The 5 elements : The outside is inside all of us.

Here's an interesting compilation of information on the concept of 5 elements:

    The 5 elements : The outside is inside all of us.

    When we look to the beauty of nature, we find that five elements provide the foundation for the entire physical world. Ayurveda recognizes these elements–Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth—as the building blocks of all material existence.

    Whether walking headfirst into a gale of wind or digging our hands into the soil, we possess an inherent familiarity with the elements. All organic and inorganic substances are combinations of these elements, be it a time-polished rock or a shiny piece of plastic. Every object is unique because it contains a varying ratio of the five elements.

    Ayurveda also observes the five elements within the human body. We nourish ourselves with foods from the Earth, and eventually, our body returns to the earthly matter from which it came. Water is our life-sustaining nectar, making up more than 70 percent of our total body mass. Fire provides the body with heat and radiant energy and exists within all metabolic and chemical actions. Air flows freely throughout the body, giving movement to biological functions and feeding every cell with oxygen. Space is ever-present, humbly residing in the background, providing the other elements with an opportunity to interact in this way.

    From an Ayurvedic perspective, the Water element encompasses more than the substance we call water. It also embodies the physical qualities, biological functions, and energetic properties of this element. For example, Water is liquid, heavy, soft, and cohesive. It governs all bodily fluids and is necessary for chemical reactions to take place in nature. On the subtler levels of the mind and emotions, Water relates to a calm personality and promotes love, compassion, and contentment.

    The Five Elements explain why substances of the natural world are harmonious with the human body. We easily utilize plants, herbs, minerals, and water, because these substances are the same in composition and character to our own underlying make-up.

    (Ref.: http://www.eattasteheal.com/Ayurveda101/ETH_5elements.htm)

    

    Seven chakras in our body:

    In the philosophy of the seven chakras there are correspondences to the five elements as shared by both Hinduism and Buddhism as well as two other elements:

        Sahasrara (Crown): Thought/Space

        Ajña (Third Eye): Light/Dark

        Vishuddhi (Throat): Ether/Sound

        Anahata (Heart): Air

        Manipura (Navel): Fire

        Svadhisthana (Sacral): Water

        Muladhara (Root): Earth

    (Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism))

    When the Five Elements are in balance, we are able to function at our highest level as human beings. To create this balance, there are ancient Indian mantras - sacred vibrations - for each element, as well as practical easy-to-use techniques that we can use daily. We can learn how to build homes and create spaces in alignment with the Five Elements through the ancient Indian science of 'Vaastu'. When we follow correct Vaastu principles, we are living physically in harmony with nature and, in turn, our lives will be filled with happiness and success. Knowledge of the Five Elements is essential in order to lead happy and healthy lives. By understanding the positive and negative aspects of each element, we can tune our minds, heart and souls to use each element in the most effective way. The first rule of thumb is that we cannot dominate the Five Elements; instead, we have to surrender to the elements and respect them.

    Fire - or the sun - is the great generator for all creation to happen. The early morning sun can heal many diseases and depression. If you have east-facing windows in your home, open them at sunrise, letting in as much of the early morning light as possible.

    If the sunrise rays can touch your body, you are a very lucky person!

    Witnessing a sacred Fire ceremony can also bring your soul huge blessings and protection. When we chant the Fire mantra, we are purifying our body and soul from negative karmas.

    The Fire can bring the highest positive energy, prosperity and fulfill our heart's desires.

               

               

    The Sky is unlimited. By chanting the Sky mantra, we can develop our 6th sense, connect to the angels and receive the highest self-healing power.

    Through the Sky mantra, we can heal our addictions, heartbreak, and depression. We can make our soul like a magnet to attract the highest healing vibrations.

    Through the Sky mantra, we can also connect to all of Creation because it encompasses all.

    The Water element is a huge force of life. There are perfect cycles of Water flowing throughout the planet. Water is of a nurturing energy, but when out of balance, tsunamis, hurricanes, and floods can occur. When we take a bath, or go swimming, our body naturally relaxes very quickly. Water pulls out negativity, balances our emotions, and makes our minds calm and focused. Water easily holds energy. For example, if we recite the Water mantra while drinking water, the water becomes charged with the highest healing vibrations. The delicacy of nature can be observed through water's sensitivity to people's thoughts, feelings and emotions. The Water element can be used for helping people with all types of psychiatric problems, body pains and depression.

