Chinmaya Mission New York

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I. Evolution of the Rajas aspect of the elements

एतेषां पञ्चतत्त्वानां मध्ये आकाशस्य राजसांशात् वागिन्द्रियं सम्भूतम् । 
वायोः राजसांशात् पाणीन्द्रियं सम्भूतम् । वन्हेः राजसांशात् पादेन्द्रियं सम्भूतम् । 
जलस्य राजसांशात् उपस्थेन्द्रियं सम्भूतम् । पृथिव्या राजसांशात् गुदेन्द्रियं सम्भूतम् । 
एतेषां समष्टिराजसांशात् पञ्चप्राणाः सम्भूताः । 

eteṣāṃ pañcatattvānāṃ madhye ākāśasya rājasāṃśāt vāgindriyaṃ sambhūtam . 
vāyoḥ rājasāṃśāt pāṇīndriyaṃ sambhūtam . vanheḥ rājasāṃśāt pādendriyaṃ sambhūtam . 
jalasya rājasāṃśāt upasthendriyaṃ sambhūtam . pṛthivyā rājasāṃśāt gudendriyaṃ sambhūtam . 
eteṣāṃ samaṣṭirājasāṃśāt pañcaprāṇāḥ sambhūtāḥ .

Explanation

1. From the rājasic aspect of space, faculty of speech arose.
2. From the rājasic aspect of air, faculty of grasping arose.
3. From the rājasic aspect of fire, faculty of locomotion arose.
4. From the rājasic aspect of water, faculty of procreation arose.
5. From the rājasic aspect of earth, faculty of excretion arose.
6. From the total rajas aspect, the five vital airs or prānās arose.

 
Food as an example of five elements

1. Various foods contain different proportions of the five elements.
2. There is a direct connection between what we eat, and our mind as well as our health. That is why we need to be careful about what we eat.
3. In the absence of food, all aspects of our body stop functioning, including our mind. This shows that essentially our mind and our faculties are made of food or the five elements.
4. Throughout the lifecycle of food, from ingestion onwards, the food may undergo modification. But the Self remains constant.

 
II. Evolution of the Tamaas aspect of the elements

एतेषां पञ्चतत्त्वानां तामसांशात् पञ्चीकृतपञ्चतत्त्वानि भवन्ति । पञ्चीकरणं कथम् इति चेत् । 
एतेषां पञ्चमहाभूतानां तामसांशस्वरूपम् एकमेकं भूतं द्विधा विभज्य एकमेकमर्धं पृथक् तूष्णीं व्यवस्थाप्य अपरमपरमर्धं चतुर्धां विभज्य स्वार्धमन्येषु अर्धेषु स्वभागचतुष्टयसंयोजनं कार्यम् । 
तदा पञ्चीकरणं भवति । एतेभ्यः पञ्चीकृतपञ्चमहाभूतेभ्यः स्थूलशरीरं भवति । 
एवं पिण्डब्रह्माण्डयोरैक्यं सम्भूतम् । 

eteṣāṃ pañcatattvānāṃ tāmasāṃśāt pañcīkṛtapañcatattvāni bhavanti . 
pañcīkaraṇaṃ katham iti cet . 
eteṣāṃ pañcamahābhūtānāṃ tāmasāṃśasvarūpam ekamekaṃ bhūtaṃ dvidhā vibhajya ekamekamardhaṃ pṛthak tūṣṇīṃ vyavasthāpya aparamaparamardhaṃ caturdhāṃ vibhajya svārdhamanyeṣu ardheṣu svabhāgacatuṣṭayasaṃyojanaṃ kāryam . 
tadā pañcīkaraṇaṃ bhavati . etebhyaḥ pañcīkṛtapañcamahābhūtebhyaḥ sthūlaśarīraṃ bhavati . 

Explanation

1. The tamas aspect of each element divides into two equal parts.
2. One half of each part remains intact, the other half is divided into four equal parts.
3. To the intact half of one element, one-eight portion from each of the other element is joined.
4. From these five grossified elements, the gross body  is formed.

Even though the verses pertaining to creation focus on the five elements, it is important to note that all elements come from Māyā, and that ultimately Māyā comes from Brahman.