Critical Analysis of Panchabhautik

Home , Air (classical element), Akasha, Earth (wuxing), Panchikarana, Prithvi, Vayu

Review Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF PANCHABHAUTIK ORGANIZATION AT CELLULAR LEVEL Kamath Nagaraj 1 Kulkarni Pratibha 2 1P.G.Scholar, 2Associate.Professor & Head, Department of Shareera Kriya, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan-573201, Karnataka, India

ABSTRACT The individual is an epitome of the universe. All the material & spiritual phenomenon of the universe are present in the individual. Similarly all those resent in the individual are also contained in the universe. The body is described as the modified form of Mahabhu- tas hence the description of the identity of the individual & the universe relates to Mahab- hutic composition only. The multitudes of the human features are ascribed to the proportion of different Bhutas each of different nature. The major function of Prithvi Mahabhuta is it improves the size by solidifying the body parts, Jala Mahabhuta confluences the body tissues, Agni Mahabhuta is responsible for metabolic activities, Vayu Mahabhuta divides and differentiates the cell and tissues, Akasha Mahabhuta increases the quantity by forming cavities. The solidified and tough structures present in a cell like the plasma membrane, nucleus and other organelles are the attributes of Prithvi Mahabhuta at the cellular level. The liquid portion present inside the cell i.e. intracellular fluid and also the fluid present outside the cell i.e. extracellular fluid can be considered as the Jala Mahabhuta at the cellular level. The Agni Mahabhhuta at the cellular level can be considered as the various metabolic activities in the mitochondria which is considered as the power house of the cell. The process of cell division taking place in cells can be considered as the function because of Vayu Mahabhuta since the function of Vayu Mahabhuta is differentiation. The space present inside the cell to accommodate the various organelles and various channels present in the plasma membrane so as for the exchange of the various materials like nutrients, ions and metabolic wastes in and out of the cell. The movement of these entities in and out is due to the influence of Vayu Mahabhuta since the movement is the function of Vayu Mahabhuta. Keywords: Panchamahabhuta, Cell, Organization

INTRODUCTION Similarly all those resent in the individual The individual is an epitome of the universe. are also contained in the universe.[1] All the material & spiritual phenomenon of Originating in cosmic consciousness, this the universe are present in the individual. wisdom was intuitively received in the hearts of the ancient scholars. They per- ceived that consciousness was energy mani- Kamath Nagaraj &Kulkarni Pratibha : Critical Analysis of Panchabhautik Organization at Cellular Level

fested into the five basic principles or ele- features are ascribed to the proportion of dif- ments. Man is microcosm of the nature and ferent Bhutas each of different nature. so the five basic elements present in all The structural and functional unit of the matter also exists within each individual. body is called as cell. About 200 different Thus out of the womb of the five elements, types of specialized cells carry out a multi- all matter is born. The five basic elements tude of functions that help each system con- exist in all matter. Water provides the classic tribute to the homeostasis of the entire body. example: - the solids of iced water are ma- At the same time, all cells share key struc- nifestation of the Prithvi Mahabhuta (earth tures and functions that support their intense principle). Latent heat in the ice (Agni) li- activity.[6] quefies it, manifesting into Jala Mahabhuta Principal constituents of the cell are: Cell (water principle). And then eventually it membrane, Nucleus, Cytoplasm with its or- turns into steam expressing the Vayu Ma- ganelles. Cell membrane functions are - habhuta (air principle) the steam disappears Protection, Digestion, Selective permeabil- into Akasha or space.[2] Bhuta is that which ity, Framework for protein arrangement, is not born out of something, but out of Linkage to adjacent cell by Junctional com- which something is born. It is the material plexes. Nucleus functions are Genetic Ma- cause of substances in the world. When we keup, Carries heredity characters, Cellular say Bhuta we mean that subtle level of ex- reproduction and multiplication. Cytoplasm istence, where as Mahabhuta refers to gross with its organelles functions - Endoplasmic level of existence.[3] Panchikarana is the reticulum – Smooth (steroid synthesis, de- process through which invisible Bhutas toxification), Rough (Protein synthesis). combine with each other and form the visi- Mitochondria – Power & Protein generating. ble Mahabhutas in such a way that all Bhu- Lysosomes(suicide bags) – Lytic(digestive) tas are present together in each Drisya function, engulf worn out components, ex- Bhuta in varying degrees of predominance. ogenous substances, lysosomal enzyme Thus in the physical world everything is a called autolysis. Peroximes – destroy toxic combination of Pancha Mahabhutas & we substances. Centrioles/ centrosomes – con- cannot see them independently.[4] cerned with movement of chromosomes Thus the five basic elements Akasha Vayu, during cell division. Microtu- Teja, Jala And Prithvi are present in one bules/microfilaments – movement of chro- substance. This proves that all five elements mosomes, cell movement, movement of are present in all matter in the universe.[5] protein within cell membrane.[7] Visualization of the identity of the individ- AIMS & OBJECTIVES ual with the universe paves the way for sal- To critically analyse the Panchabhauthik vation. The body is described as the mod- organization of the cell. ified form of Mahabhutas hence the de- MATERIALS & METHODS scription of the identity of the individual & The Bruhat Trayi were scrutinised regarding the universe relates to Mahabhutic compo- the references for the Guna and Karma of sition only. The multitudes of the human the Panchamahabhuta. Later, physiologico- anatomical aspects of the cell were studied

