Odyssey of Life

तत आकाशः संभूतः । आकाशाद् वायुः । वायोस्तेजः । तेजसः आपः । अद्भ्यः पृथिवी ॥

Continuing on the creation theory of universe per sāṃkhya philosophy, the five core elements are first created (in the given order) in subtle form thus named tanmātrā  (तन्मात्रा). Since they are created by māyā (endowed with sattva, rajas and tamas guna), they too inherit these guna.

1. Space (आकाशः) – This core element has quality of sound (śabda – शब्द)
2. Air (वायुः) – This core element has qualities of sound and touch (sparśa – स्पर्श)
3. Fire (तेजस) – This core element has qualities of sound, touch and form (rupa – रुप)
4. Water (आपः) – This core element has qualities of sound, touch, form and taste (rasa – रस)
5. Earth (पृथ्वी) – This core element has qualities of sound, touch, form, taste and smell (gandha – गन्ध)

Evolution of sattva guna

एतेषां पञ्चतत्वानां मध्ये आकाशस्य सात्विकांशात् श्रोतेन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
वायोः सात्विकांशात् त्वगिन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
अग्नेः सात्विकांशात् चक्षुरिन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
जलस्य सात्विकांशात् रसनेन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
पृथिव्याः सात्विकांशात् घ्राणेन्द्रियं संभूतम् ॥

Since sattva guna represents knowledge / information, Individual sattva guna of five core elements led to the creation of corresponding sense of perception.

1. Space – led to the creation of sense of hearing (श्रोत्रेन्द्रिय)
2. Air – led to the creation of sense of touch (त्वगिन्द्रिय)
3. Fire – led to the creation of sense of vision (चक्षुरिन्द्रिय)
4. Water – led to the creation of sense of taste (रसनेन्द्रिय)
5. Earth – led to the creation of sense of smell (घ्राणेन्द्रिय)

एतेषां पञ्चतत्वानां समष्टिसात्विकांशात् मनोबुध्यहंकार-चित्तान्तःकरणानि संभूतानि । 
संकल्पविकल्पात्मकं मनः । निश्चयात्मिका बुद्धिः । अहंकर्ता अहंकारः । चिन्तनकर्तृ चित्तम । 

मनसो देवता चन्द्रमाः । बुद्धेः ब्रह्मा । अहंकारस्य रुद्र । चित्तस्य वासुदेवः ॥

Collective sattva guna of all five elements led to creation of inner equipment (अंतःकर्ण) – i.e. mind (मन), intellect (बुद्धि), ego/individuality (अहंकार) and memory (चित्त). Mind is a seat of fluctuating thoughts (संकल्पविकल्प), emotions and full of hopes and doubts. It’s presiding deity is moon (चन्द्रमा). Intellect is a seat of logic, rationale, decisions and creative powers. It’s presiding deity is lord brahmaji (ब्रह्माजी). Memory is power of recollection of past experiences. It helps intellect to take decisions. It’s presiding deity is vāsudeva (वासुदेव). Finally, ego/individuality (अहंकार) is a sense of doer-ship and enjoyer-ship. Ego connects all other aspects of inner equipment, i.e. mind, intellect and memory. Ego is also responsible for individuality (जीवत्व). It’s presiding deity is rudra (रुद्र).

Evolution of rajas guna

एतेषां पञ्चतत्वानां मध्ये आकाशस्य राजसांशात् वागिन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
वायोः राजसांशात् पाणीन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
अग्नेः राजसांशात् पादेन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
जलस्य राजसांशात् उपस्थेन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
पृथिव्याः राजसांशात् गुदेन्द्रियं संभूतम् । 
एतेषां समष्टिराजसांशात् पञ्चप्राणाः संभूताः ॥

Since rajas guna represents agitation / action, individual rajas guna of five core elements led to the creation of corresponding sense of action.

1. Space – led to the creation of sense of speech (वागिन्द्रिय)
2. Air – led to the creation of sense of grasp/hold (पाणीन्द्रिय)
3. Fire – led to the creation of sense of locomotion (पादेन्द्रिय)
4. Water – led to the creation of sense of procreation (उपस्थेन्द्रिय)
5. Earth – led to the creation of sense of excretion (गुदेन्द्रिय)

Collective rajas guna of all five core elements lead to the creation of five vital airs (पञ्चप्राणाः).

Evolution of tamas guna

एतेषां पञ्चतत्वानां मध्ये तामसांशात् पञ्चीकृतपञ्चतत्वानि भवन्ति । पञ्चीकरणं कथम् इति चेत् ।
एतेषां पञ्चमहाभूतानां तामसांशस्वरुपम् एकमेकंभूतं द्विधाविभज्य एकमेकअर्धं पृथक् तूष्णीं व्यवस्थाप्य अपरमपरमर्धं चतुर्धां विभज्य स्वार्धमन्येषु अर्धेषु स्वभागचतुष्टयसंयोजनम् कार्यम् । तदा पञ्चीकरणं भवति ॥
एतेभ्यः पञ्चीकृतपञ्चमहाभूतेभ्यः स्थूलशरीरं भवति ॥

Tamas guna of all core element goes through the process of grossification (पंचीकरणं). Such grossified elements are used to create the gross body (स्थूलशरीर). This makes gross body perceptible to senses (we can see, hear, touch, taste and smell worldly objects).

Process of pañcīkaraṇa (पञ्चीकरण) starts with the tamas guna of all subtle core elements. The steps of this process (of grossification) are captured below.

1. Divide each subtle element into two equal parts
2. Keeping one half intact, divide the other half into four equal parts
3. Add each 1/8th part (formed in prior step) into the other core elements (other than itself).
4. Thus, we get grossified core elements. Each one having 50% of its own original element, and 12.5% of every other core element. i.e. Earth is 50% earth, 12.5% of space, air, fire and water each.

Above process is also explained in pañcadaśī (पञ्चदशी), another preliminary text as follows:

द्विधा विधाय चैकैकं चतुर्धा प्रथमं पुनः ।
स्वस्वेतरद्वितीयांशैर्योजनात्पञ्च पञ्च ते ॥ २७॥

Thus, now we have gross and subtle bodies at universal level and at individual level, creating using ungrossified five subtle core elements and grossified five elements. All such bodies (matter) inherently possess three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas.

Read next तत्वबोध – 10 of 11. The Relationship of the Individual and the Lord