Panchamahabhutas
Ayurveda uses the Panchamahabhutas (five great elements) of nature to explain how the world works. Because of this the explanations in Ayurveda are more infused with imagination, colors and examples from the nature. This is why Ayurveda invites us to use our understanding using something more than only our brains and rational thoughts. It is necessary to open our mind and begin to think in terms of these five elements.
“Pancha” means five and “mahabhutas” means great elements. Panchamahabhutas is translated as the five great elements, they are the structural entities of the self. The living and the non living, plants and animals are constituted by these five elements. They are:
These Sanskrit words do not have the same exact meaning in English, they also have other meanings associated to them, but these translations are worldly used to understand the principles of Ayurveda.
In the Indian culture, the Panchamahabhutas are constantly present and alive. They are included in rituals such as the Fire Ceremony, where the five elements are represented through out the whole ritual. For us to understand how these five elements exist in our world, we can think of an atom, imagine the protons, neutrons, electrons and the orbit of the electron:
It is important to understand the order of these five elements. Akash is the lightest element. It is said that God is the only one Whom is lighter than Akash, for the reason that God is the one that pervades everything in the whole universe. Akash can only be heard, for example when a pressurized bottle is opened we hear a “tsssss” sound: that is the Akash element present. Less light than Akash is Vayu, it can be felt through our skin and also be heard. Agni is heavier in density than Vayu, it is possible to feel it with the eyes, skin and ears. Jala is heavier than Agni, it is possible to feel it with the tongue, skin, ears and eyes. Finally Prthvi is the heaviest element, it can be felt with the nose and also skin, ears, eyes and tongue. According to that, there is a sense organ related to each element, this sense organ helps us to identify specifically that element.
The following table can summarized the information about the Panchamahabhutas.
Ayurveda uses the Panchamahabhutas (five great elements) of nature to explain how the world works. Because of this the explanations in Ayurveda are more infused with imagination, colors and examples from the nature. This is why Ayurveda invites us to use our understanding using something more than only our brains and rational thoughts. It is necessary to open our mind and begin to think in terms of these five elements.
“Pancha” means five and “mahabhutas” means great elements. Panchamahabhutas is translated as the five great elements, they are the structural entities of the self. The living and the non living, plants and animals are constituted by these five elements. They are:
- Aakash (Ether) : It is the space where matter exists
- Vayu (Air) : It is the gaseous state of matter
- Agni (Fire) : It is the power of transformation of matter
- Jala (Water) : It is the liquid state of matter
- Prthvi (Earth) : It is the solid state of matter
These Sanskrit words do not have the same exact meaning in English, they also have other meanings associated to them, but these translations are worldly used to understand the principles of Ayurveda.
In the Indian culture, the Panchamahabhutas are constantly present and alive. They are included in rituals such as the Fire Ceremony, where the five elements are represented through out the whole ritual. For us to understand how these five elements exist in our world, we can think of an atom, imagine the protons, neutrons, electrons and the orbit of the electron:
- Akash (Ether): It is the space that neutrons, protons and electrons occupy.
- Vayu (Air) : It is what produces the movement of the electrons.
- Agni (Fire) : It is the hidden energy in the atom that is released when it is broken down.
- Jala (Water) : It is the force that keeps everything together and in place.
- Prthvi (Earth): It is the matter itself, the neutrons, protons and electrons.
It is important to understand the order of these five elements. Akash is the lightest element. It is said that God is the only one Whom is lighter than Akash, for the reason that God is the one that pervades everything in the whole universe. Akash can only be heard, for example when a pressurized bottle is opened we hear a “tsssss” sound: that is the Akash element present. Less light than Akash is Vayu, it can be felt through our skin and also be heard. Agni is heavier in density than Vayu, it is possible to feel it with the eyes, skin and ears. Jala is heavier than Agni, it is possible to feel it with the tongue, skin, ears and eyes. Finally Prthvi is the heaviest element, it can be felt with the nose and also skin, ears, eyes and tongue. According to that, there is a sense organ related to each element, this sense organ helps us to identify specifically that element.
The following table can summarized the information about the Panchamahabhutas.
Through the understanding of how Mahabhuta (great element) is related with every dosha and what dosha may be aggravated in our body, we are ready to comprehend what elements in the food an help us to improve or make worse the balance of the doshas, and therefore, achieve perfect health.
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