What does panchamahabhuta mean in Hinduism?

Answer 1

The Panchamahabhutas:

Hindus believe that the creator used five elements to create the entire universe, including the living organisms.

They are,

1. Shunya - void

2. Vayu - air

3. Agni - fire

4. Jala - water

5. Bhumi - earth

The Panchamahabhutas are supposed to the five elements of nature. The universe is supposed to be made of these five elements.

The symbolic nature of Panchamahabhutas:

Hindus fail to understand the symbolic nature of the Panchamahabhutas. These don't represent the elements of nature. They represent the forces within us. Each of them is associated with a Hindu god.

1. Shunya - Dreaming force - Indra

2. Vayu - Illusory force - Shakti

3. Agni - Voluntary force - Brahma

4. Jala - Semi voluntary force - Vishnu

5. Bhumi - Involuntary force - Shiva

The symbolic meaning of the Panchamahabhutas:

1. Shunya (Dreaming force): This doesn't produce any change in the real world.

2. Vayu (Illusory force): This force, like air, produces effects that most of the times has to be presumed.

3. Agni ( Voluntary force): Like fire, this force is transient

4. Jala ( Semi voluntary force): This force makes life water life i.e. flexible.

5. Earth ( Involuntary force): This force makes life as rigid as earth

Importance of Panchamahabhutas:

The universe is not made of these elements. It is just our life that is associated with these five elements. These are symbolic of the forces that control the tone of our skeletal muscles. It must be noted that the skeletal muscular system is the one and only system in our body that is under our direct control.

In fact, there are two more forces viz status altering force and compulsive force that can't be represented in the real world because they are changes of states and also they are undesirable elements.