Panch Tatva (Five Elements) –A

Perspective from Gurbani

Devinder Pal Singh

Ancient Classical Elements
 Ancient Greek and Indian philosophy describes:
4 elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire
5th element: Aether (quintessence) sometimes included.

 Western tradition: The concept originates from Babylonian mythology.

 Enuma Elis, a text (1800 -1600 BC) describes five cosmic elements as
the sea, earth, fire, sky and wind [1].

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Element – The Term
 Empedocles (ca. 490–430 BC) called these the four “roots” .

 Plato(424 BC – 348 BC), was first to use the term “element” in

reference to air, fire, earth, and water [2].

 TheGreek word for element, stoicheion meant "smallest division”, a

smallest unit from which a word / thing is formed”.

 Aristotle
added aether (quintessence) reasoning that the stars must be
made of a different, unchangeable, heavenly substance [3].

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Five in Religion
 Jewish : Five Books of Psalms; Five Books of Moses
 Islam : Five basic Pillars of Islam; Five daily prayers; Five Holy Purified
Ones (Shia Islam)
 Taoism, Buddhism: Five Precepts; Five-pointed star
 Christianity : Five Wounds of Jesus Christ
 Hinduism : Vasant Panchami; Nag Panchami
 Sikhism : Five Takhats; Five Banis of Nitnem; Five Beloved Ones; Five
sacred Symbols (5Ks) ; Five Virtues; Five Evils

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Five – Other Significance
Biology :
 Five senses: hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste.
 Five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, & umami
 Almost all amphibians, reptiles & mammals, which have fingers or
toes have five of them on each extremity.
In General :
 Olympic Games’ symbol - Five interlocked Rings
 Five permanent members with veto power on the UNSC
 Committee of Five - Drafted the US Declaration of
Independence.
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 Elements of Nature
 Ancient Elements : Earth, Water, Air and Fire,
 5th Element : the quitessence
 European tradition: Aether ; Indian tradition: Akasha
 Also known as: the elements of life, or the elements of survival
 Within these, and through these, life has prevailed and evolved.
 Without these, life could not exist.

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 Air
 Of fundamental importance to life. Provider of breath to living beings.
 Ancient Greeks - air: aer - the dim lower atmosphere [4]
 Cannot be seen, held, captured, or tamed, but can be felt.
 Influences the weather, the seasons, the essence of time.
 Destructive as well as soothing (a howling Tornado or a gentle breeze)
 Can be oppressive, hot & stifling. Can be cool and calming.
 Resonant with the gaseous state of matter.

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 Water
 Primal liquid, has in different shapes and forms.
 The most common liquid on earth. Universal solvent.
 Life depend on the Water, to a large degree.
 can be salty (mostly Seas) or fresh (wells and rivers).
 Can cause death and destruction, but also grants life.
 Water gives much, but takes as easy everything back.
 Mysterious element; disappears on a hot day in no time, in front of our
eyes and nobody knows for sure where it has gone.
 resonant with the liquid state of matter in Nature.

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 Earth
 encompasses all the living and non-living substances, within
the terrestrial environment.
 diversity is of extremely high order.
 Earth represents nourishment on all levels.
 essential element of life, an element of survival.
 represents the solid phase of matter.

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 Fire
 Name : Fire (ancient), Electromagnetic energy (scientific)
 Types : Terrestrial fire (camp-fire, forest fire); Cosmic fire (sunshine,
stars)
 Provides Heat and Light
 Prime-mover of the life sustaining water-cycle
 Primary source of Energy for Photosynthesis
 Creates as well as destroys, Can heal or harm
 Can bring about new life or destroy the old and worn.

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Aether (Akasha)
 Delicate ethereal substance, finely dispersed between other 4 elements
 Eternal, All Pervading & imperceptible physical substance, Substratum of the
quality of sound.
 Has no direction, yet it encompasses all directions. Beyond seasons and time, yet
is all seasons and time.
 Akasha means inner-space, reflecting our belief that the universe is both within
and without ourselves.
 Strongest element. Scaffolding of reality, it holds it up. Adhesive of reality, it holds
it together. (Scientific Name: Space-time continuum)
 Follows time’s steady flow, but also exists with some degree of independence.

