Pancamahabhuta, Pañcamahābhūta, Panca-mahabhuta, Pamcamahabhuta: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Pancamahabhuta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Panchamahabhuta.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Hand book of domestic medicine: Basic principles of ĀyurvedaFrom the Indian philosophical point of view all the matters of the universe are made up of 5 elements, collectively known as Pañca Mahābhūta (five basic elements). These are Ākāśa, Vāyu, Tejas, Jala and Pṛthvī.
Each of these can be perceived by its distinctive quality viz.
- Ākāśa by Sabda (sound),
- Vāyu by Sparśa (touch),
- Agni by Rūpa (colour),
- Jala by Rasa (taste)
- and Pṛthvī by Gandha (odour).
Pañcamahābhūta (पञ्चमहाभूत) refers to the give elements of which the universe is based on.—Life can be defined as the combination of śarīra (body), indriya (sense organs), sattva (manas) and Ātman (soul). The universe is based on the pañcamahābhūtas, viz. ākāśa, (space), pṛthvī (earth), vāyu (air), jala (water) and agni (fire). The Ayurvedic system says that the body is also pañcabhautika and the medicines i.e. plants and animals are also pañcabhautika. So the pañcabhautika-śarīra can be treated with pañcabhautika drug.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryPañcamahābhūta (पञ्चमहाभूत).—The five gross elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether.
Source: Pure Bhakti: Brahma-samhitaPañcamahābhūta (पञ्चमहाभूत) refers to—Five gross elements.

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
In Buddhism
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaPañcamahābhūta (पञ्चमहाभूत) or simply Mahābhūta refers to the “five great elements” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 39):
- pṛthvī (earth),
- āpas (water),
- tejas (fire),
- vāyu (wind),
- ākāśa (space).
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., pañca-mahābhūta). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
Languages of India and abroad
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPaṃcamahābhūta (ಪಂಚಮಹಾಭೂತ):—[noun] = ಪಂಚಭೂತ [pamcabhuta].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Mahabhuta, Maha, Bhuta, Panca.
Starts with: Pancamahabhutamaya.
Full-text: Pancamahabhutamaya, Pamcamahabhuta, Purusha, Mahabhuta, Pancabhautika, Five Great Elements, Kshetra, Dosha, Pancashakti, Shaktipancaka, Kaustubha, Sharira, Kaustubhamani, Tridosha, Pashupata.
Relevant text
Search found 34 books and stories containing Pancamahabhuta, Pamcamahabhuta, Paṃcamahābhūta, Panca mahabhutas, Panca-maha-bhuta, Panca-mahā-bhūta, Pañca-mahābhūta, Panca-mahabhuta, Pañcamahābhūta, Pancamahābhūta; (plurals include: Pancamahabhutas, Pamcamahabhutas, Paṃcamahābhūtas, Panca mahabhutases, bhutas, bhūtas, mahābhūtas, mahabhutas, Pañcamahābhūtas, Pancamahābhūtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra (Study) (by Ashok Majumdar)
5. Introduction to Panca-mahabhuta < [Chapter 6 - Fundamentals of Ayurveda]
Influence of Nyaya-Vaisesika on Ayurveda (by Sindhu K. K.)
1. Introduction (to Ayurveda and Philosophy) < [Chapter 2 - Ayurveda and other systems of Indian Philosophy: An overview]
9. Panchamahabhuta Theory < [Chapter 3 - Scientific heritage of Nyaya-Vaisesika and Ayurveda: An apraisal]
6. Dravya (Substance) in Ayurveda < [Chapter 4 - Reflections of Nyaya-Vaisesika on Ayurveda—Based on Caraka Samhitha]
Physician as depicted in Manasollasa (by Sri B. S. Hebballi)
2. Creation of the Universe (according to Ayurveda) < [Chapter 4 - Ancient treatises on Indian medicine]
7. Salient features of Pancamahabhutas < [Chapter 4 - Ancient treatises on Indian medicine]
2. The concept of Rasa (direct action of a drug) < [Chapter 6 - Restoring normal physical and mental health]
Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata (by Shini M.V.)
The five Mahābhūtas (physical elements) < [Chapter 2 - The Principles of Sāṃkhya Philosophy]
Branches of Sāṃkhya < [Chapter 2 - The Principles of Sāṃkhya Philosophy]
The twenty-five principles < [Chapter 2 - The Principles of Sāṃkhya Philosophy]
Surgery in ancient India (Study) (by P. P. Prathapan)
9. Ayurveda in Upanisads, Epics, Puranas, Vyakarana, and Sahitya < [Chapter 1 - Ayurveda and Sanskrit literature]
5. Ayurveda and Veda < [Chapter 1 - Ayurveda and Sanskrit literature]
Jivanandana of Anandaraya Makhin (Study) (by G. D. Jayalakshmi)
Basic Principles of Āyurveda < [Chapter 4 - Āyurvedic principles in Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]