PanchaMahabhutas: The Five Great Elements of Life

Akasha: The Element of Ether

Location in the body: Head, Throat, Heart, Stomach, Intestines, blood vessels, bladder
Energetic Qualities of Ether: spaciousness, subtlety, emptiness, potentiality, and immeasurable
Mental/Emotional Qualities: receptivity, humility,
Related Sense: hearing
Sense Organ: Ear
Related Chakra: Vishuddha or Throat Chakra
Ether element is related with various actions like expansion, vibration, non-resistance.

Akash (Ether): The element ether, called “akasha” in Sanskrit is the first of the five great
elements (panchamahabhutus). It comes first because it is the most subtle of the elements. Often
referred to as “space,” it is the essence of emptiness.

Akash means having a cavity with freedom to move. It is the space the other elements fill.
The tanmatra of ether element is Shabda (Sound). Sound and ether are inseparable.
The ear is considered the associated sense organ of the element ether,
Mouth (voice) is its organ of action.
Hearing loss and loss of the voice are difficulties that are often due to defect of the ether element
in the body.

Ether has qualities, but unlike the other elements, ether’s qualities are based more upon the
absence of its opposing quality.
The vata dosha contains both ether and air. Hence, any defect of ether will ultimately result in a
defect of vata. Therefore, one method of controlling vatadosha is to prevent ether from increasing.

In our diet, the bitter taste contains the most ether, although ether by itself is tasteless. The bitter
taste is composed of both ether and air, Consuming bitter foods is an excellent way to increase the
influence of the ether element.
The winter is the season of ether.

Fasting is the powerful means of attain this element. Even if we eat little less than needed for
complete satisfaction of hunger, we gain this element and achieve peace and bliss.

} Dry fasting-not taking anything including water.

} Juice fasting-consumption of juices only.
} Fruit fasting-eating fruits only.
} Fasting is, in a real sense, not consuming anything other than water and the intake of
which need to be doubled.
} During of fasting most of the vital energy that usually participates in the processes of
digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food will be conserved and diverted for
elimination of toxins from the body by activating the organs of toxin elimination.

Besides fast, it can be attain by celibacy and self control, mental balance, rest and relaxation and
sleep.

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Vayu: The Element or Air or Wind
Moving from subtle to gross the next element is the element of air and the principle of
movement. We can experience the element of air as the wind, which blows and when strong
enough can flatten buildings or whip up great storms at sea. We can also experience it directly
through our breath.

Composition of Air
Nitrogen(N2) 78.08%
Oxygen(O2) 20.94%
Argon(Ar) 0.93%
Carbon Dioxide(Co2) 0.033%

Human Respiration: A person breathes 10 to 18 times in a minute. The air that leaves the human
lungs during exhalation contains 14% oxygen and 4.4 % Co2.

Atmosphere with oxygen concentration below 19% can have adverse physiological effects and
less than 16% oxygen can be life threatening.

Location in the body: Lungs, interstitial space

Energetic Qualities of Air: expansive, dynamic, cerebral, giving & receiving
Mental/Emotional Qualities: creativity, expression, intelligence
Related Sense: touch
Sensory organ: Skin
Related Chakra: Anahata or Heart Chakra
Air element is mobile, dry, light, cold and subtle in nature.

Air (Vayu) is the great element that shows a sense of movement. The element of air represents the
capacity for motion or kinetic energy. Air element keeps the body in constant motion. Its main
action is to do any kind of movement.

The tanmatra of Air element is Sparsha (Touch). The sensory organ related to Air element is skin.
Touch and air are inseparable. Because of their intimate relationship, the skin (through which we
receive touch) is considered the associated sense organ of the element air. Touch and air are
inseparable. Because of their intimate relationship, the skin (through which we receive touch) is
considered the associated sense organ of the element air.

The hands (through which we reach out and touch the world) are its associated organ of action.
Hence, disorders of tactile perception and those of grasping are the result of disturbances in the
functions of the air element.

We associate the element air with the air we breathe. Thus, the ancient rishis recognized air as the
immediate source of life. A lack of air will kill us faster than a lack of any other element. Thus,
the concept of vayu (air) is synonymous with that of prana (life energy). In nature, the ancient
rishis described air in five forms according to its direction of movement:
1. upward (udana)
2. inward (prana)
3. outward (vyana)
4. downward (apana)
5. and that which balances and stabilizes these movements, a force that pulls to toward the
center (samana). These five types of movements are called both the five vayus and the five
pranas.