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In Hinduism
 Pancha Mahabhuta (five great elements): bhumi (earth), jala (water),
agni (fire), pavan (air), shunya or akash (void or aether).
 All the creation (including human being) is made up of these five
essential elements
 Upon death, the human body dissolves into these elements, balancing
the cycle of nature.
 Akasha , the most subtle element, was used to create the other four
elements.
 Each element created is in turn used to create the next element, each
less subtle than the last [5].

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Elements- The Gross Medium
 The 5 elements are associated with the 5 senses
 They act as the gross medium for the experience of sensations.
 Basest element, earth, was created using all the other elements,
 Earth can be perceived by all 5 senses-hearing, touch, sight, taste, smell
 Next higher element, water, has no odor but can be heard, felt, seen and tasted.
 Fire, can be heard, felt and seen.
 Air can be heard and felt.
 Akasha is the medium of sound but is inaccessible to all other senses.

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In Tibetan Philosophy
 Five elemental processes of earth, water, fire, air and space are the essential
materials of all existent phenomena.
 T. W. Rinpoche (1961- ) states that the physical properties assigned to these
elements are earth (solidity); water (cohesion); fire (temperature); air
(motion) ; space (spatial dimension)
 From the five elements arise the five senses and the five fields of sensual
experience.
 They are the five primary pranas or vital energies. They are the constituents of
every physical, sensual, mental, and spiritual phenomenon. [6-7]

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 Japanese Tradition
 Called elements of Nature as ‘go dai’, literally ‘five great’.
 These five are earth, water, fire, wind/air, and void [5].
 Earth represented things that were solid.
 Water represented things that were liquid.
 Fire represented things that destroy.
 Air represented things that moved.
 Void or Spirit represented things not of our everyday life.

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Chinese Tradition
 A somewhat different series of elements, namely Fire, Earth, Water,
Metal and Wood
 These were understood as different types of energy in a state of
constant interaction and flux with one another, rather than the different
kinds of material.
 Although, usually translated as ‘element’, the Chinese word xing literally
means something like ‘changing states of being’ [5].
 These elements were seen as ever changing and moving forces or
energies
 One translation of wu xing is simply ‘the five changes’.

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In Taoism
 5 Elements (phases) - Earth, Water, Fire , Metal and Wood.
 Air is replaced with qi, which is a force or energy rather than an
element.
 Universe consists of heaven and earth. Heaven being made of qi
and earth being made of 5 elements [5].
 Yin, Yang and 5 elements are recurring themes in I Ching (oldest
Chinese classical text)
 Doctrine of five phases describes two cycles of balance, a
generating or creation cycle and an overcoming or destruction
cycle of interactions between the phases.

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 In Buddhism
 In Pali Literature, the mahabhuta (great elements) or catudhatu (four
elements) are earth, water, fire and air.
 Four primary material elements are the sensory qualities; solidity
(earth), fluidity (water), temperature (fire), mobility (air)
 With these elements, one observes how a physical thing is sensed, felt,
perceived [8].
 Thanissaro Bhikku (1997) renders an extract of Shakyamuni Buddha's
from Pali into English thus: 'In this body there is the earth property,
the liquid property, the fire property, & the wind property [9].

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In Sikhism
 Panch Tatva (5 classical elements) are ap (water), Tej (fire), vaaye (air), pirthmi
(earth) and akash (aether) [10-12].

 Sikhs believe that all of creation, including the human body, is made up of
these five essential elements

 Upon death, the human body dissolves into these 5 elements, thereby
balancing the cycle of Nature.

 Sikhs believe that the Creator created all these elements from the Primal Void.

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 Five Elements ? Aether

 ਅਪੁ ਤੇਜੁ ਵਾਇ ਪ੍ਪਿਥਮੀ ਆਕਾਸਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਤਨ ਮਪ੍ਿ ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਘਪ੍ਿ ਵਾਸਾ
॥ (ਮਃ1- ਪੰਨਾ 1031)
 Water, fire, air, earth and aether, in that house of the five
elements, they dwell. (Mehl 1, p 1031)

