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 Create a book Pancha Bhoota or Pancha Maha-Bhoota (Sanskrit: प भूत, प महाभूत), five great elements, Part of a series on
Download as PDF also five physical elements, is a group of five basic elements, which, according to Hinduism, Hindu philosophy
Printable version
is the basis of all cosmic creation.[1] These elements are: Prithvi/Bhudevi (Hindi: पृ वी,
Languages Earth), Apas/Varuna/Jal (Hindi: अप्, Water), Agni (Hindi: अि न, Fire), Vayu (Hindi: वायु, Air),
Add links Aakasha/Dyaus (Hindi: आकाश, Aether). 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, Orthodox
Cārvāka did not accept Akash as basic element as it is not tangible and according to him, Samkhya · Yoga · Nyaya · Vaisheshika ·
there are only four basic elements.[3] Buddhism also accepts four basic elements and Mimamsa · Vedanta

Akash is left out. These five elements of Indian cosmological system are similar but not Heterodox
identical to five element theory used in East Asia.[4] Charvaka · Ājīvika · Buddhism · Jainism

Contents [hide] Other schools [show]

1 Description Teachers (Acharyas) [show]

Major texts [show]
2 Ayurveda
Hinduism
3 Yogic View
Other Indian philosophies
4 Hasta Mudras
5 Vastu V·T·E

6 Taste
7 See also
8 References

Description [ edit ]

Further information: The 36 tattvas

The pancha bhoota are associated with a sense which is perceived by sense organ in human being. Below table gives details of
associated sense, sense organ, and other attributes of elements.[3]

Bhoota Associated Associated Sense Associated Associated

Perception mode Affiliation
(Element) Sense Organ Finger consort

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 Akash/Dyaus Sound Ear Heard Middle Finger Bhumi/Prithvi Deva
(Space)
Vayu (Air) Touch Skin Heard, Felt Index Finger Lehari Deva
Agni (Fire) Sight/Color Eye Heard, Felt, Seen Thumb Swaha Deva
Jal/Varuna
Taste Tongue Heard, Felt, Seen, Tasted Little Finger Varuni Deva
(Water)
Prithvi/Bhumi Heard, Felt, seen, Tasted, Dyaus/Akasha and
Smell Nose Ring Finger Devi
(Earth) Smelled Vishnu

Ayurveda [ edit ]

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[5] 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.[6]

Dosha Bhoota Composition Characteristic

Vata Vayu, Akash Prana
Pitta Agni, Jal/Apas Tejas
Kapha Prithvi, Jal/Apas Ojas

Yogic View [ edit ]

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

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 representation of pancha bhoota for yogic practice. People used to move from one temple to another and do sadhana on particular basic
element.[7]

The seven Chakras in the human subtle body are associated with these five elements.[6]

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 [ edit ]

Further information: List of mudras (yoga)

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.[8]

Finger Name Bhoota

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

Vastu [ edit ]

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 Further information: Vastu shastra

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.[6]

Bhoota Associated Direction Characteristics

Akasha/Dyaus East Expansion, enhancement
Vayu/Pavan North Movements, joy, happiness
Agni South Power, confidence, fame
Jal/Apas/Varuna West 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 [ edit ]

Pancha Bhoota is associated with six human tastes as below.[6]

Taste Associated Bhoota

Sweet jal, prithvi' (Earth and Water)
Sour Prithvi, Agni (Earth and Fire)
Salty Jal, Agni (Water and Fire)
Pungent Vayu, Agni (Air and Fire)
Bitter akash swaraj
Astringent vayu pritvi (Air and Earth)

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 See also [ edit ]

Pancha Bhoota Stalam

Classical element
Mahābhūta
Tanmatras
Mudra

References [ edit ]

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.
3. ^ ab Prasad Sinha, Harendra (2006). Bharatiya Darshan Ki Rooprekha . Motilal Banarsidass Publisher. p. 86. ISBN 9788120821446. Retrieved
18 March 2015.
4. ^ Carroll, Cain (2012). Mudras of India . p. 18. ISBN 978-1848191099. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
5. ^ " Five Elements
6. ^ a b c d "PANCHA BHOOTAS OR THE FIVE ELEMENTS" . indianscriptures.com/. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
7. ^ "pancha-bhutas-the-possibility-of-the-five-elements" . ishafoundation.org. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
8. ^ Sharma, Shiv (2003). Brilliance of Hinduism . p. 93. ISBN 978-8128800825. Retrieved 3 April 2015.

Categories: Hindu philosophical concepts Hindu iconography Classical elements Ayurveda Yoga concepts

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