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Ayurveda > Ayurvedic Panchmahabhoota (Thought)
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
Ayurveda
is the ancient science of health
developed through the age-old
research of the rishies
(sages). It is the tradition of
health care developed and followed by
Indians through the centuries and it
thrives even in the present times.
Ayurveda uses a
system of analysis and physical
examination done almost entirely by
macroscopic observation (with the
exception of pulse examination) to
ascertain one’s
‘Prakruti’ (nature) and
current imbalances. A diet and health
suggestions are given to the
individual according to the needs of
his/her constitution and present
imbalance. The basis for all this is
‘Panchmaha bhootas’ (Five
basic elements). (panch =
five, maha = supreme and bhootas
= powers). We can say these five
elements are foundation of our life.
Panchmahabhoota
Thought:
Ayurveda believes in panchmahabhoota
philosophy. According to this
philosophy, every living object, in
the plant as well as in the animal
kingdom (including human beings), is
made up of a living material which
has five basic constituents. Every
living object is thus a unique
creation manifested through these
five basic elements— Earth (pruthvi),
Water (aap), Divine Fire (tej),
Air (vayu) and Universal Space
(aakash). These five basic
elements are called the panchmahabhootas
These panchmahabhootas
ultimately create treedoshas (tree
= three, doshas = basic
components or organizations) which
constitute our body. Each human being
is either of vaat prakruti (prakruti
dominated by vaat dosh) or of pitta
prakruti (prakruti
dominated by pitta dosh) or of
kafa prakruti (prakruti
dominated by kafa dosh). It is
said that vaat dosh is created
by aakash (Universal Space)
and vayu (air), pitta dosh
is created by tej (Divine
Fire) and kafa dosh is created
by aap (Water) and pruthvi (Earth).
Our
constitution is determined by these
three doshas at the time of garbhdharana
(fertilization). When the embryo is
formed, the constitution is
determined for life; the percentage
of these three doshas is
determined at this time and this
remains unchanged throughout life.
Thus, this is the time when the
dominance of a particular dosha
and the recessive nature of the other
two doshas on the constitution
of one’s body is permanently
determined.
Every
individual is a balanced mixture of vaat, pitta and kafa. This ideal balance
gives a healthy status to the
individual. When this is imbalanced,
it initiates disease. Our attitude
and our behavior help in maintaining
health or conversely, bring on a
calamity of diseases. If we have
proper food intake, regular exercise
and timely medication (which changes
according to the dominant dosh)
we will have no health problems.
To summarize,
the human body is a perfect blend of
three organizations (treedoshas)—
vaat, pitta and kafa, which evolve through panchmahabhootas.
These come together in the
mother’s womb when life starts
and get separated and go back to
their own places in nature when life
ends. We can say that this is the Ayurvedic
explanation of the origin of life and
death.
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