The five elements and three humours

The platform philosophy of Ayurveda is Samkhya where the last five components of the creation of the Universe are the five elements or Panchamahabuta.

The first element space or Akasha is the first element represented in nature as the container of each existence, the space that every object occupies. In the space every possibility is in its latent form, so everything is possible. It is associated with the sound; its qualities are light, minute, clear, subtle, and inactive.

The second element air or Vayu is represented as the movement and not merely the wind. The movement in our bodies is the movement of the mind, internal systems or organs, associated with touch, its qualities are mobile, dry, light, cold, rough and subtle in nature.

The third element fire or Agni is the first element which can be seen, the fire, the light and in our bodies represented as the digestive fire, the body temperature, and associated with vision; its qualities are hot, sharp, light, dry and subtle.

The fourth element water or Jala is the fluid element represented in our bodies as all bodily fluids and associated with taste, its qualities are cool, liquid, dull, soft, and moist.

The fifth element earth or Prithvi is the most solid, gives stability and supports the growth, it is associated with the smell, its qualities are heavy, dull, dense, hard and inactive.

If we carefully look and feel, we can detect these five elements all around and in us, not merely as visible elements but also as the qualities that build up our bodies and mind. We are part of the Universe and the Universe is in us.

The elements gather and form three different humours or Doshas. The Doshas are primary forces and subtle substances behind all physiological and psycological functions. They produce the body and also are the causative factors in the disease process.  These are:

Vata when Akasha and Vayu join, its predominant qualities are light, dry and cold,

Pitta when Agni and Jala join, its predominant qualities are hot, moist and light and

Kapha when Jala and Prithvi join, its predominant qualities are heavy, cool and moist.

Ayurveda teaches us how to understand and balance the Doshas.

Look for Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Jala and Prithvi in nature and yourself; have them balanced