Sequential Flow of the Panchamahabhootas

The ancient Ayurvedic texts describe the way physical creation manifests as an orderly, sequential unfoldment of the bhutas. The elements do not physically manifest all at once. Rather they come into existence in the same way that life unfolds from the most subtle and comprehensive values to the most material limited values. Each preceding element is subtle in nature and serves as a foundation for the manifestation of each succeeding element.

Thus, the first element to come into physical existence is akash or space of the five elements, akash has the most expansive, least concrete value. The next element to manifest is vayu, commonly, referred to as air. It has a more tangible quality than akash but not as much as agni, the fire element. The last elements to manifest in the sequence are jala or water and finally prithvi, the earth element. These elements are clearly more concrete or material than their predecessors. The logic of the bhuta's sequential emergence will become clear as we observe specific processes by which nature manifests physical creation.