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Five Elements – Origin?
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਪ੍ਮਪ੍ਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਕੀਨਹ ੍ਿੀ ਤਤੁ ਕਿਾ ਤੇ ਕੀਨੁ ਿੇ ॥ (ਭਗਤ
ਕਬੀਿ ਜੀ-ਪੰਨਾ 870)
 The body is formed from the union of the five tattvas;
but where were the five tattvas created? (Bhagat Kabir Ji,
p 870)
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Manifestation
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਸੁੰਨਿੁ ਪਿਗਾਸਾ ॥(ਮਃ1- ਪੰਨਾ 1038)
 From the Primal Void, the five elements became
manifest. (Mehl 1, p 1038)

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 Creation
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਕਾ ਿਚਨੁ ਿਚਾਨਾ ॥(ਮਃ 5- ਪੰਨਾ 1073)
 The creation was created of the five elements. (Mehl 5, p 1073)
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਕਪ੍ਿ ਤੁ ਧੁ ਪ੍ਸਿਸਪ੍ਿ ਸਭ ਸਾਜੀ॥ (ਮਃ 4, ਪੰਨਾ 736)
 You created the entire Universe out of the five elements; (Mehl 4, p
736)

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 Evolution
 ਿਪ੍ਿ ਆਪੇ ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਪ੍ਬਸਥਾਿਾ ਪ੍ਵਪ੍ਚ ਧਾਤੂ ਪੰਚ ਆਪ੍ਪ ਪਾਵੈ ॥(ਮਃ 4-
ਪੰਨਾ 720 )
 The Lord Himself directs the evolution of the world of
the five elements; He Himself infuses the five senses into
it. (Mehl 4, p 720)

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Immaculate Light
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਪ੍ਮਪ੍ਿ ਅਪ੍ਿਪ੍ਨਪ੍ਸ ਦੀਪਕੁ ਪ੍ਨਿਮਿ ਜੋਪ੍ਤ ਅਪਾਿੀ ॥੬॥ (ਮਃ1

- ਪੰਨਾ 907)
 Bringing together the five elements, day and night, the
Lord's lamp shines with the Immaculate Light of the
Infinite. ||6|| (Mehl 1, p 907)
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The World

 ਪਵਣੁ ਗੁ ਰੂ ਪਾਣੀ ਪਪਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਧਰਪਤ ਮਹਤੁ ॥ ਪਿਵਸੁ ਰਾਪਤ ਿੁਇ ਿਾਈ
ਿਾਇਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ॥( Shalok, p 8)
 Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of
all. Day and night are the two nurses, in whose lap all the world is at
play. ( Shalok, p 8)

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Body
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਪ੍ਮਪ੍ਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਕੀਨੀ ॥ (ਮਃ1,ਪੰਨਾ 1030)
 The body is formed from the union of the five elements. ( Mehl
1, p 1030)
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਪ੍ਮਪ੍ਿ ਇਿੁ ਤਨੁ ਕੀਆ ॥(ਮਃ 1 - ਪੰਨਾ 1039)
 From the union of the five elements, this body was made. (Mehl
1, p 1039)

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 Puppet
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਪ੍ਮਪ੍ਿ ਦੇਿੀ ਕਾ ਆਕਾਿਾ ॥ (ਮਃ3- ਪੰਨਾ 1128)
 The five elements join together, to make up the form of the
human body. (Mehl 3, p 1128)
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਕਪ੍ਿ ਪੁਤਿਾ ਕੀਨਾ ਪ੍ਕਿਤ ਪ੍ਮਿਾਵਾ ਿੋਆ ॥੨॥ (ਮਃ 5, ਪੰਨਾ
884)
 From the five elements, the puppet was created with its actions.
||2|| (Mehl 5, p 884)
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Mind
 ਇਿੁ ਮਨੁ ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਤੇ ਜਨਮਾ ॥ (ਮਃ 1 - ਪੰਨਾ 415)
 This mind is born of the five elements. (Mehl 1, p 415)

 ਇਿੁ ਮਨੁ ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਕੋ ਜੀਉ ॥ (ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਿ ਜੀ, ਪੰਨਾ 342)

 This mind is the life of the five elements. (Bhagat Kabir Ji, p 342)

 Mind includes all mental faculties, thought, volition, feeling and memory.

