Shiva Swarodaya explains that “Creation takes place due to the five tattvas and by them, it is sustained”. In the Tantraraja Tantra, Shakti asks Shiva, “Where do all the tattvas exist, in the body or out of it?” Shiva replies that the tattvas permeate the entire body and mind. Everything you do and think is under the influence of this tattvas. Main Sense of Attributes each Mahabhuta ;
Space/Ether/Akash; Shabda
Air/Vayu; Shabda + Sparsha
Fire /Agni; Shabda + Sparsha + Roop
water/Jal; Shabda+Sparsha+Roop+Rasa
Earth/ Prithvi; Shabda +Sparsha+Roop +Rasa+Gandha
The first tattva to evolve is akasha, undifferentiated matter containing an infinite amount of potential energy. Therefore, akasha is the subtle state when both energy and matter exist in their dormant potential state in the bosom of consciousness. Akash Mahabhuta is the space without which matter cannot exist. Ether Akash is not synonymous with the sky. It can be something similar to Space. Its main sense attribute is Sound (Shabda) and Nonresistance (Apratighatatwa) is its main property. All the body channels, pores or empty spaces symbolizes Ether or space.
Vayumahabhuta evolved from Akashamahabhuta. Air is the gaseous form of matter which is mobile and dynamic. Conceptually anything that moves or transported does so because of this Mahabhuta. Touch (Sparsha) is its chief sense attribute and as it is evolved from Akasha it also inherits attribute of sound (Shabda). Chalatwa or movability is its chief property.
As the energy inherent in the particles of akasha begins to vibrate, a movement is created and Vayu-tattva emerges in the form of air. The particles of Vayu have the supreme freedom of movement and, therefore, Vayu-tattva is seen as an all-pervading motion. In living beings this Mahabhuta is a major constituent of Vata dosha which is responsible for movements like that of motor or sensory nerve impulses, food through G.I.T, movements of the joints etc.
Vayu or air follows Akash in the hierarchy of creation. When the akasha (ether) element dominates; the person become a determined person. He is neither interested in understanding others nor does he try to understand others. He doesn't care what others think of him. He stays away from society and always by himself. While dealing with such a person it would be better to learn from him that there is love and compassion beyond understanding, which does not require understanding at all just like as vast as space.
There is a detailed description about the 7 branches of air in the Vedas. The air that is inside the water has been given a different name in the Vedas and Puranas and the air that is in the sky has a different name. The air that is in space has a different name and the air that is in the underworld has a different name. The difference in name means that its qualities and behavior are also different. In this way, the description of 7 types of air is found in the Vedas. These are 7 types; Pravah, Aavah, Udvah, Sanvah, Vivah, Parivah and Paravah.
1. Flow: The air that crosses the earth and extends up to the Megh Mandal is called flow. There are types of this flow as well. This wind is very powerful and it carries the clouds here and there. It is this flow of air that fills the clouds generated by the sun and heat with sea water, due to which these clouds turn into black clouds and become extremely hot. There are those who make it rain.
2. Aavah: Aavah is bound in the solar system. By that the solar system is rotated by being attached to the pole.
3. Udvah: The name of the third branch of air is Udvah, which is established in Chandralok. Through this, this lunar circle is rotated by being associated with the pole.
4. Convection: The name of the fourth branch of air is Convection, which is located in the Nakshatra Mandal. Due to that, the entire Nakshatra Mandal keeps rotating by being bound to the pole.
5. Vivah: The name of the fifth branch is Vivah and it is located in the planetary circle. Through it only this planetary wheel revolves around the Pole.
6. Parivaha: The name of the sixth branch of air is Parivaha, which is located in Saptarshimandal. Through this, the Saptarishis travel in the sky, being associated with Dhruva.
7. Paravah: The name of the seventh wing of air is Paravah, which is attached to the pole. Through this, the Dhruv Chakra and other circles remain established at one place.
There are seven types of gunas of these seven airs which roam in the following places: Brahmalok, Indralok, Space, East direction of Bhulok, West direction of Bhulok, North direction of Bhulok and South direction of Bhulok. In this way 7 x 7 = 49. A total of 49 become Maruts who keep on roaming in the form of Gods.
When air element dominates; the person become a great observer. He usually will not show his feelings openly. It's very hard to understand because he doesn't say anything and wants to stay out of trouble. While dealing with such a person it is better to be very careful about what we say about him. His feelings are invisible like air. Due to the too much movement of energy in Vayu, heat is generated, which acts as the source for the appearance of the next tattva, Agni.
