To understand physiology, pathology
and pharmacokinetics of ayurvedic therapeutics the concept of panchbhoutic
siddanth is of vital importance. Phrithwi, Aapa, Teja, Vayu and Akasha are
the five (Pancha) basic elements that are the constituents of all living
matter. Together these five are called Panchamahabhoota. These five elements
are the building units of every thing, including medicines and living
beings. Depending on the majority of the content, the matter is classified
as Parthiva, Apya, Taijasa, Vayaviya and Akashiya respectively. The
permutation and combination of these elements and its quantum in a given
matter decides its properties. Mahabhoota is the smallest divisible unit of
any matter.
The space without which exixtence of any matter is impossible is called the
Akashamahabhoota that was first evolved from the akasha-tanmatra (only
Akasha element). The Sound (Shabda) is the main sense attribute and
Apratighatatwa (Nonresistance?) is its main property. Next to evolve from
Akashamahabhoota. Sparsha (touch) is Vayumahabhoota that inherits attribute
of Shabda. Chalatwa as its main property. From Vayumahabhoota the next to
evolve is Agnimahabhoota. The main sense attribute of Agni is Roopa (Vision)
and the main property is Ushnatwa (heat). It also inherits the sense
attributes of Shabda and Sparsha from the earlier Mahabhootas.The next in
line to evolve from Agnimahabhoota is Aapamahabhoota (Jalamahabhoota). Rasa
(taste) is its main sense attribute and Dravatwa (liquidity) is the main
property, along with that inherited from earlier Mahabhoota.
The last to evolve is Prithwimahabhoota. Kharatwa (roughness) is the main
property and Gandha (Smell) is the main sense of this Mahabhoota along with
properties inherited from the earlier once.
All this ayurvedic knowledge of the panchamahabhoota can be summarized as:
Mahabhoota Sense Attributes Main Property
- Akasha Shabda Aapratighata
- Vayu Shabda, Sparsha Sparsha Chala
- Agni Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa,Sparsha,
Roopa Ushna
- Aapa (Jala) Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa, Rasa
Drava
- Prithwi Shabda, Sparsha, Roopa, Rasa,
Gandha Khara
