A correlated study of Akash mahabhuta and it's references in 1st year BAMS subjects especially kriya sharir. The ppt includes study of Akash mahabhuta and its mentions in the kriya sharir book by Ranade. It has description starting from ~siddhanta which correlated the body and mahabhutas. ~Loka Purush Samya Siddhant ~Comparison of nature and human body ~Sharirasya Panchabhautikavam (principles of five elements) ~Panchabhautika Composition of an element ~Shad dhatwatamak Purush ~Akash-properties-senses ~How to examine Akash mahabhuta ~It's practical utility ~Sharirasya dosha dhatu mala ~Panchabhautika Composition of dosha guna and dhatu ~Akash mahabhuta physiological ~Significance and ayurvedic Significance ~Working of ear ~Majja dhatu kshaya Till here. A correlated study of Akash mahabhuta and it's references in 1st year BAMS subjects especially kriya sharir. The ppt includes study of Akash mahabhuta and its mentions in the kriya sharir book by Ranade. It has description starting from ~siddhanta which correlated the body and mahabhutas. ~Loka Purush Samya Siddhant ~Comparison of nature and human body ~Sharirasya Panchabhautikavam (principles of five elements) ~Panchabhautika Composition of an element ~Shad dhatwatamak Purush ~Akash-properties-senses ~How to examine Akash mahabhuta ~It's practical utility ~Sharirasya dosha dhatu mala ~Panchabhautika Composition of dosha guna and dhatu ~Akash mahabhuta physiological ~Significance and ayurvedic Significance ~Working of ear ~Majja dhatu kshaya Till here.

1. MAHATMA GANDHI AYURVEDIC COLLEGE
AND RESEARCH CENTRE, SALOD (HIRAPUR),
WARDHA
PRESENTED BY -
SAKSHI VAIRAGADE
BAMS – (UG) 1ST YEAR
GUIDED BY -
DR. PRADNYA DANDEKAR
MA’AM
KRIYA SHARIR

2. AKASH MAHABHUTA

3. • Human body is composed of five basic elements
(Pancha mahabhut vikar) and soul (chetana).
• Human body = five basic elements + soul (with
proper co-ordination of all these factors).
• The human body is formed from same basic
elements.
1. Prithvi (earth),
2. Ap (water),
3. Teja (fire),
4. Vayu (air),
5. Akash (ether).
'तत्र शरीरं नाम चेतनाधिष्ठानभूतं पञ्चमहाभूतधिकारसमुदायात्मक
ं समयोगिाधह' ।(C.Sha. 6:4)
Ether - This is similar to the space. All the pores, empty
spaces symbolize space or ether.

4. BASIC PRINCIPLE: 1
LOKA-PURUSHA SAMYA
• I. The composition of human body is just like the composition of
nature (Anatomical/Structural similarity)
• 2. Activities in human body are also similar to that occurring in
the universe (functional similarity)

5. Sr. No. Elements from nature Elements from human
1 Prithvi Murti
2 Ap Kleda
3 Tejas Abhisantapa
4 Vayu Pranavayu
5 Akash Sushira
6 Brahma Antaratma
7 Brahma - Vibhuti Antaratma - Vibhuti
COMPARISON OF NATURE AND THE HUMAN BODY
WITH SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES (AS PER CHARAKA
SAMHITA).

6. BASIC PRINCIPLE: 2
SHARIRASYA PANCHABHAUTIKATVAM
(PRINCIPLE OF FIVE ELEMENTS)
• This principle deals with the five basic elements, which are responsible
for creation and composition of human body.
• Human body is composed of five basic elements known as
'Panchamahabhuta’.
• Balance in these elements means health and imbalance means disease.
• 'सिं द्रव्यं पाञ्चभौधतकम् अस्मिन् अर्थे' (Cha.Su. 26/10)
• Each and every element on this earth is basically made up of five basic
elements.
• The micro and macro elements of human body are also made up of
these elements.