Agnimahabhoota evolves next from Vayumahabhoota. The main sense attribute of Agni is Vision (Roop) and the chief property is heat (Ushnatwa). It also inherits the sense attributes of sound(Shabda) and touch (Sparsha) from the Akash and Vayu Mahabhuta respectively.
Fire possess power to transform the state of any substance. In living beings, Agni Mahabhoota is the major constituent of biological humor Pitta dosha. It is responsible for biotransformation. This Agni provides the energy required for all activities in our body. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another. There were believed to be eight forms of Agni (the Hindu god of fire) during Vedic times. These forms are:
Garhapatya Agni: This form of Agni is associated with the household and is believed to reside in the household fireplace. It is believed to represent the connection between the household and the larger universe.
Ahavaniya Agni: This form of Agni is associated with sacrifices and rituals, and is believed to reside in the altar. It is believed to be the medium through which offerings are made to the Gods.
Dakshinagni: This form of Agni is associated with the south and is believed to reside in the stomach. It is believed to be related to digestion and the transformation of food into energy.
Sabhya Agni: This form of Agni is associated with the social aspect of life and is believed to reside in the mouth. It is believed to be related to communication and social relationships.
Avaha Agni: This form of Agni is associated with transportation and is believed to reside in the feet. It is believed to be related to movement and travel.
Dravina Agni: This form of Agni is associated with wealth and is believed to reside in the eyes. It is believed to be related to the acquisition and management of wealth.
Aupasana Agni: This form of Agni is associated with offerings and is believed to reside in the breath. It is believed to be related to the offering of oblations to the Gods.
Visvarupa Agni: This form of Agni is associated with the universe and is believed to reside in the heart. It is believed to be the source of all life and energy in the universe.
Jatharagni; is one of 13 types of fire in the body according to Ayurvedic philosophy. Jatharagni is also classified into four categories according to its performance of digestion in the human being namely Vishamagni, Tikshanagni, Mandagni and Samagni.
Vishama agni, where vata dominates. This causes the digestion to be variable and unstable, always changing. Sometimes it will be fast and sometimes slow and weak. At times this may lead to indigestion.
Tikshna agni, where pitta dominates. The leads to a very intense and quick digestive capacity, which can be too strong. It may lead to the burning of bodily tissues and weakness.
Manda agni, where kapha dominates. This is the likely to cause disease, as the digestion is very slow and sluggish. People with manda agni will frequently experience indigestion.
Sama agni, where the tri-doshas have balanced influence. This leads to the perfect functioning of jatharagni and is considered its ideal state.
According to Hareet Samhita, Samagni depends on whether the Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) are in normal stage. We derive energy from the food we eat. Biological Agni transforms the energy in the food to the energy, which can be utilized by our cells. The vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats etc. we consume, are biotransformed by this Agni to the substances that can be utilized by our body. All the activities in body are performed smoothly as long as this Agni is in balance.
Any disturbance in this Agni causes imbalance in the homeostasis and disturbs functioning. Ayurvedic therapeutics is entirely based on this concept of Agni. The branch of Ayurveda which deals in internal medicine and treatment is known as “Kaya chikitsa”, where Kaya means Agni and Chikitsa means treatment.
Ayurvedic therapeutics focuses on rectification and maintenance of biological Agni. When the Agni (fire) element dominates, the person's desire to control and flourish in decision making. He is very interested in getting things done in a jiffy no matter what. While dealing with such a person it is better to let him take control and get the job done as it is important to get the result. He consumes everything like fire. The next Mahabhuta to evolve from Agnimahabhoota is Aapamahabhuta (Jalmahabhuta).
Water symbolizes the liquid state. Our blood, lymph, and other fluids bringing energy, carrying away wastes, regulating temperature, bringing disease fighters, and carrying hormones from one area to another. Taste (Rasa) is its main sense attribute and liquidity (DraVatawa) is the chief property, along with that inherited from earlier Mahabhuta. When (water) element dominates the person is a great analyst. He seeks caution, restraint and is best at going into details with deep thought. It's better to leave the "take it for granted" attitude when dealing with such a person who purifies everyone.
