by Majo Perez
Origin of Ayurveda
Ayurveda has its origins in the Vedas. These are made up the RigVeda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. They have been handed down to us generation by generation over several thousand years of oral tradition, before they have been recorded in written form.
Al thought in the Rig Veda we can find many references to Ayurveda, it has been principally developed from the Atharva Veda. The most recent from the four.
Origin & Significance of the Panch Mahabhutas or Five Elements
Three primordial principles acting together are what gives origin to the Tanmatras & these to the Panch Mahbhutas or Five Elements: space, air, fire, water & earth. These are consider the foundation of everything we can perceive through our senses and beyond. They are the basis of all Vedic Sciences.
An element is the Dravya/ substance which has associated Gunas/ properties. The Dravyaguna/ substance-property relationship is very important in dealing with human perception and its nature through the five senses. Within each individual or creature the Panch Mahabhutas are infused into forming a unique pattern known in Ayurveda as Prakruti. This Prakruti can be refereed to as our ayurvedic make-up or nature. Human Physiology according to the Vedas is rooted in doshas/bodily humors, tissues/ dhatus & wastes/malas who play the role of messengers in between ourselves and the external forces of nature.
It is believed that before all existence there was a void known as Avaykta; Lord Shiva started his dance and that’s what started manifesting the physical world.
1. Akasha/ Ether: The vibration of the dance creates the first element. Ether, the subtlest of all; it is believed that it is the one closer to the God. Ether is related to Space and there cannot exist time without space. They are bounded to each other. Without one of these no other element can exist.
2. Vayu/ Air:From Ether air was born. Vayu is much more than the material or even subtle elements it is the power through which everything comes into manifestation and into which everything eventually returns. It is the cosmic principle of energy and space that pervades body, life, mind and consciousness. The dryest of the elements it is formless, mobile & cold.
3. Tejas/ Fire: The origin of the fire element is the tanmatra of vision called rupa. Rupa means form or color. The one that is light & warm. The origin of transformation, glow & enthusiasm..
4. Jala/ Water:It is said that Jala has the same age of the Universe itself, having been contained in an egg from which everything else emanated. Water is considered Divine by the Vedas, and it was thought to bring peace, happiness, wealth, long-life and good health. The world is spoken of as having been “originally water without light” (Salilam apraketam; Rig Veda X.29.3).
5. Prithvi/ Earth: Occupies a special place among the Gods, having been praised as as Divine Mother. She’s venerated with the highest value in the hierarchy of existence because she is the first born being. In the Vedas, the Earth was an object of worship and not of exploitation.
The Panch Mahabhutas and ourselves
Akash/ Ether
Because of their intimate relationship, the ear is considered the associated sense organ of the element ether and our mouth is its organ of action. Akash can also be related to our thoughts, feelings and emotions because of their subtle quality.
Vayu/ Air
Touch and air are inseparable. The skin is then considered the associated sense organ of the element air and the hands are its associated organ of action. Air can also manifest through movements in our body and nervous system, also we can feel it manifesting as our breath. It may move too fast, too slow, or become obstructed and blocked.
Tejas/Fire
In the human body, fire is expressed in five distinct ways or as the five subdoshas of Pitta The fire that provides our body with the capacity to digest food is called pachaka agni. The fire that ignites the intellect, digests ideas, and allows for understanding is sadhaka agni. The fire of perception that that digests visual impression into recognizable images is called alocaka agni. The fire that energizes and invigorates the body, adding color to the body is called ranjaka agni. The fire that digests touch and sunlight and gives off the radiance associated with healthy skin is the light provided by bhrajaka agni. Because fire has a destructive quality, in the body it is always mixed with a small amount of water to keep it from destroying the tissues. The container of fire and water is pitta dosha.
Jala/ Water
The tongue is the sense organ of water & taste the tanmantra. Water is the protector of the body it protects against the dissolution of the ether element, the roughness and motion of the air element and the heat of the fire element. The water element soothes all pain and inflammation in the body & is in charge of nourishment. As water overflows from the digestive system, it often settles in the watery tissues of the body. These tissues are the rasa/ plasma, meda/ fat and shukra/ reproductive dhatu/ tissue. Water is also reflected as the five subdoshas of Kapha.
Prithvi/ Earth
The origin of the earth element is the tanmatra of smell called gandha & its sense organ is the nose. Earth provides underlying structure and foundation that allows for the growth and development of tissues. Earth is present in significant quantity in the mamsa/ muscle and meda/ fat dhatus. It also makes up the solid structural component of the asthi/ bones dhatu.
Conclusion
Knowing this information empowers us in a way that can only have a great impact in our health. It is because now we can see how the external world can impact our internal universe. These elements are not only present in universe and our body but in everything material. Be aware of how you feel, which elements you think are missing more in your life and try to introduce them in the form of food, activities or censorial perceptions.
Resources
Secrets of Healing. Maya Tiwari. Lotus Press. 1995.
Ayurveda Fundamental Principles. Vasant Lad. The Ayurvedic Press.2002.
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