7. Sr. No. Mahabhut Properties
1 Ether (Akash) Shabda
2 Air (Vayu) Shabda + Sparsha
3 Fire (Teja) Shabda + Sparsha + Rupa
4 Water (Jala) Shabda + Sparsha + Rupa + Rasa
5 Earth (Prithvi) Shabda + Sparsha + Rupa + Rasa + Gandha
• Five basic elements are derived from
precursor (tanmatras) by the special process
called as 'Bhutantaranupravesh.
• Because of this process, each (onward)
element has an addition of one property
from the previous substance as follows:

8. PANCHABHAUTIK COMPOSITION OF AN ELEMENT
• According to Ayurveda, each and every element on this earth is composed of five basic
elements, but these elements: are called according to predominance of particular Mahabhuta
• For example -.
Predominance of Vayu - Vayaviya element
Predominance of Teja - Taijasa element.
Predominance of Jala - Jaliya element
Predominance of Prithvi - Parthiva element
Predominance of Akasha - Akashiya element
• Each mahabhut has its specific characteristic feature and an addition of one property like
Shabda.
• 'खरद्रिचलोष्णत्वं भूजलाधनलतेजसाम् । आकाशस्याप्रतीघातो दृष्टं धलङ्ग
ं यर्थाक्रमम्' ॥ (C.Sha. 1:29)
• Kharatva (roughness), dravatva (fluidity), ushnatva (heat), chalatva (mobility), and apratighata
(non-obstruction) are the specific properties of Prithvi, Ap, Teja, Vayu and Akash respectively.

9. BASIC PRINCIPLE: 3
SHAD-DHATVATMAK PURUSHA
• (Man made up of six elements) Ayurveda has described the
composition of human being as follows:
• 'खादयः चेतनाषष्ठा िातिः पुरुषः िृतः ।(C.Sha. 1:16)
• Kha' means akasha.
• The five basic elements like akasha, vayu etc. and chetana (soul
principle) form the human body.
• Therefore human being is called as 'shad-dhatvatmaka purusha’.
• The elements formed from prithvi, ap, teja, vayu and akasha are
called parthiva, apya, tajisa, vayaviya and akashiya repectively.

10. AKASHIYA ELEMENTS :
• ‘यधिधिक्तं यदुच्यते, महास्मि चाणूधन स्रोतांधस तदािरीक्षं शब्दः श्रोत्रं च' ।(C.Sha. 7:16)
Body elements: Whichever having space, porosity
(vivikta) and macro-micro body channels, ears are
akashiya elements.

11. MAHABHUTA - PROPERTIES - SENSES
• Shabda (sound), sparsha (touch), rupa (vision), rasa (taste), and gandha (odor)
are properties of akasha, vayu, teja, jala and prithivi respectively can be
understood by five senses of hearing, touch, vision, taste and smell.
Sr. No. Mahabhut Nature in human body
1 Akasha Srotas (channels)
2 Vayu All movements
3 Teja Agni and Pitta
4 Jala Rakta, Mutra, Aweda
5 Prithvi Asthi, Danta, Nakha
Table showing nature of Panch Mahabhuta in Human Body-

12. IMPORTANT FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
OF FIVE PRIMORDIAL SUBSTANCES
5) Space and hollowness by Akasha mahabhuta:
Because of its non obstruction property, movement and transport of many
useful materials in the body through various srotas or channels is possible.
Akasha mahabhuta is responsible for the creation of variety of sounds.

13. Relation of mahabhuta with jnanendriya and its object
Sr. No. Mahabhut Jnanendriya Objects
1 Akasha Shrotrendriya Shabda (Sound)
2 Vayu Sparshendriya Sparsha (Touch)
3 Teja Chakshurindriya Rupa (Vision)
4 Jala Rasanendriya Rasa (Tastes)
5 Prithvi Ghranendriya Gundha (Odour)

14. HOW TO EXAMINE PANCHAMAHABHUTA?
5) Examination of Akashiya elements
• Physician can examine the cavity or lumen of different hollow organs by various
methods.
• With the help of these examinations, non-obstruction (apratighata) can also be
assessed.
• Space in the lungs, heart and abdomen can be examined by percussion.
• If the normal cavity in these or gans is filled by water, pus or tumors then percussion
note becomes dull or otherwise.
• X-ray examination or USG can be done to observe hollowness of different organs.
▸ Body Elements with predominance of Akash Mahabhuta –
1) Small and big sized Srotas (channels),
2) All external and internal orifices like nose, ear etc.
▸ Jnanendriya with predominance of Akash Mahabhuta -Shrotrendriya.
▸ Specific property of Akash Mahabhuta - Shabda (Sound).

