The philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the presence of 5 elements, which are the building blocks of the entire universe (the macrocosm), and of our physical body (the microcosm).
According to this ancient, (5,000 years old) Vedic, holistic healing modality, each human being has a different balance of the following elements (Pancha Mahabhutas):
- Ether / Space (ākāśa)
- Air / Wind (vāyu)
- Fire (agni)
- Water (jala)
- Earth (pṛithivī)
Yes, all of these elements can be found in the chakra system, and we are going to discuss them in more detail in this post.
The order of these elements is important. The element of Earth was created last, and it evolved from the interaction between the previous 4 elements.
We are all unique, and every one of us has a different balance of these elements.
These five principles were distilled into three constitutional forms, also known as 3 Doshas in Ayurveda:
- Vata person has dominant Ether and Air elements
- Pitta individual is composed mainly of Fire and Water elements
- Kapha is composed of Earth and Water
Would you like to know which dosha are you?
We have created a very easy to follow guide on this topic: Ayurveda Body Types | The 3 Doshas – Vata Pitta Kapha
Ok, now let’s have a look at how these ayurvedic elements correspond to each chakra in the body.
What Are The Elements of The Chakras?
There are 7 chakras in the human body and these are the elements associated with each chakra:
- Root Chakra (Muladhara) – Earth Element
- Sacral Chakra (Svadhishthana) – Water Element
- Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) – Fire Element
- Heart Chakra (Anahata) – Air Element
- Throat Chakra (Vishuddha) – Ether (Space) Element
- Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) – Light
- Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) – Thought
Let’s have a look at all chakra elements with their corresponding colors and symbols in a chart / table format:
Now, you probably noticed that third eye chakra and crown chakra have “elements” of Light and Thought associated with them.
This information is based on Anodea’s Judith book “Wheels of Life. A User’s Guide To The Chakra System“. Many other sources indicate that all 3 upper chakras (throat chakra, third eye chakra, and crown chakra) are related to Space (Ether) element (which is also correct).
However, in this article, we are going to follow Anodea’s modern philosophy of chakra elements, as she spent many years researching the topic of chakras.
Let’s have a look at the qualities of these chakra elements, one by one.
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1. Root Chakra ~ Earth Element (Prithivi)
Earth is obviously the densest and the most stable element. It is also the toughest element compared to the other four elements
The root chakra governs your primal instincts of survival, safety, and stability. Foundational energy of 1st chakra, and the element of Earth, will allow you to feel secure and grounded in your own body.
According to ayurvedic philosophy, the element of Earth is closely linked with your sense of smell and skeletal system, including nails, and teeth.
2. Sacral Chakra ~ Water Element (Jala)
Your body consists of 70% water, and all of your bodily fluids, such as the lymphatic system, circulatory system, synovial fluids in joints, etc., are controlled by the Water element.
Continual movement and change are the key aspects of your sacral chakra and the element of Water (as opposed to the grounded stillness of root chakra).
Balanced sacral chakra allows you to freely express your emotions and sexuality, be more creative, and experience pleasures of life with all of your senses.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra ~ Fire Element (Agni)
The transformation is the main aspect of fire. The element of Fire is the force of change. Solar plexus chakra governs your metabolism and digestion. In Ayurveda, this transformational process is called digestive fire.
Solar plexus chakra governs your personality, ego, determination, and self-esteem.
Balanced and healthy solar plexus chakra allows you to be energetic, just like the Fire element, and move towards your goals with lots of strength and full confidence.
4. Heart Chakra ~ Air Element (Vayu)
The element of Air is present in your body in the respiratory system. It controls your breath and oxygen distribution throughout your body.
The heart chakra is responsible for your ability to express unconditional love, empathy, kindness, sincerity, compassion, and acceptance towards yourself and others.
The energy of the balanced heart chakra is similar to the attributes of the Air element: it is expansive, gentle, and formless.
5. Throat Chakra ~ Space / Ether Element (Akasha)
Ether represents a hollow vacuum or an ’empty space’. According to Vedic philosophy, it is was the first element to be created.
The element of Space is omnipresent, and it offers us the freedom to move…
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