A New Perspective on Pancha Maha Bhutas

Ovidiu Ponoran
Jun 11, 2024
6 min read

Updated: Oct 4, 2024

First published in Yoga Life, Vol. 55 No. 6, June 2024, available at https://online.pubhtml5.com/urcbn/awua/

Pancha Maha Bhutas in Yoga and Ayurveda

Everything in the manifest Universe, including human beings, are the product of the combination and interaction of the Pancha Maha Bhutas, the five great elements. These fundamental elements represent everything that is solid (Prithvi), liquid (Apas), thermal (Tejas), gaseous (Vayu), and ethereal (Akash) within the manifest Universe, both internally within us and externally. What is in the macrocosm (Anda) is in the microcosm (Pinda), and vice versa. The elements are associated with the five senses (Pancha Tanmatras), five sense organs or organs of perception (Pancha Jnanendriyas), five organs of actions or action instruments (Pancha Karmendriyas), five fingers (used in Hasta Mudras for the elements), and five spinal vortices of energy (Chakras). The table provided below illustrates the teachings of the Gitananda Yoga tradition regarding these associations. Be aware that other traditions may use different correlations for the Karmendriyas: Earth - anus, Water - genitals, Fire - feet, Air - hands, and Space - mouth.

Earth has the least degree of freedom and Space has the highest degree of freedom. Both Earth and Water are heavy and flow down. Fire burns upwards. Air blows to the sides and upwards due to its lightness; it can travel everywhere. Space is limitless, it has no boundaries.

The Earth element is related to solidity, grounding, strength, structure, stability, security. Water is about balance, mobility, fluidity, flowing, transparency, adaptability, clarity, formlessness. Fire is dynamism, light, brightness, passion, transformation, illumination, radiance, vitality, creative spark, digestion and assimilation of what is useful. Air signifies movement, flying, the ability to transcend the gravitational constraints of one's limitations. Space represents freedom, connection, purity, openness, expansiveness.

Each individual has a unique blend of the five elements, influencing their physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. Ayurveda takes the five elements and condenses them into three principles called Tridoshas. The association of Earth and Water creates Kapha, Water and Fire together is called Pitta, and Air and Space is Vata. The balance of Kapha, Pitta, and Vata represents health while their imbalance is disease. Some people will exhibit dominance in one dosha, while others are a combination of two or even all three.

Within the body, Earth manifests in solid structures like skin, bones, and muscles. Water appears in saliva, urine, sexual secretions, blood, and sweat. Fire drives digestive processes and hormonal secretions affecting metabolism. Air facilitates all movements; the nervous system has a lot of wind that allows the nerve impulses to travel. Space is present in the hollow cavities like sinuses and nasal cavity.

Pancha Maha Bhutas Outside India

The theory of the four elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air) or five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space/Void) is not limited to specific cultural or philosophical traditions. It can also be observed in Hellenistic philosophy, in the Kongo cosmogram of the traditional Bakongo religion from Central Africa, or in Japanese traditions under the term Godai. These elements find applications in various fields, including martial arts, modern personality tests, and leadership training.

One example is Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary Japanese swordsman, philosopher, and strategist from the 16th century. He is renowned for his work on strategy and tactics, 'The Book of Five Rings' (Go Rin No Sho). In this book, he categorizes his strategies and chapters into Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void (Space). According to Musashi, the essence of the Five Rings can be found everywhere in nature. He believed that mastering these five strategies would lead to spontaneity and unpredictability in combat and life.

Created by the Institute for Zen Leadership, FEBI (Focus Energy Balance Indicator) “is a validated psychometric instrument measuring 4 energy patterns in the nervous system that map to 4 factors of personality, 4 ways of moving, and 4 essential modes of leadership.” The four energy patterns are:

Visionary (Air): sees big picture, creative.
Driver (Fire): gets things done, direct, focused, clear.
Collaborator (Water): sees all sides, warm, engaging, fun.
Organizer (Earth): loves order, reliable, stable, solid.

Stuart Heller, the founder of Walking Your Talk, incorporates the five elements into his model for developing intentional versatility among leaders. This model emphasizes the importance of being able to choose the most appropriate action based on the specific circumstances. The Space element is about the “free to move” state from which you can access all the other four moves according to the situation: Earth “I don’t move”, Water “I am moved, I match their moves”, Fire “I move into”, and Air “I move away”.

