| PRINCIPLE OF PANCHAMAHABHOOTA |
Ayurveda has always believed that the human body is a direct replica of the Universe. Just as everything in the Universe that is physical is Panchbhoutika (Pancha means five, Mahabhoota means basic elements) i.e., it is made up of five basic elements. These five basic elements are
- Akasha(Space or Vacuum),
- Vayu(Biological air),
- Teja(Biological fire),
- Jala(Biological water)
- Prithvi(Biological earth).
According
to Ayurveda every matter is composed of these basic elements in different
proportions. The proportion of these decides the state and the properties
of the respective matter. Just as human body is made up of these basic
elements, every drug that is used as medicine is made up of medicine.
Even the three Doshas are said to be composed of these basic Panchamahabhootas.
| CHARACTERS OF PANCHAMAHABHOOTA. |
For
better understanding of these concepts let us consider on the human body
the existence of these five basic elements.
| Human body has definite mass: | is due to Prithvi |
| Human body has definite motion: | is due to Vayu |
| It contains several structures: | space provided for these is due to Akaasha |
| It shows definite color, brightness and accomplishes digestion: | is due to Teja |
| All structure are having strong bonding with each other: | is due to Jala. |
| PANCHAMAHABHOOTA AND SENSE ORGANS. |
Each
Mahabhoota is associated with a special sense.
| Vata - | Sense of touch |
| Akaasha(Space )- | Sense of Hearing |
| Tej (Fire)- | sense of Seeing |
| Jala(Water) - | Sense of Taste |
| Prithvi(Earth) - | Sense of Smell |
| PANCHAMAHABHOOTA AND THREE DOSHAS (HUMOURS) |
As
mentioned earlier every thing is said to be made of the five basic elements.
The three Doshas too have the following composition as far as Panchamahabhootas
are concerned:
| Vata = | Space + Air |
| Pitta = | Fire + Water |
| Kapha = | Water + Earth |
| RELATION OF PANCHMAHABHOOTAS AND PERCEPTION OF TASTE |
Taste
has been recognized to be of six types in Ayuveda. Each taste that is
perceived by the tongue has also been said to comprise of Panchamahabhootas
in different proportions. A definite combination of two basic elements
forms 6 types of taste. These are as follows :
| Sweet = | Earth + water |
| Sour
= |
Earth + Fire |
| Salt = | Fire + Water |
| Bitter = | Fire + Air |
| Pungent = | Space + Air |
| Astringent = | Earth + Air |
These characteristics are used in various modes of treatment.