15. PRACTICAL UTILITY OF THE STUDY OF FIVE
PRIMORDIAL SUBSTANCES
• Diet having all the five elements is essential for the growth and
development of Panchabhautik human body.
• Proper replacement with panchabhautik food in particular
deficiency is essential,
• Therefore, we have acquired the knowledge of basic elements of
human body by studying the principle of Sharirasya
panchabhautikatuam.

16. Table showing pathological aspect of
panchamahabhuta
Sr. No. Mahabhut Vridhhi (excess) Kshaya (deficiency)
1 Akasha Obesity Weight loss
2 Vayu Edema Dehydration
3 Teja Acidity Indigestion
4 Jala Tremors Paresis
5 Prithvi Osteoporosis Calcification or Fibrosis

17. PRINCIPLE: 4 SHARIRASYA DOSHA-
DHATU-MALA-MULATVAM
• Dosha, Dhatu and Mala (three bio-energies+seven body tissues+three wastes) are
very important for maintaining human body.
• In the previous principle we have mentioned five elements as the generators of body
and now we are mentioning dosha dhatu-mala as fundamental elements.
• Why?
• Because even dosha, dhatu and mala are composed of the five primordial substances.
• But the action of these five elements can be practically understood, through the
media of dosha-dhatu mala.
• So this principle is a mere practical application of the previous principle.

18. PANCHABHAUTIKA COMPOSITION OF
DOSHA
• ‘िायुः आकाशिातुम्ां िायुः । आग्नेयं धपत्तम् ।
अम्भपृधर्थिीम्ां श्लेष्मा' ।(A.S.Su. 20:1)
Table of relation of Tridosha and Mahabhuta
Tridosha Mahabhuta
Vata Vayu + Akash
Pitta Agni + Jala
Kapha Jala + Prithvi

19. VATA DOSHA
• Vata dosha is composed of vayu and akasha mahabhut.
• Hence, it has dual properties – sound and touch.
o Common Function of vata dosha – pravartako vachah:
9) Vachah means to speak. Vata dosha is responsible for speech. Vata is also responsible for
different sounds produced in the body e.g. heart sounds, respiratory sound, abdominal peristalsis
sound etc.
o Common site of vata dosha-
4) Shrotra (ears) - Sound is perceived by ears. Sound is a property of akasha (ether) mahabhuta.
Composition of Vata includes akasha. For the proper activity of Vata in the ear, Ayurveda has
suggested karna-puran (filling of ears with oil) as a part of daily regimen (dinacharya).
• Functions of udana vayu are speech.etc

20. MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
TRIGUNA & PANCHMAHABHUTA
• In Sushruta-sharirasthan (1.20) it is explained that
• Akasha mahabhuta is predominantly Sattva in nature.
• Vayu mahabhuta is Rajas dominant.
• Agni mahabhuta has Sattva, Rajas predominance.
• Ap mahabhuta has Sattva, Tamas predominance.
• Prithvi is Tamas predominant.

21. PANCHABHAUTIK PROPERTIES OF RAKTA
DHATU
Mahabhut Qualities of rakta
dhatu
Akasha Odour
Vayu Viscosity
Teja Colour
Jala Pulsation
Prithvi Lightness
Imbalance state of any Mahabhuta can alter respective
panchabhautik quality of rakta dhatu

22. MUTUAL INTERDEPENDANCE
(ASHRAYASHRAYI SAMBANDHA) OF VATA
DOSHA WITH ASTHI DHATU
• Vata dosha consists of Vayu and Akasha mahabhuta while asthi
dhatu consists of Vayu and Prithvi mahabhuta.
• Vayu mahabhuta is common in asthi dhatu as well as in vata
dosha. Though not mentioned in compendia, Akasha maha
bhuta is also present in bones in the form of medullary cavity.
• Hence any alteration in the volume of Vayu and Akasha
mahabhuta leads to imbalance in the mahabhuta of Asthi any
dhatu.

23. PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF MAJJA
DHATU
IN THE CAVITY OF BONES
• iv) Soft and unctuous majja dhatu fills the cavity of bones and regulates
Akasha and Vayu mahabhuta of asthi

24. MAJJA DHATU KSHAYA
Saushirya
• Quantitative loss of
majja dhatu creates
more cavity or space
(Akasha) inside bone
leading to vata
vriddhi which results
in Asthikshaya.
Majja Kshaya
Increased Akasha
Vata-vriddhi
Asthi-kshaya
Loss of bone
mass

25. PANCHABHAUTIKA CONSTITUTION OF SENSE ORGANS
'सिव द्रव्यं पाञ्चभौधतकम् अस्मिन् अर्थे' ।
• 'पञ्चेस्मियद्रव्याधण ख 'पञ्च इस्मियाधिष्ठाना त्यार्थी:- शब्दस्पशवरूपरसगन् इस्मियार्थवसत्वात्मसधिकषवजाः (C.Su. 26:10)
• According to Ayurveda, five sense organs are composed of five mahabhutas.
• 'भौधतकाधन च इस्मियाधण आयुिेदे िर्ण्विे, तर्था इस्मियार्थावः ।(S.Sha. 1:14)
• ‘एक
ै काधिकयुक्ताधन खादीनाधमस्मियाधण तु । पञ्च कमावनुमेयाधन येभ्यो बुस्मधः प्रितवते’ || (C.Sha. 1:24)
• Though five sense organs are composed of five mahabhutas, every sense organ has
predominance of one mahabhuta

26. Sense organ (jnyanendriya) Predominance mahabhut
Chakshu (eyes) Teja
Shrotra (ears) Akasha
Ghranan (nose) Prithvi
Rasana (tongue) Jala
Sparshanan (skin) Vayu

27. INDRIYA PANCHAKA (FIVE ASPECTS OF SENSE ORGANS)
• Sound is the quality of Akasha mahabhuta, and there is predominance of Akasha
mahabhuta in shrotrendriya Hence sound is perceived by shrotrendriya.
• Objects of sense qualities of mahabhutas, from which these five organs are
Sense organ Indriya dravya Adhisthanawar
(location)
Artha (object) Buddhi
(perception)
Chakshu Teja Eyes Vision Chakshusha
Shrotra Akasha Ears Sound Shravana
Ghrana Prithvi Nose Smell Gandhana
Rasana Jala Tongue Taste Rasana
Sparshana Vayu Skin Touch Sparshana

28. SENSE ORGAN OF SOUND:
SHROTRENDRIYA
• The sense organ which perceives sound is called Shrotrendriya.
• Indriyapanchaka of Shrotrendriya
• Sense organ of hearing - Shrotrendriya
• Adhishthana (location) - Ears
• Mahabhuta - Akasha
• Artha (object) - Shabda (sound)
• Buddhi (perception) - Hearing (shravana buddhi)
• Dhamanis- Two dhamanis conduct sound from ears to mind.
• Two cars are the seat of shrotrendriya.
• 'कणवधििरिृधत्त आकाशमेि श्रोत्रेस्मियम्' ।

29. • External auditory meatus and external auditory canal are hollow
structures of the ears, which show predominance of Akasha
mahabhuta.
• Sound can travel through hollow external auditory canal and can
be conducted to the mind and soul.
• Two dhamanis are related to ears, which are meant for
conduction of sound.

30. DEVELOPMENT OF GARBHA
Development of garbha in embryological period is called as
embryological development.
• Fertilized embryo (Garbha) consists of Panchamahabhutas.
• "गभवस्तु खल्विररक्षिाय्िधग्नतोयभूधमधिकारश्चेतनाधिष्ठानभूतः' । (C.Sha. 4:6)
• Garbha (fertilized ovum) consists of Akash, Vayu, Ap (jala), Agni and
Prithvi mahabhuta
a) Development of Embryo based on Pancha mahabhuta
आकाशं धिििवयधत - Causes expansion by creating proper spaces among the
tissue.
b) Gives the colour complexion etc.
Garbhavarna - Krishnashyam - Prithvi + Akash