What Are the Main 5 Elements of Nature (PanchaMahabhuta)? [Guide] (2024)

You must have heard about five elements of nature and I am sure you are having some basic understanding about it as well. When it comes to body cleansing process in Ayurveda or any other natural healing process, 5 elements of nature plays very important part. In this article, you will learn about those basic but very important concept of our body.

We do yoga to strengthen our body and we do meditation for peace of mind. But do we know about the important elements from which our body is made? In Hindu mythology, it is called “panchamahabhuta” the fiver main elements of nature.

HISTORY OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF NATURE

Celestial Space, or Nature, is supposed to be the mother of all five elements on the Earth. Thus, their origin dates back to as old as the Earth itself. Or in short, we can say any life erupted on Earth only after these five elements came into co-existence with each other. Celestial Space, as we said, is the mother of all these five elements. Thus, its luminous emptiness forms the base of spiritual experience while doing Yoga and Meditation.

According to Hindu mythology, every human body essentially are made from five elements which are Earth (Bhumi), Water (Jala), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu) and Space (Aakash). Hindus believe that, upon death; all these 5 elements of human body are dissolved to respective element of nature, so that it can balance the cycle of nature.

Importance of Five Elements of Nature

The five elements are the building blocks of everything, each living being that exists on the Earth. Even our own bodies were created in various combinations yet balanced with each other. Each part of the body is correlated to this balance for the correct functioning of the body. And this correct function of the body parts is corresponding to the energy generated by these five elements, which corresponds to the CHAKRAS. But when the balance gets disturbed or when one element dominates, then it turns up giving faulty functions in the body called the DOSHA or the problem. The imbalance of Vata/Air elements creates VATA Dosha. When fire and water elements get imbalanced, then Pitta Dosha happens, which for example, indicates acidity. For instance, when earth and water elements get imbalanced, then KAPHA Dosha takes place, for instance, indicating cough, cold, etc.

5 Elements of Nature & Their Characteristics

Each of these five elements has its own functions and characteristic described below:

Earth (Bhumi)

The first element ofpanchamahabhuta is “Earth” which is translated at Bhumi in Sanskrit. This element is perceived by five senses those are Hearing, Smell, Taste, Touch and Sight. The physical body with muscles and bones refers to Earth.

Earth is usually associated with grounding and calming factors in life as it is related to the ROOT CHAKRA or the Mooladhaar Chakra means the basic chakra of life. Mother Earth – the basis of all beings, the place where we all are rooted, hence attached to the root chakra..Any imbalance of energy through this chakra will affect the emotional well-being of the human; believe it or not, even the emotion of greed stems from an imbalance of the Mooladhaar Chakra caused by the Earth element’s dominance. And thus Yogic Meditation plays a large role in striking this balance.

Water (Jala)

The second most important element is “water”, jala in Sanskrit. This element has no odor (smell) but can be heard, felt, seen and tasted. In human body, blood and other fluid are refer to Water. As we all studied during our preliminary school, our body is contains upto 60% of water (adult body) and very essential part of our live.

The Water component is related to the second chakra, Svadhisthana or Chakral Chakra, situated between the belly button and pubic bone. Its image is a white crescent moon. The water component is mitigating and erotic and interfaces us with our sentiments and feelings. It appears in the body as blood, lymph, tears, salivation, sweat, pee, sem*n, and bosom milk. At the point when the Water component is out of equilibrium, we might encounter issues with imagination, and mental unbending nature. Issues with sexual capacity & bladder control and more can likewise be an indication of an imbalanced water component. Yoga poses like the Cow Pose, the Surya Namaskar and even Pranayam help in balancing the energy of the Chakral chakra.

Fire (Agni)

The next higher element in human body is “fire”, agni in Sanskrit. In human body the temperature, jatharagni are refers the fire. It can be heard, felt and seen. As our digestion system is one of the example of Fire element that helps our body to digest the food we take everyday.

The fire element is associated with the Manipura Chakra, which is related to the Yellow Color. It derives its energy from the Sun, – the main source of fire. Thus, the Manipura Chakra is also named the Solar Plexus Chakra. An over-performing Manipura Chakra will cause symptoms like acidity, ulcers, diabetes, etc in the body. While an underperforming one will cause an emotional imbalance..Yoga activities such as a simple walk in the sun to the Paschimottanasana, Dhanurasana, and others help balance the energy of this chakra on a daily basis.

Air (Pavan)

The fourth element of panchmahabhuta is “air”, pavan in Sanskrit. Air can be felt and heard only; one cannot see the air. In human body, the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body refers to Air. It is considered as one of the most important factor in Pranayama. As we know that the human body can not live without Oxygen which is known as Prana in Sankstrit and one must do the regular Pranayama to keep their body Oxygen rich that prevent many disease.

The element of the Anahata Chakra or Heart Chakra is the Air, or Vayu. As the name suggests, the Vayu element and its Chakra are associated with emotional well-being to a large extent. Its imbalance can cause various elements like mental depression, anxiety, high blood pressure (high or low) and many such issues. Thus, Yoga practises like the Anulom-Vilom Pranayama, Yogic Meditation, etc are quite helpful in balancing the air element in the body.

Sky (Aakash)

The fifth and last element of panchmahabhuta is “space” which is translated in Sanskrit at aakash. Space is the medium of sound but is inaccessible to all other senses. And as in human body the Athma (Soul) refers to Space.

The fifth chakra, the Vishuddha Chakra, is located at the Larynx that forms the base of the throat – and hence the name – Throat Chakra. The color associated with the same is blue to indicate the calmness that it must have as it is associated with communication and expression of not just our voice, but mind, body and soul. Both aggressive behavior, as well as hesitative one, are indicators of imbalanced energy of the Throat Chakra. Even hormonal issues like thyroid, stiffness of the neck etc are associated with an imbalanced Space or Ether element in the body. So how to strike the balance? Simhasana, Bhramari Pranayam, Yogic Meditation, and aloud mantra chanting all help to maintain a permanent balance of the space element. Om is the universal sound of SPACE, so chanting Om has benefited many people by restoring balance to their Vishuddha Chakra.

The combination of these 5 elements of nature makes our body and will dissolve into respective element upon death.

CONCLUSION

You have already learnt by now how each of the five elements co-exists with each other, maintaining a certain relationship, and a certain balance with each other. Based on their nature, they either stick together or stay apart, like fire and Water. These relationships form the laws of nature. Yoga helps our body maintain these laws of nature in tandem with the universal energy flowing into our body chakras in the right manner. Thus, you must adapt to Yoga in your daily life, not as an exercise for weight loss, but as a way of life to stay in tune with the five elements of nature.