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In the body, It is the force allowing blood to circulate, breath to move, nerve impulses to glide,
thoughts to flow, and joints to do movement.

Excess motion in the nervous system results in hyper-excitability, deficient motion produces
sluggishness and dullness, while blocked flow results in a complete loss of motion.

The vatadosha contains both air and ether. Any defect of air will ultimately result in a defect of
vata. Vata remains healthy when motion is controlled, but able to flow without obstruction.
Control prevents excess flow while freedom prevents stagnation. Balance is the key to healthy
vata. Steady, healthy routines subsequently keep the vatadosha from becoming disturbed.

All of creation is made up of the five elements in different proportions. In our diet, the bitter taste
contains the most air. The bitter taste is composed of both air and ether; it is air that provides the
uniqueness of the taste. Consuming bitter foods is an excellent way to increase the influence of
the air element. This is wonderful if a person is sluggish or lazy. However, an excess of air in the
diet, especially in the diet of an individual with a vata constitution, can result in too much motion.
While this increases activity it also leads to a loss of stability and dryness.

Autumn is the season of air. The season of air begins as the leaves begin to fall. The weather
becomes cooler and there is a sense of transition or movement in the weather.

Air Bathing is the means to attain the element air. Pranayamas and breathing techniques, Aerobics
exercises are the best means to attune the air elements.

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Tejas: The Element of Fire

Energetic Qualities of Fire: passion, intention, transformation

Mental/Emotional Qualities: discernment, focus, desire
Related Sense: vision
Sensory organ: Eye
Related Chakra: Manipura or Solar Plexus Chakra
Fire element is hot, sharp, light, dry and subtle.

The element fire, called “tejas” in Sanskrit, is the third of the five great elements
(panchamahabhutus). This element is also called as teja, sun or agni. All various forms of
transformation including digestion of food are carried out by fire element.
The tanmatra of fire element is Rupa (Vision). Perception of light is carries out by this tanmatra.
Fire and the visual sense have a special relationship. Fire provides the light for perception. The
eyes are the vehicle through which light perception takes place. Hence, disorders of visual
perception are primarily those of the element fire.

Various functions carried out by this element are penetration, digestion of food, and
transformation of thoughts, intelligence and perception of light.

The fire element represents the capacity for heat and light. Fire is the generator of energy in the
body just as the sun is the generator of energy for the earth. Fire represents all sources of energy
in the world. In the human body, fire is expressed in five distinct ways.

1. The fire that provides our body with the capacity to digest food is called PACHAKAAGNI.
2. The fire that ignites the intellect, and allows for understanding is SADHAKAAGNI.
3. The fire of perception that digests visual impression into recognizable images is called
ALOCHAKAAGNI.
4. The fire that energizes the body, adding color to the body is called RANJAKAAGNI.
5. The fire that digests touch and sunlight and gives off the radiance associated with healthy
skin is the light provided by BHRAJAKAAGNI.
Since fire has a destructive quality, in the body it is always mixed with a small amount of
water to keep it from destroying the tissues.

The container of fire is pitta. Hence, the five agnis are also called the five types of pitta. The pitta
dosha contains both fire and water but it is fire that plays the more dominating role. Hence, any
vitiation of fire will ultimately result in a vitiation of pitta. Pitta remains healthy as the fires of the
body are well tended. A lack of fire in the body results in a loss of luster of the skin and
metabolism slows down. In the digestive system food is poorly digested.

In our diet, the pungent, sour, and salty tastes contain the most fire. Of these, the pungent taste will
increase fire the most rapidly, but it is the sour taste that has the greatest long term effect. Pickled
foods, yogurt etc are example of sour foods.
Summer is the season of fire. Summer is the most naturally active time of year.
Exposure to sunlight during morning (between 7and 8 am) has profound influence in promoting
heath (enhancing the vital energy) restoration o health.
Major benefits-promotion of blood circulation, vitamin-D synthesis, calcification of bone,
improvement in skin functioning in the elimination of toxins(sweat), improvement in body
resistance.
Color (chromo) Therapy: The different color in the visible sunlight such as violet, indigo, blue,
yellow, orange, and red have therapeutic effect.