               

               

    The Air element is our most basic connection to life. Our body can only survive if we breathe. Through the air, we can receive powerful cosmic energy. Wind can be soft and gentle or wild and destructive. Generally, the winds in the high mountains are very powerful to our soul, whereas the desert winds have a negative quality. If there is no plant life, the wind can bring destructive energies. Where there is life, the winds can be healing, bringing angelic energy and light, especially to those meditating in the nature. When we have the Air element under our control, our minds are peaceful and controlled. By mastering the mind, we gain the capacity to handle all the other elements and use those energies to the best advantage. In this western world, controlling our thoughts is the most difficult thing, and yet the most important, to our well-being.

    To stay balanced, it is important to spend some time every week with nature and maintain a place of inner silence. We can use the power of our thoughts and minds to heal ourselves and others. Chanting the sacred element mantras is like tuning into perfect radio frequencies, purifying our souls and opening us up to the divine rhythm of nature.

     (Ref.: http://www.purecalma.com/elements.html)

    Architecture (Vastu Shastra):

    According to vastu sastra, the world comprises five basic elements known as the pancha maha bhoota. Out of the eight planets, ours has life because of the presence and balance of these five elements. The five elements are as follows.

    EARTH (Bhumi) - Earth, the third planet in order from the sun, is a big magnet with North and South poles as centers of attractions. Its magnetic field and gravitational force has considerable effects on everything on the Earth, living and non-living.

    WATER (Jala) - This is represented by rain, river, sea and is in the form of liquid, solid (ice) and gas (steam, cloud). It forms part of every plant and animal. Our blood is nothing but water with haemoglobin and oxygen.

    AIR (Vayu) - As a life supporting element, air is a very powerful life source. Human physical comfort values are directly and sensitively dependent on correct humidity, air flow, temperature of air, air pressure, air composition and its content.

    FIRE (Agni) - Represents light and heat which account for day, night, the seasons, energy, enthusiasm, passion and vigour.

    SPACE (Akasha) - The akasha provides shelter to all the above elements. It is also considered the primary conductor of all energy sources within the universal context - physical energies such as sound and light, social energies such as psychological and emotional, and cognitive energies such as intellect and intuition.

    There is an invisible and constant relation between all the five elements. Thus, the person can improve their conditions by properly designing their buildings by understanding the effectiveness of these five natural forces. Vaastu sastra combines all the five elements of nature and balances them with the person and the material. It takes advantage of the benefits bestowed by the five elements of nature to create a congenial living and working environment thereby facilitating spiritual well-being and paving the way for enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness.

     (Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastu_Shastra)

    As per Vastu the prayer room should be in the North east quadrant of the house.

    ISHANYA (NORTH-EAST): The angle that lies midway between north and the east is known as Ishanya (north-east) direction. Shiv is the lord of this angle. Pashupat is the weapon of Shiv. Nakshatra Ardra is the symbol of Lord Shiv. Semul (silk-cotton) tree is considered auspicious in this direction.

    Worshipping of ruling God of this direction yields many virtues in the life of the worshipper. Portion of the house in this direction must be kept holy for it yields many kinds of divine powers to the owner. Proper utilization of this portion of house provides wealth, reputation, property and every kind of excellence for the owner. A faulty utilization of this angle, however, may block successful continuation of progeny.

    (Ref.: http://www.solutionastrology.com/rajkumarsharma/Vastushastra.asp)

    The Direction' plays an important part in human life. The North and the East are called 'Deva Disha'. Heavenly forces flow from these directions, while the south and the west are known as 'Daitya Disha' (Demonic Direction).

    Demonic forces flow from these directions. The energy flow from the north and the east brings peace, progress, stability, happiness, well-being, and long-life. The flow from the south and the west, however, brings about events leadings to difference of opinion, cruelty, sorrow, imperfection & illness.

