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Pancha Bhuta (Sanskrit: पञ्चभूत; pañca bhūta), five elements, is a group of five basic elements, which, in Hinduism, is the basis of all cosmic creation.[1] These elements are: Prithvi (Sanskrit: पृथ्वी:, Earth), Apas (Sanskrit: आपः, Water), Agni (Sanskrit: अग्नि, Fire), Vayu (Sanskrit: वायु:, Air), Akasha (Sanskrit: आकाश, Aether).[2] These elements have different characteristics and these also account for different faculties of human experience. In Ayurveda and Indian philosophy, the human body is made of these five elements.[3] However, the Chārvāka system of materialism did not accept Akasha as a basic element as it is not tangible and they accepted that there are only four basic elements.[4] Hinduism influenced Buddhism, which accepts only four Mahābhūtas, viewing Akasha as a derived (upādā) element. These five elements of Indian cosmological system are similar but not identical to five element theory used in China, which is Wuxing.[5]
The Pancha Bhutas are the basic elements that make up any living organisms 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 fingers in humans is also associated with a particular element, so this means the energy associated with the appropriate element can be channelized through various hand mudras.[4]
| Bhuta (Element) | Human Body Component | Associated Finger | Associated consort | Characteristic principle[6] | Sense Organs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akasha (Aether) | Aether | Thumb | Prithvi | Sound | Ears | |
| Vayu (Air) | Air | Index Finger | Bharati | Touch | Skin | |
| Agni (Fire) | Fire | Middle finger | Svaha | Sight | Eyes | |
| Apas (Water) | Water | Ring finger | Varuni | Taste | Tongue | |
| Prithvi (Earth) | Earth | Little finger | Akasha | Smell | Nose |
According to Ayurveda and Yoga, Pancha Bhuta 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[7] 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.[8]
| Dosha | Bhuta Composition | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Vata | Vayu, Akasha | Prana |
| Pitta | Agni, Apas | Tejas |
| Kapha | Prithvi, Apas | Ojas |
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 Bhuta Sthalam is representation of Pancha Bhuta for yogic practice. People used to move from one temple to another and do sadhana on particular basic element.[9]
The seven Chakras in the human subtle body are associated with these five elements.[8]
| Chakra | Bhuta | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Muladhara Chakra | Prithvi | Stability, Support |
| Svadhishthana Chakra | Apas | Joy, Well-being |
| Manipura Chakra | Agni | Wisdom, Power |
| Anahata Chakra | Vayu | Compassion |
| Vishuddha Chakra | Akasha | Trust, Creativity |
| Ajna Chakra | Akasha | Knowledge, Intuition, Dignity |
| Sahasrara Chakra | Akasha | Oneness |
Hasta Mudra or hand posture is based on the panch Bhutas. 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.[10]
| Finger Name | Bhuta |
|---|---|
| Kanishthika, Little Finger | Apas |
| Anamika, Ring Finger | Prithvi |
| Madhyama, Middle Finger | Akasha |
| Tarjani, Index Finger | Vayu |
| Angustha, Thumb | Agni |
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.[8]
| Bhuta | Associated Direction | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Akasha | East | Expansion, enhancement |
| Vayu | West | Movements, joy, happiness |
| Agni | South | Power, confidence, fame |
| Apas | North | Spirituality, ideas, thoughts, healing |
| Prithvi | 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.
Pancha Bhuta is associated with six human tastes/rasas as below.[8]
| Taste/Rasa | Associated Bhuta |
|---|---|
| Madhura/Sweet | Jala, Prithvi (Earth and Water) |
| Amla/Sour | Prithvi, Agni (Earth and Fire) |
| Lavana/Salty | Jala, Agni (Water and Fire) |
| Katu/Bitter | Vayu, Agni (Air and Fire) |
| Tikta/Pungent | Akasha, Vayu (Aether and Air) |
| Kashaya/Astringent | Vayu, Prithvi (Air and Earth) |
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