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Ap: The Element of Water

Water is nourishing to all of life and as one of the five elements it represents the principle of
fluidity.
Energetic Qualities of Water: reflection, flux, nourishment, fluidity.
The main principle of water is transportation. In modern science,water is known as the universal
solvent because of its ability to dissolve other substances and suspend them in its medium. Within
the body it predominantly manifests as the plasma and lymph which transport nutrients to the
cells, and toxins away from cells smoothly and effectively.

Mental/Emotional Qualities: flexibility, adaptability, empathy, emotionality

Related Sense: Taste
Sensory organ: Tounge
Related Chakra: Swadhistana or Pelvic Chakra
Water is cool, stable, heavy, moist, smooth, gross, flowing, dull, cloudy, and soft.

Jala (Water): The fourth element is water. It is also called as Jala or Apa. Water shows important
quality of binding - e.g. if we see dry soil, we cannot make a ball out of it. But if we add water to
the soil, then we can easily make mud balls. This binding nature helps in forming different
structures in the body as it binds the 2 cells together. Hence this element is a constructive
force. Its main actions are cohesiveness and adhesiveness.

The tanmatra of water element is rasa (taste). The tongue is the vehicle through which the rasa tanmatra
manifests.The sense of taste or the ability to taste depends on the liquidity that exists within in the mouth
in the form of saliva. Dry mouth along with dry tongue is unable to give sense of taste. Taste depends upon
the water element for its manifestation, disorders of the ability to taste are due to an imbalance of the water
element. Water is the protector of the body. It provides the body with its most basic nourishment. The
water element sooths all pain and inflammation in the body.Responsible for carrying out various
physiological functions (including absorption and assimilation of digested food) in the body.
Body loses more than two liters of water every day through elimination of faces, urine, sweat, and
carbon dioxide.
It is interesting to note that the taste buds of the tongue only work when water or saliva is present.
No water, no taste. The urethra is the organ of action. Through the male urethra, highly potent
reproductive fluid is expelled from the body. Through the male and female urethra, water is
expelled in the form of urine. Imbalances of the water element in the body can be observed by
monitoring changes in a person’s experience of taste as well as through alterations of urine or
seminal fluid.

The Five Waters of the Body

In the human body, water is expressed in five distinct ways, known as the five types of kapha.
1. The water that protects the mouth against the actions of chewing and against the enzyme that
begins the breakdown of carbohydrate (salivary amylase) is called bodhakakapha.
Bodhakakapha is the salivary fluid, and also the mucous membrane secretions of the lips,
checks, and pharynx.
2. The water that protects the mucous membranes of our stomach against the acids that aid
digestion is called kledaka kapha.
3. The water that stabilizes the flow of neurological impulses and protects the nerves of the
brain is called tarpaka kapha.
4. The water that protects the joints from the friction of motion is called sleshakakapha.
Sleshaka kapha is found in the synovial fluid that moistens joint surfaces, and in the bursae
that allow tendons to glide smoothly over each other.

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5. The water that protects the respiratory system from the movement of breath (a drying
process) is called avalambaka kapha. Avalambakakapha keeps the mucous membranes of the
bronchi and lungs healthy and also provides the fluids that support the pleura and
pericardium.
It is water that is responsible for most of the protective and healing aspects of the
kaphadosha.

Consequences of Excess and Deficient Water on the Dhatus

The stomach is the home of the kaphadosha. If the qualities of water increase too much, they
overflow from the stomach into circulation and flood the tissues of the body. When food is taken
in that is too moist or oily, water builds up and reduces the strength of the digestive fire.
Digestion becomes impaired and food moves slowly through the digestive system. The
accompanying reduction in appetite and a sense of heaviness in the abdomen are among the
earliest signs that kapha is increasing and out of balance. As water overflows from the digestive
system, it often settles in the watery tissues of the body. These tissues are the rasa (plasma),
medas (fat) and shukra (fluidic reproductive tissue) dhatus. The quantities of these tissues’
increase results in edema, obesity, and an increase in genital waste secretions (smegma).
Secondary watery tissues increase as well, resulting an increase in menstrual flow and breast milk
supply in women. Unfortunately, the quality of the increased breast milk and menstrual fluids are
of poor quality and are often mixed with mucous.

Water deficiency results in many of the opposite qualities. The rasa, medas and shukra become
too dry, resulting in dehydration, dry mucous membranes, dry skin, weight loss, and weakness in
the reproductive tissues. A dry rasa also results in a decrease in urination, sweating, and the
formation of dry, hard stools. In addition, the lips and eyes become dry.

