Parasmal Duggad
Information about the Five Elements:
Our body is a combination of Five Elements. These five elements are known as Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Saint Tulsidasji has also said that - `Kshiti Jal Pavak Gagan Samira, Panch Rachit yah Udhyam Sharira'.
In Ayurveda these five elements were named with their attributes. Let’s understand these with the help of following table.
| Elements | Attributes | Property |
Sky - Aakash | Sound — Shabd | Only Sound |
Air — Vayu | Touch — Sparsh | Sound + Touch |
Fire —Agni | Vision — Roop | Sound + Touch + Vision |
Water — Jal | Taste — Ras | Sound + Touch + Vision + Taste |
Earth — Prithvi | Smell —Gandh | Sound + Touch + Vision + Taste + Smell |
This whole Universe has been created with the combination of these five elements only. Human body, which represents universe, also formed with the combination of these five elements.
These five elements are present in every part of human body. These elements are distributed in different proportion in different parts of our body. Every part of our body performs their specific function according to the proportion of these elements. These elements help person to function naturally as well accordingly to their wishes. In our body different organs formed according to these five elements and accordingly different functions take place. Any imbalance in proportion of these five elements can cause various diseases in the body and similarly proper balance of these elements can provide good health to any person. Now let us understand about the functions of these five elements.
Sky - Aakash
We can see sky as a covering over the entire universe. Non - resistance is the main property of the sky. It is empty and it gives space to everything. Similarly, wherever there is space in our body those parts are related to sky element. If we want to search sky element in anything in our surrounding then we can see it in the form of space covered by particular thing. Whatever space is occupied by any article, it would be the sky element of that particular article. For example, if there is an empty drum lying in front of us, we can observe that whatever space is occupied by this drum that is the sky element of that drum. Similarly, whatever space is occupied by a person or his body, it would be his Sky Element. Similarly, this applies for every house, state or country and their sky element would be equivalent to the space occupied by them. In other words, border of these places is the limit of their sky. Human body is covered by the skin and it is the limit of any human. This way it is clear that skin is the sky element of a human body. If we examine our skin by a microscope then we can find that our skin has millions of holes in it. Hence in the form of these holes we can identify the sky elements in our body. Similarly, all other important organs of our body have their own Sky elements.
People who have excess sky elements in their body, has very sensitive hearing organs. Those people are very good listeners and they usually listens everything very carefully.
Function: Sky element gives space to other four elements. In our body whatever we take through our five senses (Eyes, Nose, Ears, Tongue, Touch) and whatever reaction take place due to such intake like Anger, Attraction, Greed, Sex, Shyness, Loneliness, Sadness, Tension etc., all these are related with Sky elements.
Sources of sky element: We can fulfill the need of the sky element in our body by looking at the sky, by sitting or sleeping under the sky, by standing, walking or roaming under sky or by adopting fast.
Air - Vayu
Constant movement is the unique specialty of the Universe, it is being said that meaning of life is to keep moving. This constant movement or continuous activity is the proof of existence of Air element. The vibration in the human body is only due to Air element and this is the proof of existence of life in the body. From conceiving to the birth of a child, every such creation can happen only due to the Air element. Every type of activity either physical or mental is possible only due to Air element. Air element can make different effect in different conditions. On one side, air is constructive by providing life to universe and on the other side it can be destructive by way of storm, cyclone, earthquake etc. Inhaling and exhaling air is the means of life in our body. Continuous heart beats in our body and movement of our nerves with constant speed is possible only due to air.
Function: Air is the basis of the mobility and liveliness of the entire universe. Main function of air is to shape, to throw, to spread, to move, to speak, to think, to touch and to learn, etc.
Place of Air in our Body: Air is lighter than the fire hence its presence is more on upper part of our body. it is comparatively more present from heart to the throat region in our body.
Person who have excess air elements in their body, are very sensitive to the sense of touch. Any deficiency of air element in the body can affect movement, Respiration, Blood pressure, Hormones and also can adversely affect the active organs like Lungs, Heart and Kidney, etc. Person also can feel shivering or stretchiness in the body. Person also can develop feeling of fear and anxiety. Due to imbalance of Air element person can also get affected by Arthritis.
Source of Air element: We can fulfill the need of air element in our body by adopting proper breathing practice, by taking deep and long breathing and more by doing regular Pranayam.
