Pancha Bhoota

Pancha Bhoota or Pancha Maha-Bhoota (Sanskrit: पञ्चभूत, पञ्चमहाभूत; pañca-mahā-bhūta), five great elements, also five physical elements, is a group of five basic elements, which, according to Hinduism, is the basis of all cosmic creation.^[1] These elements are: Prithvi/Bhudevi (Sanskrit: पृथ्वी:, Earth), Apas/Varuna/Jal (Sanskrit: अप:, Water), Agni (Sanskrit: अग्नि, Fire), Vayu (Sanskrit: वायु:, Air), Akasha/Dyaus (Sanskrit: आकाश, Space/Atmosphere/Ether). These elements have different characteristics and these also account for different faculties of human experience. In ayurveda and Indian philosophy, the human body is considered to be made of these five elements.^[2] However, Cārvāka did not accept Akash as basic element as it is not tangible and according to them, there are only four basic elements.^[3] Hinduism influenced Buddhism which accepts only four Mahābhūtas, viewing Akash as a derived (upādā) element. These five elements of Indian cosmological system are similar but not identical to five element theory used in East Asia.^[4]

Description[]

The pancha bhoota are the basic elements that make up any living organism on Earth or anywhere else in the Universe. Below table gives a reference on what component of the human body is associated with these elements. Each of the five finger in human beings is also associated with a particular element, so this means the energy associated with the appropriate element can be channelized through various hand mudras.^[3]

Bhoota (Element)	Human Body Component	Associated Finger	Associated consort	Characteristic principle^[5]	Sense Organs
Akash/Dyaus (Space)	Astral body	Middle Finger	Bhumi/Prithvi	Sound	Ears
Vayu (Air)	Air	Index Finger	Lehari	Touch	Skin (tvac)
Agni (Fire)	Body Heat	Thumb	Swaha	Form-colour (Rupa)	Eyes
Jal/Varuna (Water)	Water (incl blood)	Little Finger	Varuni	Taste (rasa)	Tongue
Prithvi/Bhumi (Earth)	Flesh, bones & organs	Ring Finger	Dyaus/Akasha or Varaha/Vishnu	Smell	Nose

Ayurveda[]

According to ayurveda and Yoga, Pancha Bhoota are associated with overall health of human being. Any disorder in human body indicates imbalance of one or more of these elements. Yoga Tattva Mudra Vijnana relates these five elements to five fingers of human being. Different Mudra were developed to balance these^[6] in human body which form the Hasta Mudra in yogic tradition and are used in Naturopathy.

The three dosha- three intrinsic tendencies, which, according to ayurveda are intrinsic in every human being, are representation of combination of these five elements in human body. The three Dosha have subtle positive essences which control the mind and body function.^[7]

Dosha	Bhoota Composition	Characteristic
Vata	Vayu, Akash	Prana
Pitta	Agni, Jal/Apas	Tejas
Kapha	Prithvi, Jal/Apas	Ojas

Yogic view[]

According to Yoga, the aim of sadhana is to have mastery over oneself. This mastery can be achieved by mastering all the basic elements. The process of gaining mastery over these elements and purifying them is called Bhuta Shuddhi.

Pancha Bhoota Stalam is representation of pancha bhoota for yogic practice. People used to move from one temple to another and do sadhana on particular basic element.^[8]

The seven Chakras in the human subtle body are associated with these five elements.^[7]

Chakra	Bhoota	Characteristic
Muladhara Chakra	Prithvi	Stability, Support
Swadhishthan Chakra	Jal	Joy, Well-being
Manipura Chakra	Agni	Wisdom, Power
Anahata Chakra	Vayu	Compassion
Vishuddha Chakra	Akash	Trust, Creativity
Ajna Chakra	Akash	Knowledge, Intuition, Dignity
Sahasrara Chakra	Akash	Oneness

Hasta Mudras[]

Hasta Mudra or hand posture is based on the panch bhootas. The basic assumption is that all the five elements can be represented by five different fingers in human body as shown in the table below.^[9]

Finger Name	Bhoota
Kanishthika, Little Finger	Jal/Apas
Anamika, Ring Finger	Prithvi
Madhyama, Middle Finger	Akash
Tarjani, Index Finger	Vayu
Angustha, Thumb	Agni

Vastu[]

Vastu shastra emphasizes on the placement of five elements in specified direction and the balance of these elements determines the condition of the associated structure.^[7]

Bhoota	Associated Direction	Characteristics
Akasha/Dyaus	East	Expansion, enhancement
Vayu/Pavan	West	Movements, joy, happiness
Agni	South	Power, confidence, fame
Jal/Apas/Varuna	North	Spirituality, ideas, thoughts, healing
Prithvi/Bhumi	Center, Diagonal	Stability, peace and harmony

These correlations are used to define an ideal home: The house itself is placed so that maximum load and weight is in the southwest area of the plot. Thus, there is maximum open space in the north and east sides of the plot, satisfying Vayu/air and Akasha/aether. The main gate, the verandah and the main door are in the northeast of the house; south of the verandah the main living room, and south of that one or two bedrooms. The kitchen is placed in the southeast corner of the house, to balance Akasha and Agni.

Taste[]

Pancha Bhoota is associated with six human tastes/Rasas as below.^[7]

Taste/Rasa	Associated Bhoota
Madhura/Sweet	Jala, Prithvi (Earth and Water)
Amla/Sour	Prithvi, Agni (Earth and Fire)
Lavana/Salty	Jala, Agni (Water and Fire)
Katu/Pungent	Vayu, Agni (Air and Fire)
Tikta/Bitter	Akasha, Vayu (Aether and Air)
Kashaya/Astringent	Vayu, Prithvi (Air and Earth)

References[]

^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 79.
^ Venkatesan, Satish (2013-03-01). Ayurvedic remedies: An introduction. ISBN 978-9881224149. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Prasad Sinha, Harendra (2006). Bharatiya Darshan Ki Rooprekha. Motilal Banarsidass Publisher. p. 86. ISBN 9788120821446. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
^ Carroll, Cain (2012). Mudras of India. p. 18. ISBN 978-1848191099. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
^ Motilal Bansaridas Publishers Bhagavata Purana Book 1 Skandha III Page 374-375
^ " Five Elements
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "PANCHA BHOOTAS OR THE FIVE ELEMENTS". indianscriptures.com/. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
^ "pancha-bhutas-the-possibility-of-the-five-elements". ishafoundation.org. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
^ Sharma, Shiv (2003). Brilliance of Hinduism. p. 93. ISBN 978-8128800825. Retrieved 3 April 2015.

[1] Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 79.

[2] Venkatesan, Satish (2013-03-01). Ayurvedic remedies: An introduction. ISBN 978-9881224149. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

[BDR-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b Prasad Sinha, Harendra (2006). Bharatiya Darshan Ki Rooprekha. Motilal Banarsidass Publisher. p. 86. ISBN 9788120821446. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

[Mudra-4] Carroll, Cain (2012). Mudras of India. p. 18. ISBN 978-1848191099. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

[5] Motilal Bansaridas Publishers Bhagavata Purana Book 1 Skandha III Page 374-375

[6] " Five Elements

[IS-7] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "PANCHA BHOOTAS OR THE FIVE ELEMENTS". indianscriptures.com/. Retrieved 25 March 2015.

[8] "pancha-bhutas-the-possibility-of-the-five-elements". ishafoundation.org. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

[BH-9] Sharma, Shiv (2003). Brilliance of Hinduism. p. 93. ISBN 978-8128800825. Retrieved 3 April 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]