Panchikaranam of Sri Shankaracarya

Panchikaranam is a key concept in the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta as taught by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. It deals with the process of how the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) come together to form the physical universe, and it is primarily discussed in the context of explaining the nature of creation and the relation between the individual soul (Atman) and the Supreme reality (Brahman).

Meaning of Panchikaranam

The word "Panchikaranam" comes from two words:

• Panchika – meaning "five"
• Karanam – meaning "causing" or "making."

Thus, Panchikaranam refers to the process through which the five primary elements (called Pancha Mahabhutas) undergo a process of mixture and transformation to form the material world.

The Five Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)

According to Advaita Vedanta, the material universe is composed of five basic elements, called the Pancha Mahabhutas:

1. Prithvi (Earth) – Represents solidity.
2. Apas (Water) – Represents liquidity.
3. Tejas (Fire) – Represents heat or energy.
4. Vayu (Air) – Represents motion or movement.
5. Akasha (Ether or Space) – Represents space or sound.

In Advaita Vedanta, these elements are not independent entities but are seen as expressions of Brahman in the phenomenal world. The elements, in their pure form, exist as subtle (Sukshma) versions, and through a process of Panchikaranam, they become gross (Sthula) to form the physical world.

Process of Panchikaranam

Shankaracharya explains the process of Panchikaranam in his commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad and other texts. The process is explained in the following way:

1. Pure Elements: Initially, the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) exist in a subtle (unmanifest) state, undifferentiated from one another.

2. Division and Mixture: Each element is divided into five equal parts (1/5th). Then, each part is mixed with a part of the other elements. For instance:

   • The earth element takes 1/5th of water, fire, air, and ether.
   • Similarly, water, fire, air, and ether each take parts of the other four elements.

   This creates a mixture of the elements, where each element contains a portion of the other elements. This mixing of the elements is called Panchikaranam.

3. Grossification: After this mixture, the elements become "grossified," meaning they take their familiar, tangible forms. For example, the earth, which is a solid element, now contains the qualities of all the other elements (like the liquidity of water, heat of fire, etc.), but it remains fundamentally "earth."

4. Creation of the Physical World: Through this process of Panchikaranam, the elements become the building blocks of the physical world. Everything in the material universe – including human beings, animals, plants, and the physical objects around us – is composed of these mixed elements.

Philosophical Significance of Panchikaranam

In Advaita Vedanta, the concept of Panchikaranam serves multiple purposes:

1. Illustration of Creation: Panchikaranam provides a logical and philosophical explanation for how the infinite, unmanifest Brahman becomes the finite, manifest universe. It shows how Brahman, which is pure consciousness and beyond all qualities, can appear as the material world through the process of Maya (illusion).

2. Unity of All Elements: The process of mixing the five elements emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things. Even though the elements appear to be distinct in the physical world, they all arise from the same ultimate reality, Brahman. This reflects the non-dual nature of reality in Advaita Vedanta.

3. Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas: The mixture of the elements is also associated with the three gunas (qualities) of nature: Sattva (purity, balance), Rajas (activity, motion), and Tamas (inertia, darkness). Each element, through its mix, reflects different combinations of these gunas, which shape the nature and behavior of the material world.

4. Reflection of the Self: Just as the elements mix and form the physical universe, in a similar way, the Atman (individual soul) appears to be distinct from Brahman due to the influence of Maya. However, in truth, both Atman and Brahman are ultimately one and the same, and this realization is the essence of Advaita Vedanta.