A New Perspective

In the Gitananda Yoga tradition, three main techniques are offered to engage with the Pancha Maha Bhutas, which I have learned and practiced during the Pranayama Sadhana course:

Mandala Pranayama: this technique incorporates Sukha Purvaka Pranayama along with visualizing the mandalas corresponding to the elements.
Mandala Dharana: in this practice, one gazes at a mandala image, then closes the eyes to allow the after image to develop within.
Pancha Bhuta Shuddhi Pranayama: this cleansing Pranayama for the five elements employs a 1:4:2 ratio breathing pattern while contemplating the mandala and mentally reciting the bija mantra associated with the chakra corresponding to the element.

While immersed in the practice of Pancha Bhuta Shuddhi Pranayama at Ananda Ashram during the second residential segment of the Pranayama Sadhana course, I experienced a surprising shift in perspective. As I gazed at my right hand, formed into Vishnu Mudra, it struck me that the fingers on the right side are associated with more Rajasic qualities (the thumb represents Fire and the index finger Air), while the two on the left side exude a more Tamasic nature (the little finger represents Water and the ring finger Earth). In the center, touching the Bhrumadhya Bindu, was my middle finger, representing Space and possessing a Sattvic nature. This observation intrigued me also because initiating the breathing through the right nostril is more activating (Rajasic) and through the left nostril is more relaxing (Tamasic).

Later that day, I further reflected on the insight gained during my practice session. I pondered how this insight might offer clues for manipulating my nostrils with Vishnu Mudra in a way that enables me to experience the elements within myself. The three Gunas - Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas - are the three fundamental qualities or attributes composing all aspects of existence. Sattva represents the balancing force and is about purity, stability, balance, calmness, and clarity of perception. Rajas, the active force, embodies activity, movement, dynamism, ambition. Tamas is passive and causes inertia, dullness, heaviness, and ignorance. Now, a question emerged in my mind: What is the relationship between the Pancha Maha Bhutas and the Tri Gunas? The Earth element is distinctly Tamasic, characterized by its heaviness and immobility. The Water element shares some Tamasic traits due to its heaviness, yet its ability to flow and quickly adapts to find balance imbues it with a blend of Tamasic-Sattvic qualities. The Air element is Rajasic, as it is constantly in motion. Fire exhibits Rajasic attributes as well, although its movement is relatively restricted unless influenced by wind, leading to a Rajasic-Sattvic nature. The Space element is Sattvic in its expansive and boundless nature.

Afterwards, I searched on the Internet to validate my hypothesis. I was delighted to find a paragraph in an article from the National Library of Medicine titled “Understanding personality from an Ayurvedic perspective for psychological assessment: A case.” This paragraph discussed the correlation between the Tri Gunas and Pancha Maha Bhutas:

“Sushruta clearly describes the five Mahabhutas as being constituted by the Trigunas.

According to him (S.S. III. 1.20.),[15] Akasa is predominant with Sattva, Vayu with Rajas,

Agni with Sattva–Rajas, Ap (Jala) with Sattva–Tamas, and Prithvi with Tamas.“

Sushruta is the author of the Sushruta Samhita, a treatise considered to be one of the most important ancient treatises on medicine and is considered a foundational text of Ayurveda.

With these findings in mind, I turned to the practical aspect and contemplated the question: How can I utilize Vishnu Mudra with breathing to cultivate a direct experience of the five elements within myself? On that day, my answer to this question unfolded as follows:

Earth element: inhale and exhale through the left nostril.
Water element: inhale through the left nostril and exhale through the right.
Fire element: inhale through the right nostril and exhale through the left nostril.
Air element: inhale and exhale through the right nostril.
Space element: inhale and exhale through both nostrils.

Currently, I'm experimenting with three methods to incorporate these personal insights into my yoga practice. In each approach, I simply utilize Sukha Pranayama with a 6:6 ratio and complete 3-12 breaths for each element. No mandalas, no bija mantras. These methods are:

I practice all the five elements, using the sequence: Water → Fire → Air → Earth → Space.
I incorporate the Space element in between, altering the sequence to Water → Space → Fire → Space → Air → Space → Earth → Space.
Sometimes I focus solely on one element, based on my individual needs for that particular day.

As of now, I haven't reached any definitive conclusions; I simply find enjoyment in the early stages of this experimentation. The purpose of my article was to stimulate curiosity in others to explore further, whether it is this topic or any other teachings or practice of the Gitananda Yoga tradition that resonates with them. It is an invitation to approach familiar techniques with fresh eyes and renewed curiosity, encouraging practitioners to delve deeper, uncover their own unique insights and discoveries, and share the findings with others.