The Panchabhuta is a word in Sanskrit, which means five constituents or elements of nature. According to Indian philosophy, the universe (or ‘Brahmand’) is composed of Panchabhutas. Food and body are also derived from the five elements of nature.
The Panchabhutas are kept in some balance in the body and also in the universe. When there is imbalance in the nature and body, it results in the natural disasters and various diseases in the body.
Panchabhuta Types
Panchabhutas are five elements, which are as follows –
- Earth – Bhumi
- Water – Jal
- Air – Vayu
- Fire — Agni
- Ether — Akash
Earth — There are 2 types of earth — Eternal (Nitya), which is in the form of Atom (Paramanu). Second characteristic is Perishable (Anitya), which is in the form of work (Karya). Our sense organs and body are the earth, which gets the shape of a life or Jiva, which are perishable. The atoms or elements are eternal. We bury or burn the body after death, thus all the atoms again return back to its original eternal form. Hence, our body and work performed are perishable.
Water — This element also has 2 characters, i.e., eternal and perishable. Atom of water as eternal and Work (Karya) as habitat i.e., sea, river or pond as perishable.
Air — It has two levels such as Water and Earth. These are symbolized as Karya as perishable and atom as eternal. Strong breeze and storm can be felt, which are temporary, but vayu at atomic level always surrounds us eternally.
Fire — It is the 4th element of Panchabhutas. It also has perishable and eternal elements. The required character of this element is to produce heat. There are 4 kinds of fires –
- Fire of the sky
- Fire of the earth
- Fire of the stomach
- Commonly used fire
Ether — It is the last element of the Panchabhutas. It is the sound. It has only one character, hence it is the unique element, which is eternal. This element is the carrier of the sound.
There are also some other elements, apart from the Panchabhutas, which are as follows –
- Time (Kala)
- Space (Dik or Sthan, i.e., direction and place)
- Soul
- Mind
