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Panchamahabhuta (also known as pancha-bhutas OR mahabhutas) is the samskrit term made up of 3 parts. Pancha means 5, maha means big and bhutas means the existing elements. Thus, the term panchamahabhutas indicates 5 basic elements existing in the nature. These are considered as the basis of creation of universe including humans. These 5 basic elements have specific attributes, owing to which how they would act or affect the others is decided. They co-exist in all the materials or matters in this universe in varied proportion. One or 2 elements might be present in dominance than others in different matters. Dominance of mahabhutas decide the final quality or nature and behavior of that matter in this world.   

Panchamahabhutas (also known as pancha-bhutas OR mahabhutas) is the samskrit term made up of 3 parts. Pancha means 5, maha means big and bhutas means the existing elements. Thus, the term panchamahabhutas indicates 5 basic elements existing in the universe. These are considered as the basis of creation of matter and space in the universe. Human being a part of the universe is also made up of these 5 basic elements. These 5 basic elements have specific attributes, owing to which how they would act or affect the others is decided. They co-exist in all the materials or matters in this universe in varied proportion. One or 2 elements might be present in dominance than others in different matters. Dominance of mahabhutas decide the final quality or nature and behavior of that matter in this world.   

== The 5 elements ==

== The 5 elements ==

Bhu / Prthvi, Jalam/ aapa, Teja/ Agni, Vayu and kha/ Aakasha are these 5 basic elements or panchamahabhutas existing in the universe. Each of these 5 mahabhutas have one unique quality. This quality is specific to that mahabhuta and called as guna (quality) of that mahabhuta. <blockquote>महाभूतानि खं वायुरग्निरापः क्षितिस्तथा| शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च तद्गुणाः||२७|| Cha Sha 1.27</blockquote>Meaning: Kha (ether), Vayu (Air), Agni (fire), Aapa (Water), Kshiti (Earth) are called mahabhutas. Shabdam (sound), Sparsham (touch), Rupam (vision), Rasa (taste) and gandha (smell) are the gunas (unique qualities) of these mahabhutas respectively.  

Kha/ Aakasha, Vayu, Teja/ Agni, Jalam/ aapa, Bhu / Prthvi/ kshiti are the 5 basic elements or panchamahabhutas existing in the universe. Each of these 5 mahabhutas have one unique quality. This quality is specific to that mahabhuta and called as guna (quality) of that mahabhuta. <blockquote>महाभूतानि खं वायुरग्निरापः क्षितिस्तथा| शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च तद्गुणाः||२७|| Cha Sha 1.27</blockquote>Meaning: Kha (ether), Vayu (Air), Agni (fire), Aapa (Water), Kshiti (Earth) are called mahabhutas. Shabdam (sound), Sparsham (touch), Rupam (vision), Rasa (taste) and gandha (smell) are the gunas (unique qualities) of these mahabhutas respectively.  

=== Prthvi ===

=== Akasha ===

Tarkasamgraha- ॥ तत्र गन्धवती पृथिवी। सा द्विविधा, नित्याऽनित्या च। नित्या परमाणुरूपा। अनित्या कार्यरूपा। पुनस्त्रिविधा शरीरेन्द्रियविषयभेदात्। शरीरमस्मदादीनाम्। इन्द्रियं गन्धग्राहकं घ्राणम्। तच्च नासाग्रवर्ति। विषयो मृत्पाषाणादिः॥९॥ <ref>Tarkasamgraha By Annambhatta, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Dravyalakshana prakaranam]</ref>

॥ शब्दगुणकमाकाशम्। तच्चैकं विभु नित्यञ्च॥५॥

(TBE)The word ‘Prithvi’ literally means ‘the earth’. It also represents the earth in its elemental form. Prithvi has been derived from the word ‘pruthu’, which means ‘possessing sthula guna (property of bulkiness or thickness)’.[2] Prath also means pervasive, which spreads. Another meaning is particles. Prithvi is the one which is composed of several particles.[3] That which have gandha (smell), rasa (taste), rupa (vision) and sparsha (touch) is called prithvi.[4]

The word Akasha literally means ‘a free or open space’ or ‘the ether’, ‘sky’ or ‘atmosphere’.

