I posted recently about the Samkhya Philosophy. Within that philosophy we discussed the five elements of creation. In today’s post, I’d like to expand on the conversation.

When we look at the vast expanse of the macrocosm, the sun, moon, planets, stars. The earth, and the wind, we recognize that the energies that produced the macrocosm are present in us.

So, let’s consider what the macrocosm is made up of. According to the Rishis who received the revelations, there is a cosmic consciousness, which began to vibrate, thus creating the Ether, from which the other four elements became manifest. Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.

• Cosmic Consciousness began to vibrate, creating Ether. This vibration created sound which created movement, creating the air.
• The air created friction, from which came heat. The particles of heat clashed together thereby creating a spark that manifested in fire.
• The heat caused the temperature to rise until the source of heat became hot enough to liquify the ether, which became water. Which solidified and became earth.

Everything in the universe is made up of these elements, to a lesser extent, of course.

We can use the elements themselves as an example.

• If you take water in its solid state (of ice), you have the Earth element as predominant.
• But when you warm the Earth (ice) it returns to it’s liquid state of Water.
• When Fire intensifies the water evaporates returning to the element
• Air, making it dominant
• Until it evaporates and disappears becoming Ether.

 Go back further to remember that these elements came to be as a result of the vibration of Cosmic Consciousness. Making all matter energy.

Now lets look at the microcosm in this case the human body. The body is composed of the same five fundamental elements as the universe. Lets look at those individually.

• First we have the Ether or Aakash –  It represents empty space, which can be filled. With regards to the human body it is filled with arteries tiny vessels, organs, cells as well as the obvious mouth, nose chest abdomen and trachea. Which create vibration, resulting in sound, this is connected to the ears or hearing which is a sensory organ a motor organ, the phonatory apparatus (Did you ever wonder here they got the term tele “phone”)
• The second element of Air or Vaayu is an invisible force that creates visible change. It causes muscular movement. The heartbeat, the expansion and contraction of the lungs, and intestinal movements. Air is associated with touch. The skin is a sensory organ. The hand is it’s motor organ.
• Fire or Agni is the third element and it’s origin is the metabolism. It’s located in the intestinal system and in the gray matter and cells of the brain. We see fire manifested in intelligence. Fire governs the process of the digestion, thought, sight, and it regulates the body temperature.  The retina perceives light, therefore your sight is associated with fire. The eye is a sensory organ and the foot is it’s motor organ. The foot allows us to move but needs the eye to decide in which direction to move.  I know, I hear someone out there saying, “What about those who are blind?” Well, that’s another conversation, but still relates to the eye. The third eye or pineal gland which works in a similar manner. That’s a conversation of it’s own.
• The forth element is water which is our digestive secretions, salivary glands, mucus, plasma, and the cytoplasma of our cells. Water is associated with taste, so the sensory organ is the tongue. It’s motor organ is the reproductive apparatus. In Ayurveda the genital tract is called the lower tongue as it is believed that the two organs are linked.
• Earth or Prithvi is the fifth element and is the only solid one. This is where we see our  bones, cartilage, nails, muscles, tendons, skin and hair. This element is associated with the sense of smell. Obviously, the sensory organ is the nose and the motor organ is the anus due to its excretion function. Interestingly, The Rishis found that constipated people usually had a respiratory discomfort and a different sense of smell.

These five elements make up all living and non living things. They are present in everything to a lesser degree.

Ultimately, we are all made of energy. That which created the vibration that set in motion the creation of all the elements.

I wanted to review these elements, today, because they show how Ayurveda puts the pieces of the puzzle together. That of Body, mind and soul.

When we consider that the food we eat is made up of the same five elements, we begin to see how food can heal our body. Or cause it to be out of balance. When we talk about the doshas, we’ll be able to see how this all fits together. I will talk about the doshas in a future post.