The Five Elements and Man

The Five Elements and Man

    Ayurveda evolved in the meditative minds of seers of truth, the rishis. For thousands of years their teachings were transmitted orally from teacher to disciple, and later they were set down in melodious Sanskrit poetry. Though many of these texts have been lost over time, an abundant body of Ayurvedic knowledge survives.

  Originating in Cosmic Consciousness, this wisdom was in-tuitively received in the hearts of the  rishis. They perceived that consciousness was energy manifested into the five basic principles, or elements: Ether (space), Air,Fire, Water and Earth. This concept of the five elements lies at the heart of Ayurvedic science.

   The rishis perceived that in the beginning the world existed in an unmanifested state of consciousness. From that state of unified consciousness, the subtle vibrations of the cosmic soundless sound aum manifested. From that vibration there first appeared the Ether element. This ethereal element then began to move: its subtle movements created the Air, which is Ether in action. The movement of Ether produced friction, and through that friction heat was generated.  Particles  of  heat-energy  combined  to form  intense  light  and  from  this  light  the  Fire element manifested.

  Thus, Ether manifested into Air, and it was the same Ether that further manifested into Fire. Through the heat of the Fire, certain ethereal elements dissolved and liquefied, manifesting the Water element, and then solidified to form the molecules of Earth. In this way, Ether manifested into the four elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

   From Earth, all organic living bodies, including those in the vegetable kingdom such as herbs and grains, and those  in  the  animal  kingdom,  including man,are  created.  Earth  also  contains  the inorganic  substances  that comprise the mineral kingdom. Thus, out of the womb of the Five Elements all matter is born.

   The five basic elements exist in all matter. Water provides the classic example: the solid state of water, ice, is a manifestation of the Earth principle. Latent heat (Fire) in the ice liquefies it, manifesting the Water principle: and then eventually it turns into steam, expressing the Air principle. The steam disappears into Ether, or space. Thus the five basic elements. Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth, are present in one substance. All five originated in the energy issuing from Cosmic Consciousness: all five are present in all matter in the universe. Thus, energy and matter are one.

MAN  AS  MICROCOSM

   Man  is  a  microcosm  of  nature  and  so  the  five basic  elements  present  in  all  matter  also  exist within  each individual. In the human body are many spaces which are manifestations of the Ether element. There are, for example, the spaces in the mouth, nose, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, abdomen, thorax, capillaries, lymphatics, tissues and cells.

   Space in movement is called Air. Air is the second cosmic element, the element of movement. Within the human body. Air manifests in the larger movements of the muscles, the pulsations of the heart, the expansion and contraction of the lungs and the movements of the stomach wall and intestines. Under a microscope, even single cells may be seen to move. Response to a stimulus is the movement of afferent and efferent nerve impulses, which are sensory and motor movements. The entire movements of the central nervous system are governed by bodily Air.

   The third element is Fire. The source of Fire and light in the solar system is the sun. In the human body, the source of Fire is the metabolism. Fire works in the digestive system. In the gray matter of the brain cells, Fire manifests as intelligence. Fire also activates the retina which perceives light. Thus, body temperature, digestion, the thinking processes and vision are all functions of bodily Fire. All metabolism and enzyme systems are controlled by this element. Water is the fourth important element in the body. It manifests in the secretions of the digestive juices and the salivary glands, in the mucus membranes and in plasma and cytoplasm. Water is absolutely vital for the functioning of the tissues, organs and various bodily systems. For example, dehydration resulting from diarrhoea and vomiting must be treated immediately to protect the patient’s life. Because this element is so vital, bodily Water is called the Water of Life. Earth is the fifth and last element of the cosmos that is present in the microcosm. Life is possible on this plane because Earth holds all living and non-living substances to its solid surface. In the body, the solid structures bones, cartilage, nails, muscles, tendons, skin and hair — are derived from Earth.



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