=== Apa ===

=== Vayu ===

॥ शीतस्पर्शवत्यः आपः। ता द्विविधाः, नित्या अनित्याश्च। नित्याः परमाणुरूपाः। अनित्याः कार्यरूपाः। पुनस्त्रिविधाः शरीरेन्द्रियविषयभेदात्। शरीरं वरुणलोके। इन्द्रियं रसग्राहकं रसनं जिह्वाग्रवर्ति। विषयः सरित्समुद्रादिः॥२॥

॥ रूपरहितः स्पर्शवान् वायुः। स द्विविधः नित्यः अनित्यश्च। नित्यः परमाणुरूपः। अनित्यः कार्यरूपः। पुनः त्रिविधः शरीरेन्द्रियविषयभेदात्। शरीरं वायुलोके। इन्द्रियं स्पर्शग्राहकंत्वक् सर्वशरीरवर्ति। विषयो वृक्षादिकम्पनहेतुः। शरीरान्तः सञ्चारी वायुः प्राणः। स च एकोऽपि उपाधिभेदात् प्राणापानादिसंज्ञां लभते॥४॥

The word ‘jala’ literally means ‘water’ or ‘any fluid’.[1] It is also known as ‘ap mahabhuta’. The word ‘ap’ also means ‘water’.That which have the sensations of vision (rupa), taste(rasa), touch (sparsha), sliminess (snigdha) and is in the form of liquid (drava) is called ‘ap’ [Vaisheshika sutra].[3] It is cold on touch [Tarkasangraha].[4]

The word ‘vayu’ literally means ‘wind’ or ‘air’ or ‘vital air’.

=== Teja ===

=== Teja ===

‘Agni’ literally means fire. In Ayurveda biology, agni denotes all factors responsible for digestion and metabolism/transformation. (Code:SAT-B.488)[1] It is the heat (ushma) generated from pitta dosha in the body. Therefore, all functions of agni are similar to pitta dosha.

‘Agni’ literally means fire. In Ayurveda biology, agni denotes all factors responsible for digestion and metabolism/transformation. (Code:SAT-B.488)[1] It is the heat (ushma) generated from pitta dosha in the body. Therefore, all functions of agni are similar to pitta dosha.

=== Vayu ===

=== Apa ===

॥ रूपरहितः स्पर्शवान् वायुः। स द्विविधः नित्यः अनित्यश्च। नित्यः परमाणुरूपः। अनित्यः कार्यरूपः। पुनः त्रिविधः शरीरेन्द्रियविषयभेदात्। शरीरं वायुलोके। इन्द्रियं स्पर्शग्राहकंत्वक् सर्वशरीरवर्ति। विषयो वृक्षादिकम्पनहेतुः। शरीरान्तः सञ्चारी वायुः प्राणः। स च एकोऽपि उपाधिभेदात् प्राणापानादिसंज्ञां लभते॥४॥

॥ शीतस्पर्शवत्यः आपः। ता द्विविधाः, नित्या अनित्याश्च। नित्याः परमाणुरूपाः। अनित्याः कार्यरूपाः। पुनस्त्रिविधाः शरीरेन्द्रियविषयभेदात्। शरीरं वरुणलोके। इन्द्रियं रसग्राहकं रसनं जिह्वाग्रवर्ति। विषयः सरित्समुद्रादिः॥२॥

The word ‘vayu’ literally means ‘wind’ or ‘air’ or ‘vital air’.