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Jyot

 ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਿਪ੍ਚ ਜੋਪ੍ਤ ਪ੍ਨਵਾਪ੍ਜਆ ॥ (ਮਃ 5 - ਪੰਨਾ 1337)

 From the five elements, He formed it, and infused
His Light within it.

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Earth- Abode of Dharma

 ਿਾਤੀ ਿੁਤੀ ਪ੍ਥਤੀ ਵਾਿ ॥ ਪਵਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ ਪਾਤਾਿ ॥ ਪ੍ਤਸੁ ਪ੍ਵਪ੍ਚ ਧਿਤੀ ਥਾਪ੍ਪ ਿਖੀ
ਧਿਮ ਸਾਿ॥ (p 7)
 Nights, days, weeks and seasons; wind, water, fire and the nether regions – in
the midst of these, He established the earth as a home for Dharma.(p 7)

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Guru’s Path
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਕੀ ਕਪ੍ਿ ਪ੍ਮਿਗਾਣੀ ਗੁ ਿ ਕੈ ਮਾਿਪ੍ਗ ਚਾਿੈ ॥੨॥ (ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਿ ਜੀ- ਪੰਨਾ
477)
 Making the five elements his deer skin to sit on, he (gurmukh) walks
on the Guru's Path. ||2|| (Bhagat Kabir Ji, p 477)

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Meditative Trance
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਿੈ ਪ੍ਿਿਦੈ ਿਾਖਿੁ ਿਿੈ ਪ੍ਨਿਾਿਮ ਤਾੜੀ ॥ (ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਿ ਜੀ - ਪੰਨਾ
970)
 Enshrine the five tattvas - the five elements, within your heart;
let your deep meditative trance be undisturbed.

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Disposal of Herd
 ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਪ੍ਮਪ੍ਿ ਦਾਨੁ ਪ੍ਨਬੇਿਪ੍ਿ ਿਾਾਂਡਾ ਉਤਪ੍ਿਓ ਪਾਿਾ ॥੨॥ (ਭਗਤ
ਕਬੀਿ ਜੀ, ਪੰਨਾ 333)
 The five elements join together and divide up their loot.
This is how our herd is disposed of! ||2||

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Perishment
 ਜਿ ਕਛੁ ਅਿਾ ਤਿਾ ਪ੍ਕਛੁ ਨਾਿੀ ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਤਿ ਨਾਿੀ ॥ (ਭਗਤ
ਕਬੀਿ ਜੀ- ਪੰਨਾ 334)
 Where something existed, now there is nothing. The five
elements are no longer there.

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Significance
 The contemplation of these elements of nature, makes us realize
that a human being as a living system, is a dissipative structure
which is composed of these elements, and is constantly in the
process of exchanging these elements with the environment:

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Conclusions
 The Five elements were created from the Primal Void.
 The Five elements are the basis of creation.
 There is continuous exchange between the Five elements and the
creation.
 The Five elements are perishable.
 The Creator of Five elements is formless. It is beyond these elements
and is imperishable.
 Enshrine the Five elements, within your heart; live and enjoy, yet your
deep meditative trance should remain undisturbed.
 Don’t be engrossed in the phenomenon of five elements.
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 References
1. Francesca Rochberg (December 2002). "A consideration of Babylonian astronomy within the
historiography of science". Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 33 (4): 661–684.
doi:10.1016/S0039-3681(02)00022-5.
2. Plato, Timaeus, ch. 27, p. 83.
3. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plat.+Tim.+48b.
4. ^ W. K. C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy, vol. 1, pp. 466, 470-71.
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_element
6. Majjhima Nikaya. "Kayagata-sati Sutta". p. 119.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.119.than.html. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
7. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (2002). Healing with Form, Energy, and Light. Ithaca, New York: Snow Lion
Publications. p. 1. ISBN 1559391766.
8. Dan Lusthaus. "What is and isn't Yogacara". http://www.acmuller.net/yogacara/articles/intro-uni.htm.
9. Majjhima Nikaya. "Kayagata-sati Sutta". p. 119.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.119.than.html. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
10. http://www.gurugranthdarpan.com/darpan2/0736.html, p 736
11. Sri Guru Granth Sahib, (SGGS), 1983 (Reprint), S.G.P.C., Amritsar, p1430.
12. http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?S=y (English translation of SGGS by Sant Singh
Khalsa)
13. Images by Google

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