    The study of the system which helps to get blessings of the Lord and at the same time protect us from the demonic forces, which helps to get blessings of the lord and at the same time protect us from the forces, in the house we live in, is know as Vastushastra, It must be remembered that every article in nature is created from the five basic elements and it eventually merges itself with nature.    Human body is an artistic work of the five basic elements in the Universe. The bones & the skin in the body are a symbol of the earth element. Blood represents the quintessence of water. We breathe every moment. Breathing means inhaling the oxygen and exhaling the carbon dioxide. It means that we have element of air in our body. Every movement of our body is a manifestation of energy. It is present in our body in the form calories which represent the element of fire.

    The element of sky is present in the body, in the from of cavities. For example the cavity in the mouth, nose and ear, there are cavities of special nature in the heart, the lungs, stomach & intestines. These cavities represent the sky element. When a man dies, his perishable body is either cremated or buried. The flesh and bones which represent the earth element turn into ash. Nature absorbs the Air, Fire, and energy body.

    The element sky absorbs the cavities in itself. The blood merges with water elements in the from of vapors. And in the end the bones and the ash, when immersed in water, eventually merges fully with nature. This only means that our body is completely merged with the nature. It is also understood as the merger of the body in the five basic elements of the Universe.   If we study each & every article needed for building a house, it will be found that each article is related to the five basic elements of the Universe. For example: 

    Brick: An important component made by mixing soil, and water, dried with the help of air and fire. It is made on the surface of the earth under the canopy of the sky.

    Iron:  It is taken out from the Ore. It is treated with fire, air, water so as to make it pure. It is also made under the canopy of the sky.

    Cement: It is made after; bauxite and gypsum, related to earth are cleaned with water, baked in fire, cooled with water. The process takes place under canopy of sky.  Since ancient times, there is the concept of 'from the soul to the Universe' in our spiritual literature. When we study the relations between human life and nature from the point of view of Vastushastra, we find that this concept is accurately true. Human body is created from the five basic elements in the Universe. Our body is the abode for the soul.

    Our building or Vastu is the dwelling place of the body. This building dwells element in nature. It is an integral part nature. Nature is occupied by the five basic element of the Universe. It means that the dwelling place (vastu) of the body comes between the human body and nature. The exchange of energy between human body and nature is an integral part of the nature phenomena. It is the building which comes in between nature and man. This building id also made up of the five basic elements in the Universe. It is, therefore, necessary to keep a balance between the exchange of energy between man and nature. To ensure the right balance, it is necessary to locate these five elements in the building appropriately. So that exchange of energy between the human-body and the nature is attuned perfectly. As a result of this, the inhabitants of the buildings are bestowed with the benefits of Mother Nature energy.   

    In short the exchange of energy between the body, the buildings and the nature is extremely necessary. It is therefore, imperative that we achieve the balance between the five elements in the Universe the eight directions. It is only after this balance is achieved that we will experience the power of the nature .it is for this very reason that the philosophy, 'from soul to the Universe' is significant from the point of view of the Vastushastra.

    (Ref.: http://in.iproperty.com/real-estate/Vastu/FengShui/the-direction-of-houses-in-vastu-plays-important-role.html)

    Classical elements in Hinduism

    The pancha mahabhuta, or "five great elements", of Hinduism are kshiti or bhūmi (earth), ap or jala (water), tejas or agni (fire), marut or pavan (air or wind), byom or shunya (or akash?) (aether or void). Hindus believe that the Creator used akasha, the most "subtle" element, to create the other four traditional elements; each element created is in turn used to create the next, each less subtle than the last. Hindus believe that all of creation, including the human body, is made up of these five essential elements and that upon death, the human body dissolves into these five elements of nature, thereby balancing the cycle of nature set in motion by the Creator. Each of the five elements is associated with one of the five senses, and acts as the gross medium for the experience of sensations. According to Hindu thought, the basest element, Earth, was created using all the other elements and thus can be perceived by all five senses - hearing, touch, taste, smell, and sight. The next higher element, water, has no odor but can be seen, tasted, heard, and felt. Next comes fire, which can be seen, heard and felt. Air can be heard and felt. "Akasha" (ether)is the medium of sound but is inaccessible to all other senses.

    (Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_element)

    Its interesting to note that we include all these 5 elements in 'puja' and chant the sacred element mantras.

    Please follow this weblink for an article on 'puja':

    http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/article/why-are-puja-articles-arranged-in-specific-five-layers.htm

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