste products that are formed are excreted out denote the
space element.
In the case of a
multi-cellular organism as a human being, spaces within the body
(mouth, nostrils, abdomen etc.) denotes the ether or space element; the
gases and the impulses or movements denote the air element; The
functioning of enzymes (intelligence, digestive system, metabolism)
denotes the fire element; All body fluids (as plasma, saliva, digestive
juices) denotes the water element; Solid structure of the body (bones,
teeth, flesh, hair etc.) denotes the earth element.
Each of these prime
elements possesses a characteristic property through which we can
apprehend it through our senses.
-The property of space is sound which is
experienced through ears
-The property of air is touch, which is
experienced through skin.
-The property of fire is sight, which is
experienced through eyes
-The property of water is taste, which is
experience through tongue
-The property of earth is smell, which is
experience through nose.
Skin can feel the effect of all the five elements
indirectly through non-resistance (ether), vibration (air), change of
temperature (fire), fluidity (water) and shape (earth).
Ayurveda define all body systems and their
functions in terms of five elements and their properties.
The harmonic balance of these properties brings health and any
unbalance causes ill health. The combination of five-elements in each
system is defined as ‘Dosha’. These combinations of Pancha mahabhoota are different for each individual and so
as the body’s constitution.
To learn more about the body constitution and dosha
please read “Tridosha”
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