The last to evolve is Prithvi mahabhuta. Roughness (Kharatwa ) is the chief property and Smell (Gandha) is the main sense of this Mahabhoota besides properties inherited from the earlier once. Evolution of Aapamahabhoota follows that of Agnimahabhuta. Sense of taste (Rasa) is its chief sense attribute andliquidity (DraVatawa) is the main property. Apa Mahabhuta is the main constituent of the biological humor Kapha dosha. This Mahabhuta brings and keeps things together. Conceptually all biological and chemical are feasible because of this Mahabhuta.
The last tattva, Prithvi, evolves out of a further decrease in energy vibration, which causes apas to solidify into Prithvi. Here even the limited freedom of movement within apas is lost. Each particle of Prithvi has its own place, and any vibration is confined to the space it occupies. Earth represents the solid state of matter. It symbolizes stability, permanence and rigidity. In our body, the parts such as bones, teeth, cells and tissue indicate earth element.
The last in the series to evolve is Prithvi Mahabhuta. Sense of smell (Gandha) is its main sense attribute and Roughness (Kharatwa) is its basic property. When the Prithvi (Earth) element dominates, the person is very expressive and manages to express his thoughts with great enthusiasm. He communicates by telling stories in detail about someone or something. When dealing with such a person, it is important to put yourself in their place and focus on how to relate to them and let them be the center of attention. He is a down to earth person.
These five elements are the basic building blocks of matter. They are combined in an infinite variety of relative proportions such that each form of matter is unique. Each element has a variety of attributes, only some get apparent in particular situations. The science of astrology has confirmed that the first four of these tattvas or elements, earth, water, fire and air, have a major influence on our individuality, mind, emotions and destiny, but the most subtle and important element, i.e. ether, is responsible for Spiritual practice and attainment.
It is the intimate connection between the tattvas and the entire structure of your life so that that it is even possible for you to change your destiny through tattva-jnana, i.e. knowledge of the elements. These five tattvas form part of a connected series in which each successive tattva is derived from its predecessor. Everything, including drugs, herbs and living beings are made of these basic elements. Every matter contains all of these five elements. Depending on the predominance of the content, the matter is classified as Parthiva, Apya, Taijasa, Vayaviya and Akashiya ( With predominance of earth, water, fire, air and space respectively).
The permutation and combination of these elements and its quantity in a given matter determines its properties. Ayurveda understands body, mind and spirit divides the constitution of people into three categories; Vata (ether/air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water/earth). These are three basic energies or life forces that are the biological derivatives of the five elements and they govern all the function and structure of the body or its existence as a whole.
Mahabhuta is the smallest divisible part of any matter. A single living cell is a unique combination of these five elements- the earth element gives structure to the cell. These five tattvas should not be mistaken for physical or chemical elements. Rather they should be regarded as an effect of light and sound emanations which are created by different energy.
The science of astrology has confirmed that the first four of these tattvas or elements, earth, water, fire and air, have a major influence on our soul, individuality, mind, emotions and destiny, but the most subtle and important element, i.e. ether, is responsible for Spiritual practice and attainment. However, the science of tantra and yoga, which has examined the tattvas in greater aspect, has evidently stated that man is composed of, and continuously subject to, the influence of this five tattvas.
The tantric texts enumerate an entire science of the tattvas, according to which a specialist can not only predict the future but also control the results accruing from his actions throughout the day. Of course, this should not be the aim for which we strive to attain this knowledge. It is the intimate connection between the tattvas and the entire structure of your life so that that it is even possible for you to change your destiny through tattva-jnana, i.e. knowledge of the elements. These five tattvas form part of a connected series in which each successive tattva is derived from its predecessor.
The water element is present in the cytoplasm or the liquid within the cell membrane. The metabolic processes being carried out in the cell symbolize the fire element. The gaseous exchange taking place symbolizes the air element. The space occupied by the cell symbolizes the Space or ether element. The pores or channels through which nutrition reaches the cell and the waste metabolic products that are formed are excreted out denote the space element.
In the case of a complex, multi-cellular organism as a human being , spaces within the body (mouth, nostrils, abdomen etc.) denotes the ether or space element; the gases and the impulses or movements denote the air element; The functioning of enzymes (intelligence, digestive system, metabolism) denotes the fire element; All body fluids (as plasma, saliva, digestive juices) denotes the water element; Solid structure of the body (bones, teeth, flesh, hair etc.) denotes the earth element.
Authored by Dr Anadi Sahoo
