Hinduism upholds a single reality that is manifested in various forms; every part of creation is seen as nothing but a manifestation of this supreme reality. Every form of creation is a combination of one or more of the Pancha Bhutas: Akaasha, Vaayu, Agni, Jalam, and Prithvi. Although “Pancha Bhutas” is often translated as “five elements,” I prefer “elemental states” rather the conventional translation. The word “element” has a different meaning in science; Hinduism is often misrepresented to the formative mind of young students due to this mistranslation.
In the translation of the Upanishads we come across the repeated emphasis on Vaayu as a central part of the concept of the Reality known as Brahman. Praana is a form of Vaayu.
The Pancha Bhutas are usually translated as follows: Akaasha (space), Vaayu (air), Agni (fire), Jalam (water), and Prithvi (earth). However, they need a fresh interpretation because of their importance to ancient Hindu thought. According to my (non-traditional) interpretation, Vaayu is Planck’s energy as defined by the Planck’s equation. It is the universal energy. This is different from Newtonian energy. The latter has a term for mass. Planck’s energy has no term for mass.
The fundamental difference between the two is not appreciated even in science and the two forms of energy are indiscriminately equated. This is due to the misunderstanding of the term “energy.” I would like to call Newtonian energy as “work potential” or ability to do “work.” Planck’s energy does not “work.”
Planck’s energy has unique characteristics that enable it to travel through the vacuum of space without attenuation. Newtonian energy is a more limited form. It cannot progress in space. For this reason, it has no relevance in the Universe. Its influence is mainly terrestrial sphere because the transference of energy from one body to another is by contact or convection. I would identify the Sanskrit Agni with Newtonian energy.
Praana is energy relevant to life. It works by release of the energy in chemical bonds.
Water is important because it is composed of the two most widely occurring elements, hydrogen and oxygen. Many of the contexts in which water is mentioned allow this interpretation. It is reference to the origin of the elements. In other places it has to be understood as simple aqua. There are references to the “divine semen” (reta in Sanskrit). I have retained semen but interpret it as an aquatic medium necessary for insemination. The term also implies the origin of life in aquatic medium.
“Earth,” to me, is the molecular agglomerate: simple compounds, polymers, physical aggregates, etc.
To sum up, I would translate pancha bhutas as: Space (Akaasha), Planck’s energy (Vaayu), Newtonian energy (Agni), elemental atom (Jalam), and molecule and molecular aggregate (Prithvi).
Dr. S.K. Balasubramanian completed his Ph.D. from IIS Bangalore. He went to business in Pune manufacturing fine chemicals
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