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Panchamahabhuta Siddhanta (Pentaelments) Topics
Summary
The word panchamahabhuta is made up of three words: ‘pancha’, ‘maha’ and ‘bhuta’. ‘Pancha’ means five, ‘maha’ means great and ‘bhuta’ means that which exists. All the living and non-living objects in the universe are made up of panchamahabhuta.[Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 26/10].Therefore, panchamahabhuta are the five fundamental elements responsible for creation of the universe, including humans. Each individual has a unique panchabhautik constitution. This constitution remains in state of equilibrium in health and any imbalance results in disease. It is crucial for healthcare provider to identify panchabhautik imbalance and should have the capability to restore equilibrium.
The word ‘bhuta’ is derived from “Bhu” dhatu(Sanskrit root) and “Kta”pratyaya(suffix). It means existence in the universe.[1] That which can be perceived through the external sense organs is called Bhuta.
The five fundamental elements are [Cha.Sa.Sharira Sthana 1/27]
Each of these elements possesses inherent physical properties.
Panchamahabhuta are important factors in the creation of the universe. They evolve from the union of tejas (sattva dominant) and bhutadi (tamas dominant) ahamkara. The following diagram shows the evolution and development of the universe.
Evolution of panchamahabhuta
The mahabhuta are evolved from dominance of these specific fundamental constituents of universe as below.
- Akasha: Sattva dominant
- Vayu: Rajas dominant
- Agni: Sattva and Rajas dominant
- Aap: Sattva and Tamas dominant
- Prithvi: Tamas dominant
Properties of panchamahabhuta
Each mahabhuta has dominant inherent functions related to the sense organs. The mahabhuta can perceive enhanced other senses due to addition of subtle elements of other mahabhuta as given below. [Cha.Sa.Sharira Sthana 1/26-28]
| Mahabhuta | Dominant inherent function | Additional general functions due to fundamental composition |
|---|---|---|
| Akasha | Sound(shabda) | - |
| Vayu | Touch (sparsa) | Sound(shabda) |
| Agni | Vision(rupa) | Sound(shabda),Touch (sparsa) |
| Jala | Taste (rasa) | Sound(shabda),Touch (sparsa),Vision(rupa) |
| Prithvi | Smell (Gandha) | Sound(shabda),Touch (sparsa),Vision(rupa),Taste (rasa) |
The mahabhuta provide abode for corresponding sense organs to perform their sensory functions.[Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana.8/14]. These sense organs are tools to know panchabhautik matter in the universe. [3]
Characteristics of panchamahabhuta
Each mahabhuta can be assessed by following characteristic feature
| Mahabhuta | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Akasha | Free flow/unobstructability (Apratighatata) |
| Vayu | Mobility (Chalatva) |
| Agni | Heat (Ushnatva) |
| Jala | Liquidity (Dravatva) |
| Prithvi | Roughness (Kharatva) |
Above mentioned criteria are applied to assess fundamental composition of any element. The signs of increase or decrease of these features in body is observed and applied in diagnosis and therapeutics. For example, if the roughness is increased, then increase in prithvi mahabhuta is known.
Application of panchamahabhuta in therapeutics
Apart from the therapeutic uses mentioned above, the medicines having dominance of specific mahabhuta are administered in therapeutic procedures. This corresponds to relevant properties and effect of mahabhuta [Su.Sa.Su.41/6-9].
In Purification therapy(shodhana chikitsa)
| Treatment | Bhuta predominance |
|---|---|
| Emesis (Vamana)drug | Agni and vayu |
| Purgation (Virechana)drug | Prithvi and jala |
In pacification therapy (shamana chikitsa)
| Treatment | Bhuta predominance |
|---|---|
| Alleviation (Shamana)drug | Akasha |
| Constipative (Grahi) drug | Vayu |
| Digestive stimulant (Deepana) drug | Agni |
| Scarifiying (Lekhana) drug | Vayu and agni |
| Nourishing (Brihmana) drug | Prithvi and jala |
Application of panchamahabhuta in diagnostic views
The characteristics of panchamahabhuta are applied in diagnosis as below:
| Mahabhuta | Diagnostic points |
|---|---|
| Akasha | Free flow of body constituents in hollow cavities, various sounds produced inside body |
| Vayu | Various conduction and transmission activities, transportation processes |
| Agni | Digestive, transformation and metabolism processes, heat production |
| Aap | Fluid balance, maintaining moisture and coldness |
| Prithvi | Body mass, odour |
The abnormalities in physiological functions are observed to assess proportion of mahabhuta.
Application of panchmahabhuta in disease management
Panchamahabhuta theory is applied in the management of diseases. The panchabhautik constitution of basic causative factors and pathogenesis of disease is observed. Then the medicines having opposite panchabhautik constitutions are administered to restore equilibrium in the body.
For example, in Jwara, undigested food (ama) leads to vitiation of nutrient fluids (rasa dhatu). The digestion and metabolism are slowed down. Thus, prithvi and jala mahabhuta are increased and cause the disease state. The treatment of jwara includes langhana, swedana, pachana and medicines with bitter taste (tikta). The treatment has agni, vayu and akasha dominancy. The herbs like Cyperus rotundus(musta), Zingiber officinale(shunthi) having dominancy of the same mahabhuta are administered in the management. This can be applied in various other diseases too.[4] Thus panchamahabhuta theory is important in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Ref: https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php/Pancha_mahabhuta
Furhter reading
https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php/Pancha_mahabhuta
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