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Pancha Bhoota
Pancha Bhoota or Pancha Maha-Bhoota (Sanskrit: प भूत, प महाभूत), five great elements, also five physical elements, is a group of five basic elements, which,
according to Hinduism, is the basis of all cosmic creation.[1] These elements are: Prithvi/Bhudevi (Hindi: पृ ी, Earth), Apas/Varuna/Jal (Hindi: अप्, Water),
Agni (Hindi: अि , Fire), Vayu (Hindi: वायु, Air), Aakash/Dyaus (Hindi: आकाश, Aether). These elements have different characteristics and these also account for
different faculties of human experience. In ayurveda and Indian philosophy, the human body is considered to be made of these five elements.[2] However, Cārvāka
did not accept Akash as basic element as it is not tangible and according to him, there are only four basic elements.[3] Buddhism also accepts four basic elements
and Akash is left out. These five elements of Indian cosmological system are similar but not identical to five element theory used in East Asia.[4]

Contents
Description
Ayurveda
Yogic View
Hasta Mudras
Vastu
Taste
See also
References

Description
The pancha bhoota are associated with a sense which is perceived by sense organ in human being. Below table gives details of associated sense, sense organ, and
other attributes of elements.[3]

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Associated Associated Sense Associated

Bhoota (Element) Perception mode Associated consort Affiliation
Sense Organ Finger
Akash/Dyaus
Sound Ear Heard Middle Finger Bhumi/Prithvi Deva
(Space)
Vayu (Air) Touch Skin Heard, Felt Index Finger Lehari Deva
Agni (Fire) Sight/Color Eye Heard, Felt, Seen Thumb Swaha Deva
Jal/Varuna (Water) Taste Tongue Heard, Felt, Seen, Tasted Little Finger Varuni Deva
Prithvi/Bhumi Heard, Felt, seen, Tasted, Dyaus/Akasha and
Smell Nose Ring Finger Devi
(Earth) Smelled Vishnu

Ayurveda
According to ayurveda and Yoga, Pancha Bhoota are associated with overall health of human being. Any disorder in human body indicates imbalance of one or
more of these elements. Yoga Tattva Mudra Vijnana relates these five elements to five fingers of human being. Different Mudra were developed to balance these[5]
in human body which form the Hasta Mudra in yogic tradition and are used in Naturopathy.

The three dosha- three intrinsic tendencies, which, according to ayurveda are intrinsic in every human being, are representation of combination of these five
elements in human body. The three Dosha have subtle positive essences which control the mind and body function.[6]

Dosha Bhoota Composition Characteristic

Vata Vayu, Akash Prana
Pitta Agni, Jal/Apas Tejas
Kapha Prithvi, Jal/Apas Ojas

Yogic View
According to Yoga, the aim of sadhana is to have mastery over oneself. This mastery can be achieved by mastering all the basic elements. The process of gaining
mastery over these elements and purifying them is called Bhuta Shuddhi. Pancha Bhoota Stalam is representation of pancha bhoota for yogic practice. People
used to move from one temple to another and do sadhana on particular basic element.[7]

The seven Chakra in human body are associated with these five elements.[6]

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Chakra Bhoota Characteristic

Muladhara Chakra Prithvi Stability, Support
Swadhishthan Chakra Jal Joy, Well-being
Manipura Chakra Agni Wisdom, Power
Anahata Chakra Vayu Compassion
Vishuddha Chakra Akash Trust, Creativity
Ajna Chakra Akash Knowledge, Intuition, Dignity
Sahasrara Chakra Akash Oneness

Hasta Mudras
Hasta Mudra or hand posture is based on the panch bhootas. The basic assumption is that all the five elements can be represented by five different fingers in
human body as shown in the table below.[8]

Finger Name Bhoota

Kanishthika, Little Finger Jal/Apas
Anamika, Ring Finger Prithvi
Madhyama, Middle Finger Akash
Tarjani, Index Finger Vayu
Angustha, Thumb Agni

Vastu
Vastu shastra emphasizes on the placement of five elements in specified direction and balance of these elements determines the condition of the associated
structure.[6]

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Bhoota Associated Direction Characteristics

Akasha/Dyaus East Expansion, enhancement
Vayu/Pavan North Movements, joy, happiness
Agni South Power, confidence, fame
Jal/Apas/Varuna West Spirituality, ideas, thoughts, healing
Prithvi/Bhumi Center, Diagonal Stability, peace and harmony

Taste
Combination of pancha bhoota is associated with six human tastes as below.[6]

Taste Associated Bhoota

Sweet jal, prithvi' (Earth and Water)
Sour Prithvi, Agni (Earth and Fire)
Salty Jal, Agni (Water and Fire)
Pungent Vayu, Agni (Air and Fire)
Bitter akash swaraj
Astringent agni pritvi (Air and Earth)

See also
Pancha Bhoota Stalam
Classical element
Mahābhūta
Tanmatras
Mudra

References
1. Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 79.
2. Venkatesan, Satish. Ayurvedic remedies: An introduction (https://books.google.com/books?id=vVfGAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT46&dq=panch+bhoota&hl=en&sa=X&e
i=vEcJVZ3CKs21oQS4k4DoAw&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=panch%20bhoota&f=false). ISBN 9881224144. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

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3. Prasad Sinha, Harendra. Bharatiya Darshan Ki Rooprekha (https://books.google.com/books?id=wCAqc1G8sKcC&pg=PT103&dq=%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%8

2%E0%A4%9A+%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eTIJVbPRKcOOyATmxYGgBA&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=%E
0%A4%AA%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%9A%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4&f=false). Motilal Banarsidass Publisher. p. 86. Retrieved 18 March
2015.
4. Carroll, Cain. Mudras of India (https://books.google.com/books?id=gEwSBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA18&dq=panch+bhoota&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vEcJVZ3CKs21oQS4k4
DoAw&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=panch%20bhoota&f=false). p. 18. ISBN 184819109X. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
5. Five Elements " (http://gyanpro.com/blog/panchabhutas-5-elements-of-life-with-reference-to-vedic-text-and-illuminati/)
6. "PANCHA BHOOTAS OR THE FIVE ELEMENTS" (http://www.indianscriptures.com/vedic-lifestyle/beginners-guide/pancha-bhootas-or-the-five-elements).
http://www.indianscriptures.com/. Retrieved 25 March 2015. External link in |website= (help)
7. "pancha-bhutas-the-possibility-of-the-five-elements" (http://www.ishafoundation.org/blog/sadhguru/masters-words/pancha-bhutas-the-possibility-of-the-five-ele
ments/). http://www.ishafoundation.org. Retrieved 18 March 2015. External link in |website= (help)
8. Sharma, Shiv. Brilliance of Hinduism (https://books.google.com/books?id=uajPVNSwYOUC&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=fingers+and+associated+element+hind
uism&source=bl&ots=UTphNS2DWR&sig=KUEXLunYSU8NA-Q_dj1DKn4yIXE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Qj4eVczNBpK7ogSv4IGYDg&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAg#v=onep
age&q=fingers%20and%20associated%20element%20hinduism&f=false). p. 93. ISBN 8128800825. Retrieved 3 April 2015.

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