Understanding Pancha Bhuta

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According to Ayurvedic philosophy, all living

and non-living matter is made up of five basic elements in various proportions. They are

Prithvi(Earth)

Jala (Water)

Teja ( Fire)

Vayu (Air)

Akash (Ether).

Even the human body is made up of these

elements, known collectively as Pancha Bhutas.

The Element of Akasa (Ether) In the human body there are many spaces for free movement. For e.g. movement of ingested food from mouth into the stomach happens through the wind pipe. These spaces (Srotas or channels of transport) are a presentation of the Akasa element. They are formed during the development of the baby in the mother’s womb. There srotas or channels of transport are presnt in different systems of the body for example, digestive systems, respiratory system, circulatory systems, Lymphatic system cells etc. which can be considered to be derived from the ether or Akasa element. The Element of Vayu (Air) Air is the second cosmic element, the element of movement. Within the human body, air is present in the larger movements of the muscles, the pulsations of the heart, the expanding and contracting of the lungs and the movements of the stomach wall and intestines. Air is also present in the electrical movements of nerves within our body, and therefore the entire central nervous system is governed by element Air (Vayu mahabhuta). The Element of Tejas (Fire) The third element is Tejas or Fire. In the solar system, the source of fire and light is the sun. In our body, the source of fire is the metabolism and it assists in the digestive system. It also manifests as intelligence in our brain cells. Fire also activates the retina which perceives light. In short, body temperature, digestion, the thinking processes and vision are all functions of bodily Fire. The Element of Jala (Water) Jala or Water is the fourth important element in the body. It manifests in the secretions of the juices in digestive tract and the salivary glands, in the mucus membranes and in plasma and inside the body cells. Water is absolutely vital for the functioning of the tissues, organs and various bodily systems, and is therefore called the Water of Life. The sense of taste is perceived by Ap mahabhuta The Element of Prithvi (Earth) Prithvi or the Earth is the fifth and last element of the universe that is present in the microcosm of man. Life is possible on this planet because Earth holds all living and no living substances to its solid surface. Similarly, in the body, the solid structures - bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons, skin, nails and hair - are derived from Earth. The understanding of these concepts aims to help us bring our body into perfect harmony with its conscious mind.