The Universe consists of five great elements (Pancha MahaBhuta in Sanskrit), which are also present within us. These elements are space (ether), air, fire, water, and earth. In space, we exist and grow; air is essential for breathing; fire or the sun is needed for growth and transformation; water is for moisture, and earth provides stability.

Ayurveda gives great importance to the connection between the macrocosm (the Universe) and the microcosm (living beings, including humans). Anything happening in the Universe also takes place within us.

The Universe consists of five great elements (Pancha MahaBhuta in Sanskrit), which are also present within us. These elements are space (ether), air, fire, water, and earth. In space, we exist and grow; air is essential for breathing; fire or the sun is needed for growth and transformation; water is for moisture, and earth provides stability.

Each element has its qualities or Gunas (in Sanskrit), which are associated with our senses: sight, sound or hearing, smell, touch and taste. Let’s take a closer look at each element.

ETHER or SPACE (Akasha)

This is the subtlest, intangible element in which we exist, just like any matter in the Universe. Ether is elusive, intangible, and formless, but it has qualities such as transparent, light, subtle, and soft Ether is related to sound, perceived by our sense of hearing – the ear.

AIR (Vayu)

Air is a gas (back to physics) with qualities such as light, transparent, dry, mobile, and cold. Air is associated with the sense of touch, and we primarily feel its movement on the skin. Air governs all movements and changes within the body, it gives life. It is present in our lungs and abdomen, responsible for muscles, heart, and lung movements, as well as nerve impulses in the body. Air also controls all bodily secretions, breathing, swallowing, and even the flow of thoughts.

FIRE (Agni)

Fire is transformation. It possesses qualities such as light, hot, sharp/penetrating, dry, and subtle. It governs perception and has a direct connection with the eyes, responsible for vision. The fire element controls any transformation in the body, be it digestive and emotional metabolism, body temperature, skin, and hair color. Fire is responsible for transforming perception into knowledge.

WATER (Apas)

Water, with its fluidity and movement, serves for binding and cohesion. Water qualities are cool, fluid, slow, soft, slippery, and oily. Water is associated with the sense of taste, and the organ of water perception is the tongue, which plays a significant role in the process of eating and experiencing taste pleasure. Water is present wherever there is liquid in our body, such as urine, blood, lymph, stool, saliva, sweat, and mucus.

EARTH (Prithvi)

Earth is stability. It is heavy, solid, has shape and structure, and is dense. Earth is associated with the sense of smell, and the primary organ of earth perception is the nose. Earth is present in the physical structure of our body, such as bones, muscles and ligaments, teeth and nails, as well as the skin.

Twenty Qualities

In Ayurveda, there are a total of 20 qualities, grouped into 10 opposing pairs across two categories:

If you have noticed, in everyday life we often use these qualities to describe our sensations and everything around us and within us. For example, “I had a heavy lunch today”,”everything went smoothly today”, “this person has a sharp mind”, and so on.

In Ayurveda, the 20 qualities of elements are used both for diagnosis and treatment. Understanding these qualities helps understanding the body’s condition and bring it into balance according to Ayurveda’s “golden” rule: “Like increases like, opposite balances.” For instance, if you feel hot, drinking hot tea will only increase the heat. To decrease the heat, you need to cool down by drinking cool water.

Choosing food or a lifestyle with qualities opposite to your current state or sensation, can bring your body into balance.