Water in the Diet

In our diet, the sweet taste is the main source of water. Cooked grains, non-fermented dairy, oils,
nuts, and fatty meats are foods with ample water element within them.

Water and the Seasons

Spring is the season of water. It is the season in which the water stored within the snow begins to
flow from the mountains into the rivers and streams. During this time, the water element in our
bodies naturally increases and flowsis also increases.

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Prithivi: The Element of Earth
Energetic Qualities of Earth Element: stability, support, strength
Mental/Emotional Qualities: devotion, steadiness, commitment, accountability
Related Sense: smell
Sensory organ: Nose
Related Chakra: Muladhara or Root Chakra
Earth is cool, stable, heavy, dry, rough, gross, dense, dull, clear, and hard.

Prithvi (Earth) is the last element. It is solid, dense, gross and very hard. It is related to all solid
and hard structures that show shape - e.g. bones, muscles, teeth and nails. The Earth element is
responsible for giving structure, shape and strength to the body.

The element earth, called “prithvi” in Sanskrit, is the fifth of the five great elements
(panchamahabhutus). It comes fifth because it evolves out of each of the other four elements
(ether, air, fire and water), containing the essence of these elements within it. Ether provides earth
the space to exist within. Air provides earth with subtle movements seen on a subatomic level.
Fire (energy) is latent within earth, bound by the chemical bonds of nature that hold structure
together. Water is also inherent within earth. Water is the bridge between the gaseous state of
matter and the solid state. As matter becomes denser, gas (air, ether and fire) collectively convert
into water (fluidic matter). The process of densification continues until matter becomes solid.
Earth is the elemental representative of the solid nature of matter.

The earth element is the tanmatra of smell called gandha. The state of the earth element in the
body and the capacity to smell are deeply connected. The gandha tanmatra is not the smell itself,
but smell is dependent upon it. Disorders of the ability to smell reflect an imbalance of the earth
element.

The nose is the vehicle through which the gandha tanmatra manifests. Through the nose we take
in the scents of creation. These impressions enter the body, mind and consciousness deeply
affecting us physically and emotionally. The rectum is the organ of action. Through consumption
and defecation, the balance of earth element in the body is regulated. If too much earth is released,
as occurs in diarrhoea, body structure weakens. If too little earth is released, as occurs in
constipation.

Earth in Ayurved

The kapha dosha is made up of earth and water. As kapha dosha increases in the body, there is a
general increase in both fluid and structure, Increases in the earth element results in a thickening
of the structures of the body.

Out of the seven dhatus of the body, earth is found in significant quantity in the mass that makes
up the mams, medas and asthi dhatus. These three dhatus are immediately dependent upon a
healthy earth element in the body. While the other dhatus do not have large amounts of earth
contained with them, they could not hold their form without it. Thus, earth provides the basic
structure of the rasa, rakta, majja, and shukra dhatus as well. Therefore, the entire body is
dependent upon the earth element for its health and well-being.

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Earth enters the body through the foods we consume. When an excess of the earth element is
taken into the body, as occurs with overeating, Existing structures become larger where an
increase in size is possible, and they become both thicker and denser where the potential for
longitudinal growth is limited. Excesses of earth that exceed the body’s capacity to convert it into
other structures are stored in the body as a part of the medas dhatu (fat).

An examination of a patient with large amounts of the earth element in the body reveals thick
skin, strong finger nails, large muscles, and coarse, dense hair.

Deficiencies in the earth element in the body result in a weakness of body structures. Lacking in
the raw materials to build solid tissues, the bones become weakened and osteoporosis places the
bones at risk of fracture. Muscle mass is reduced and body fat decreases. As one function of the
earth element is to retain heat, the body’s ability to regulate internal temperature decreases and an
individual easily feels cold. Lacking in substance, a person with a deficiency of earth is unable to
stand up against the challenges of the world and is easily pushed aside by stronger forces.

Earth is prevalent in the seasons of late winter and early spring..

In the cycle of life and death, earth represents the gestational period inside the womb where the
basic structure of the body is formed. During this time, proper maternal nutrition providing the
necessary earth element is essential for proper growth and development. A lack of earth element
at this time can permanently deform a child. The earth element continues to play an important role
in the development of the child until growth is complete.