Panchamahabhoota Explained

The western model of the physical body has taught us to see the body as a thing or object composed of successively smaller objects:- organs cells, organelles, molecules, atoms and sub atomic particles. Though Ayurveda does not argue the validity of this objective view of the body, it takes a somewhat different perspective. Rather than place so much emphasis on the strictly material nature of the body's components, it maintains that it is far more useful to understand the underlying principles that order and govern their functioning. The same dynamics that orchestrate the processes within the human body also orchestrate life everywhere in the Universe. The conceptual model that Ayurveda uses to understand the principles of nature's functioning is called Panchamahabhoota or the theory of the five great elements.

This theory serves as the foundation for all of Ayurveda's diagnosis and treatment modalities and has allowed physicians for thousands of years to successfully detect and treat imbalances anywhere in human life. Charaka Samitha, the primary Ayurvedic test, states; "One must master the under standing of the elements in order to be a physician," While considerable training and experience is required to turn thus knowledge into clinical skill, a general grasp of it will offer a practical and therapeutically useful comprehension of the vital interrelationship between man and nature.

The basis premise of the panchamahabhoota theory is that everything is physical creation is composed of five fundamental building blocks of nature called elements. In the west most people are familiar with only four elements, the ones commonly known as earth, air, fire and water. However, Ayurveda recognizes the element of space to be the first and most basic of the five elements. These bhutas or elements are understood to be the most fundamental properties of physical creation.

Ayurveda calls the universal organizing principles mahabhutas, or cosmic elements. They are the essence or in here not intelligence within each bhuta or element, which allow it to function with the specific qualities and characteristics that are Unique to it. Unlike the bhutas, the mahabhutas have no dimension, no states & no physical properties. In the process of the creation unfolding from universal intelligence, the mahabhutas precede the bhutas and are more fundamental and comprehensive in their scope.