Prashnottara Vahini

Q. Why is this human body called Panchabhautika (Five Element model)?
A. Since it is a product of the Panchabhutas (Five Elements), it was named Panchabhautika.

Q. What exactly are the Five Elements?
A. Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Jala and Prithvi, which are usually referred to as Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth respectively.

Q. Where did these originate from?
A. Each subsequent element originated from the previous one.

Q. Then, which is the basis for all?
A. Brahman which is Nirvikara (Unchangeable), Achala (Unmoving because there exists no space to move as It is All-pervading and is the Existence itself) and Paripoorna (Absolutely free from the limitations of space, time and object, and completely content).

Q. What is the relationship between these Panchabhutas (Five Elements) and this human body?
A. From Parabrahman, originated Yatna (effort, volition, will) and Mahat (the great principle of Buddhi or Intellect; the totality of all intellects); from these was born Akasha, from Akasha was born Vayu; from Vayu, Agni; from Agni, Jala; and from Jala, Prithvi. The human body is the result of the combination of all these five.

Q. In what form do these Five Elements persist in the body?
A. Each element has again undergone grossification with the subtle aspect of each of the other four elements (referred as Panchakamulu) and has gone into the composition of the body.

Q. The first—Akasha, what are the five (Panchakam) which it has become?
A. Jnana (Cogniser), Manas (Mind), Buddhi (Intellect), Chittam (Subconscious mind) and Ahamkara (Egoism) - these are called Akasha Panchakam.

Q. While speaking as “in the body,” how are these indicated?
A. They are recognised as the Antarindriyas (Inner senses).

Q. Now, what are the five forms of the next element, Vayu?
A. Samana Vayu (Vital Air that helps in digestion), Vyana Vayu (Vital Air that governs the circulatory system of the body), Udana Vayu (Vital Air that flows upwards and reverses the processes like vomiting, sneezing, coughing etc.), Prana Vayu (Vital Air that governs respiration) and Apana Vayu (Vital Air that governs the functions of excretion, elimination).

Q. And, in the body, what are they called?
A. They are called Pancha Pranas, the Five Vital Airs.

Q. And, what are the five forms of Agni, the Fire-element?
A. Shrota (Ear), Tvak (Skin), Chakshu (Eyes), Jihva (Tongue) and Ghrana (Nose).

Q. And how are they demarcated in the body?
A. As the Jnanendriyas, the senses of knowledge or organs of perception.

Q. Tell me, what are the Jala Panchakas, the five forms of the Water-element.
A. Shabda, Sparsha, Rupa, Rasa, Gandha—Sound, Touch, Form (Vision), Taste and Smell.

Q. Have they got any special name in the body?
A. They are known as Pancha Tanmatras—the Five Subtle bases for the entire cosmos.

Q. What are the Prithvi Panchakas, the five forms of the Earth-element?
A. Vak (Mouth), Pani (Hands), Padam (Legs), Guhyam (Genitals) and Payu (Rectum).

Q. And in the body, they are known as…?
A. As Karmendriyas—the senses of the action or organs of action.

Q. Now, instead of considering this human body, constituted in this manner by the elements as a single unit, the Vedantins say, there are many units in it! Is that true?
A. There are not “many,” but there are three to tell you the fact. Some say, there are four!

Q. Oh! What are they? What are they called?
A. Sthula-deham (the Gross body), Sukshma-deham (the Subtle body) and Karana-deham (the Causal body). Some aver that there is a fourth, called Maha Karana-deham (the Super-causal body) also.

Q. What exactly is meant by Sthula-deham, the Gross body?
A. It means the body, constituted of the above-mentioned twenty-five elemental and essential aspects.

Q. What then is the Sukshma-deham, the Subtle body?
A. The five Jnanendriyas, the five Karmendriyas, the five Pranas, the Manas and the Buddhi—these seventeen fundamental and essential aspects combine to constitute the Sukshma-deham.

Q. Is this called, just, Sukshma-deham or has it any other appellation too?
A. Why should it not have? It has. It is known also as Taijasa (the form of Ahamkara in which the Atma is identified with the Sukshma-deham or the Subtle body).

Q. And, is it marked off as belonging to any Avastha (state)?
A. Yes, it is.

Q. And what is the name of that state?
A. Swapnavastha (the Dream state).

Q. Do you mean to say that Sthula-deham (the Gross body) has no state assigned to it?
A. Of course, it too has.

Q. Tell me the name of that state.
A. That is Jagratavastha (the Wakeful state).

Q. What is the Karana-deham (the Causal body)?
A. There, the Chittam (Subconscious mind, power of recollection) is in association with the Knower, the Knowing Principle, the Jnana.

Q. What is it known as?
A. The Prajna (the form of Ahamkara in which the Atma is identified with the Karana-deham or the Causal body).

Q. And what is its state?
A. The state is Sushupti, Deep Sleep.

Q. Tell me also, what is meant by Maha Karana-deham (the Super-causal body)?
A. The Shuddha Chaitanyam (Pure Consciousness) without any Tattvam or elementary properties, and which remains as the Sarva Sakshi (Witness Eternal) and as the Svayam Jyoti (Self Luminous). That Shuddha Chaitanyam is referred to as the Maha Karana-deham.

Q. Has it a name, like the rest?
A. It is known as Hiranyagarbha [the one in whom Shuddha Chaitanyam (Pure Consciousness) shines like Hiranya (Gold) from Garbha (within)].

Q. And its state?
A. It is stateless, it is beyond all states of consciousness and so it is described as Akshara Purusha.

Q. Coming back to this Sthula-deham (the Gross body), what are the specific products attributable to the Five Elements that have united to form it?
A. Of the Prithvi (Earth-element), bones, skin, flesh, veins and hair are formed.

Q. Of water, Jala (Water-element)?
A. Blood, urine, semen, saliva, phlegm and sweat.

Q. And from Agni (Fire-element)?
A. Hunger, thirst, sleep, sloth, and copulation (i.e., Sangamam, which also means attachment with worldly objects).

Q. The element Vayu (Air) produces…?
A. Chalanam (activity), Gamanam (movement), Tevram (speed), Lajja (shame) and Bhayam (alarm).

Q. The element Akasha (Ether) in the body produces…?
A. Kama (desire, craving, passion), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Mada (pride) and Matsarya (envy).

Q. Man has many Vyasanas (distress, adversities or dangers), is it not? Do the above-mentioned Gunas (attributes of the Five Elements, three characteristics of Prakriti - Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas) have anything to do with his Vyasanas?
A. Anything to do? You seem to be doubting it. The very reason for all his agony is this group of gross qualities, Gunas. The Vyasanas, too, are not many though they may appear so. They are only of four types.

Q. What are those four Vyasanas, the sources of distress?
A. Tanu vyasanam (distress due to body-consciousness), Mano vyasanam (mental distress caused due to progeny, kith and kin, friends, etc.), Dhana vyasanam (distress caused by excessive wealth and also inclination towards riches) and Stri vyasanam (distress caused due to extreme attachment to wife and also excessive inclination towards women); though there are others, all are ultimately based on these.

Q. Man in his Mada (pride or conceit) struts about, blindly; what is the basis for this Ahamkara (egoism or blind conceit) that prods him on? How many varieties of Mada are there?
A. Of this too there are four types which makes man strut about blindly. They are: Kula Madam (pride of clan), Dhana Madam (pride of wealth), Yauvana Madam (pride of youth), and Vidya Madam (pride of knowledge, skill). Though there are other types too, all can be grouped under these.