PANCHIKARAN OF GREAT ELEMENTS

     In Hindu religion, we have a concept of the 3 stages of the universe namely the CAUSAL-KARAN , ASTRAL OR SUBTLE -SUKSHM AND GROSS OR PHYSICAL -STHUL. Everyone knows the physical body and also the Subtle body. The mind , intellect and ego are part of the Subtle body. But we also have concept of GREAT ELEMENTS called PANCH-meaning 5 and MAHABHULAS means elements. But the Great Elements are changed when we talk about PHYSICAL Universe. These are EARTH-PRUTHVI ,WATER -AAP,ENERGY-TEJA,WINDOR AIR-VAAU,SPACE OR ETHER -AAKASH. But the great elements in Subtle forms are changed when it comes to these in physical universe. This was explained originally by Adi Shnakarachary in book PANCHIKARANAM and then his disciple did additional work in explaining that.

   So, for the Great Elements or called MAHABHUTA in subtle forms to become Pancha-Mahabhuta in Physical forms. But that transformation is called PANCHIKARAN. In this process the subtle form of each of these great elements splits in 2 halves and then one of the half splits in 4 parts .So each part is 1/8th of the original Element. Then 1/8th of 4 elements come together with 1/2 of one element and then the PHYSICALE Element is formed . This process is called PANCHIKARAN. So the example will be the water of the liquid state that we SEE in physical form has 1/2 of Subtle element water -AAP and 1/8 of space - ether or AAKASH,1/8th of air or VAAU , plus 1/8th of energy or TEJA, plus 1/8th of earth or PRUTHVI. As one can see each gross element has qualities of all 5 Great elements or Panach-Mahabhutas.