The word ‘jala’ literally means ‘water’ or ‘any fluid’.[1] It is also known as ‘ap mahabhuta’. The word ‘ap’ also means ‘water’.That which have the sensations of vision (rupa), taste(rasa), touch (sparsha), sliminess (snigdha) and is in the form of liquid (drava) is called ‘ap’ [Vaisheshika sutra].[3] It is cold on touch [Tarkasangraha].[4]

=== Akasha ===

=== Prthvi ===

॥ शब्दगुणकमाकाशम्। तच्चैकं विभु नित्यञ्च॥५॥

Tarkasamgraha- ॥ तत्र गन्धवती पृथिवी। सा द्विविधा, नित्याऽनित्या च। नित्या परमाणुरूपा। अनित्या कार्यरूपा। पुनस्त्रिविधा शरीरेन्द्रियविषयभेदात्। शरीरमस्मदादीनाम्। इन्द्रियं गन्धग्राहकं घ्राणम्। तच्च नासाग्रवर्ति। विषयो मृत्पाषाणादिः॥९॥ <ref>Tarkasamgraha By Annambhatta, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Dravyalakshana prakaranam]</ref>

The word Akasha literally means ‘a free or open space’ or ‘the ether’, ‘sky’ or ‘atmosphere’.

(TBE)The word ‘Prithvi’ literally means ‘the earth’. It also represents the earth in its elemental form. Prithvi has been derived from the word ‘pruthu’, which means ‘possessing sthula guna (property of bulkiness or thickness)’.[2] Prath also means pervasive, which spreads. Another meaning is particles. Prithvi is the one which is composed of several particles.[3] That which have gandha (smell), rasa (taste), rupa (vision) and sparsha (touch) is called prithvi.[4]

== Place of panchamahabhutas in the cosmic evolution (Srshti utpatti) ==

== Place of panchamahabhutas in the cosmic evolution (Srshti utpatti) ==

The Srshti (universe) is evolved from unmanifest (avyakta) through cosmic inltelligence (mahat) and ego (ahamkara). Then the panchatanmatra are evolved from rajas dominant taijas and tamas dominant bhutadi ahamkara. Panchatanmatras are the subtle forms of panchamahabhuta from which the panchamahabhutas develop in the later stage. Ayurveda has accepted this Srshti utpatti siddhanta propounded by Samkhya darshana.  

The Srshti (universe) is evolved from unmanifest (avyakta) through cosmic inltelligence (mahat) and ego (ahamkara). Then the panchatanmatra are evolved from rajas dominant taijas and tamas dominant bhutadi ahamkara. Panchatanmatras are the subtle forms of panchamahabhuta from which the panchamahabhutas develop in the later stage. Ayurveda has accepted this Srshti utpatti siddhanta propounded by Samkhya darshana.  

As per the Srshti utpatti siddhanta of darshana shastras accepted by Ayurveda, mahabhutas are evolved sequentially from akasha to prthvi. In this process the quality of that mahabhuta which gives rise to the other, is transmitted in the newly evolved mahabhuta. Since Akasha mahabhuta is the first to evolve in sequence, its unique property becomes part of all 4 mahabhutas evolving after it. Same applies to all the other mahabhutas after akasha. This transmission of qualities is called as Bhutanupravesham explained in Charaka Samhita as below,

As per the [[Srshti Siddhanta (सृष्टिसिद्धान्तः)|Srshti utpatti siddhanta]] of [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|darshana shastras]] accepted by Ayurveda, mahabhutas are evolved sequentially from akasha to prthvi. In this process the quality of that mahabhuta which gives rise to the other, is transmitted in the newly evolved mahabhuta. Since Akasha mahabhuta is the first to evolve in sequence, its unique property becomes part of all 4 mahabhutas evolving after it. Same applies to all the other mahabhutas after akasha. This transmission of qualities is called as Bhutanupravesham explained in Charaka Samhita as below,

=== Bhutantara praveshakrit gunas (भूतान्तरप्रवेशकृतं गुण) ===

=== Bhutantara praveshakrit gunas (भूतान्तरप्रवेशकृतं गुण) ===