365 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 2; Issue 3; May - June 2014 Kamath Nagaraj &Kulkarni Pratibha : Critical Analysis of Panchabhautik Organization at Cellular Level

from modern physiology books. Later, sup- cellular level. The Agni Mahabhhuta at the portive correlation was done between Ayur- cellular level can be considered as the vari- vedic and modern views to build valid and ous metabolic activities in the mitochondria reliable hypothesis regarding the Panchab- which is considered as the power house of hauthika relation to the various anatomical the cell. The process of cell division taking and physiological aspects of the cell. place in cells can be considered as the func- DISCUSSION tion because of Vayu Mahabhuta since the The individual Mahabhutas will be having function of Vayu Mahabhuta is differentia- Bhavas. The Bhavas of Akasha Mahabhuta tion. The space present inside the cell to ac- is audition, auditory apparatus, lightness, commodate the various organelles and vari- minuteness, separation, face, neck and lips. ous channels present in the plasma mem- The Bhavas of Vayu Mahabhuta are touch, brane so as for the exchange of the various touch senses, dryness, inspiration, tissue materials like nutrients, ions and metabolic configuration, vitality, apana region, motor wastes in and out of the cell. The movement function of body. Tejah Mahubhuta Bhavas of these entities in and out is due to the in- are vision, visual apparatus, splendor, pitta, fluence of Vayu Mahabhuta since the digestive power and heat and growth of movement is the function of Vayu Mahab- body. The Bhavas Of Jala Mahabhuta are huta. taste, taste organ, coldness, softness, conflu- CONCLUSION ence, viscous, humidity, kapha, meda, rakta, Man is microcosm of the nature and so the mamsa, shukra. The Bhavas of Pritvi Ma- five basic elements present in all matter also habhuta are smell, olfactory organ, heavi- exists within each individual. Thus out of ness, stability and statuette.[8] the womb of the five elements, all matter is The major function of Prithvi Mahabhuta is born. The five basic elements exist in all it improves the size by solidifying the body matter. Water provides the classic example: parts, Jala Mahabhuta confluences the body - the solids of iced water are manifestation tissues, Agni Mahabhuta is responsible for of the Prithvi Mahabhuta (earth principle). metabolic activities, Vayu Mahabhuta di- Latent heat in the ice (Agni) liquefies it, ma- vides and differentiates the cell and tissues, nifesting into Jala Mahabhuta (water prin- Akasha Mahabhuta increases the quantity by ciple). And then eventually it turns into forming cavities. These result in complexity, steam expressing the Vayu Mahabhuta (air delightedness or richness, energy, move- principle) the steam disappears into Akasha ment, cavitations/perforations in the body.[9] or space. The solidified and tough structures present in a cell like the plasma membrane, nucleus The structural and functional unit of the and other organelles are the attributes of body is called as cell. About 200 different Prithvi Mahabhuta at the cellular level. The types of specialized cells carry out a multi- liquid portion present inside the cell i.e. tude of functions that help each system con- intracellular fluid and also the fluid present tribute to the homeostasis of the entire body. outside the cell i.e. extracellular fluid can be At the same time, all cells share key struc- considered as the Jala Mahabhuta at the tures and functions that support their intense 366 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 2; Issue 3; May - June 2014 Kamath Nagaraj &Kulkarni Pratibha : Critical Analysis of Panchabhautik Organization at Cellular Level activity. Principal constituents of the cell Chakrapani Datta. Reprint ed. Varanasi are: Cell membrane, Nucleus, Cytoplasm (India): Chaukambha Orientalia; 2007. with its organelles. p. 325. The Panchabautik organization at cellular 4. Acharya JT. Charaka Samhita with level can be considered in following way – Ayurveda Dipika commentary of Prithvi Mahabhuta comprises the solid and Chakrapani Datta. Reprint ed. Varanasi tough structures of the cell namely Plasma (India): Chaukambha Orientalia; 2007. membrane, organelles, nucleus; which gives p. 326. shape and structure to the cell. Jala Mahab- 5. Acharya JT. Charaka Samhita with huta comprises the intra cellular and extra Ayurveda Dipika commentary of cellular fluid which is responsible for the Chakrapani Datta. Reprint ed. Varanasi nourishment of the cell. The various meta- (India): Chaukambha Orientalia; 2007. bolic activities, release of energy inside the p. 138. cell especially in the mitochondria can be 6. Toratora GJ, Derickson B. Principles of considered as the Agni Mahabhuta. The anatomy and physiology.11th edi. United movement of ions, nutrients and metabolic States of America: John wiley & waste products in and out of the cell can be sons.Inc;2007,62. considered as the function of Vayu Mahab- 7. Toratora GJ, Derickson B. Principles of huta at the cellular level. The cavities or anatomy and physiology.11th edi. United space present inside the cell to accommodate States of America: John wiley & various organelles and the various channels sons.Inc;2007,63-7. present in the plasma membrane for the 8. Acharya JT. Susrutha Samhita with movement of ions, nutrients etc can also be Nibandhasangraha commentary of considered as the Akasha Mahabhuta at the Dalhana. Reprint ed. Varanasi (India): cellular level. Chaukambha Sanskrit Sansthan; 2009. p. Similarly the Panchabhautik organization 364. should be understood at the various levels of 9. Acharya JT. Susrutha Samhita with organization in the body. Nibandhasangraha commentary of REFERENCES Dalhana. Reprint ed. Varanasi (India): 1. Acharya JT. Charaka Samhita with Chaukambha Sanskrit Sansthan; 2009. p. Ayurveda Dipika commentary of 363. Chakrapani Datta. Reprint ed. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Orientalia; 2007. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR p. 325. Dr Nagaraj Kamath 2. Acharya JT. Charaka Samhita with Department of Shareera Kriya, Sri Ayurveda Dipika commentary of Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Chakrapani Datta. Reprint ed. Varanasi Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan-573201, (India): Chaukambha Orientalia; 2007. Karnataka, India p. 326. Email: [email protected] 3. Acharya JT. Charaka Samhita with Ayurveda Dipika commentary of

367 www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 2; Issue 3; May - June 2014