Panchamahabhutas - Five Elements

The Panchamahabhutas are the five elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth) which is the basis and makeup Ayurveda which meaning the “knowledge of life” (ayus: life, veda: knowledge).

Ayurveda is primarily rooted in Samkhya, which holds that everything stems from Purusha (self/soul) and Prakruti (matter/energy). Samkhya means “system of enumeration” and comprises 24 principles, tattvas, that explain all of creation. These principles include the five elements, Panchamahabutas (ether, air, fire, water, and earth). The elements correspond to the five senses, Tanmatras (sound, touch, sight, taste, and smell), which Ayurveda uses to treat disharmony and disease.

Both Ayurveda and yoga share the philosophy that the state of our intelligence and consciousness is governed by three subtle qualities of nature, the universal gunas, known as sattva, rajas, and tamas. Sattva is the nature of our existence, bringing spiritual purpose, right actions, purity, illumination, and balance. Rajas is the nature of activity, change, motion, energy, and movement. Tamas is the nature of stability, darkness, dullness, and inertia. 

According to Ayurveda, creation expresses itself through the five elements. These elements manifest in our bodies as governing energies called doshas. The three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, define our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual states. Each of us has a unique proportion of all three doshas, established at conception, that determines our constitution, Prakruti. 

The five-element theory is based on ten opposing qualities found in our environment. These are known as the physical gunas:hot/cold, wet/dry, heavy/light, mobile/stable, clear/cloudy, gross/subtle, dense/flowing, dull/sharp, soft/hard, and smooth/rough.

Ayurveda understands the doshas in relation to these physical gunas, but it also considers our mental health and well-being in relation to the three universal gunas. The Caraka Samhita (an ancient Ayurvedic text) explains that Vata, as the air and ether elements, is mainly associated with rajas and sattva, and possesses the qualities of movement, clarity, creativity, and expansiveness. Pitta, as a fire and water element, is mainly associated with sattva and rajas, with the qualities of transformation, focus, and energy. Kapha, as water and earth elements, is mainly associated with tamas and sattva, with the qualities of heaviness, dullness, and stability.

Ayurveda believes that our true nature is spirit, and that when we lose our presence and connection, we create a state of imbalance, vikruti, which is understood by its short-term symptoms, tendencies and characteristics.

There are many factors that can cause imbalance, including change of season, our physical location, what we ingest, and the mental/emotional influences in our lives. Ayurveda treats imbalance by employing the opposite qualities of the physical gunas. For example, if the air element is too high in the body, we might experience constipation, dryness, and swirling thoughts and emotions. To bring balance, we would incorporate the opposite physical qualities of warmth (fire), wetness (water), heaviness, and stability (earth).

Ayurveda uses lifestyle changes and therapies based on the five senses (Tanmatras) to address imbalance and disharmony. These include: mantras, kirtan, and music (sound - ether element); massage, Asana, Pranayama, nasya, and marma therapy (touch - air element); color therapy and gemology (sight - fire element); food, spices, herbs, and beverages (taste - water element); and essential oils, aromatherapy, spices, and herbology (smell - earth element). 

Below is a summary of each dosha, with its physical and mental qualities, and an example of how to bring balance, bearing in mind that we each have a unique proportion of all three doshas.

Vata dosha (air and ether) has the qualities of being cold, dry, light, and mobile. The air quality contributes to overall dryness and high mobility. People with a predominance of this physical nature are creative, artistic, and spiritual. When out of balance, they can be scattered, overwhelmed, have difficulty sleeping, and change their minds often. The Vata dosha is balanced by incorporating the qualities of warmth (fire), moisture (water), and heaviness and stability (earth). A Vata Asana and Pranayama practice should be warming, systematic, and introspective, to bring presence and focus. Yoga poses that compress the pelvis and engage the lower back and thighs are beneficial because the seat of Vata is in the colon, which needs warmth. Ayurveda recommends “So Hum” meditation, which involves a focused, mindful practice that brings presence to a busy mind.

Pitta dosha (fire and water) is characterized by being hot, wet, light, and mobile. The fire quality relates to transformation, metabolism, and digestion. These qualities govern physical digestion and also control the transformation and assimilation of the five senses. People with a predominance of this physical nature are mentally focused, passionate, and intense. When out of balance, they can experience acid reflux, indigestion, and diarrhea, and may be short-tempered, impatient, and angry. The Pitta dosha is balanced by incorporating the qualities of coolness (earth and water), dryness (air), and heaviness and stability (earth). A Pitta Asana and Pranayama practice should promote coolness and openness while releasing heat from the small intestine, liver, and the mind. All standing and seated twists, as well as cooling inversions, are beneficial. Ayurveda recommends “Empty Bowl” meditation, an unstructured practice that promotes openness and coolness.

Kapha dosha (water and earth) has the qualities of being cool, moist, stable, and heavy. It is responsible for the body's structure and lubrication, providing stability, stamina, and strength. People with a predominance of this physical nature often move, think, and speak slowly. Their mental natures are unconditionally loving, calm, consistent, and dependable. When out of balance, they are prone to upper respiratory illness and obesity, and may develop diabetes. They can also be lethargic, depressed, and over-attached. The Kapha dosha is balanced by incorporating the qualities of warmth (fire), dryness (air), and lightness and mobility (air). A Kapha Asana and Pranayama practice should be energetic, stimulating, and warming. All standing poses, inversions, and backbends are beneficial, and repeating and holding poses with conscious breathing is helpful. Ayurveda recommends Trataka (to look, or to gaze) meditation, using a warming visual image, such as a candle flame or a ghee lamp, which is warming and energizing.

According to Ayurveda, we create and recreate our state of health each day based on how we interact with the world, in terms of our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, which ultimately determine our actions. Disharmonious actions create a state of dis-ease and dis-harmony. Actions performed with awareness, discernment, and intelligence, and that are in harmony with our true inner nature, our spirit, create a balanced state of health.