According to ancient vedic scientific thinking, all matter in the universe is comprised of five elements. These are known as panchamahabhuta:

• Apo - water; creates the taste sensation (rasa), its sensory organ being the tongue
• Thejo - fire; creates the visual impute of colour (rupa), its sensory organ being the eyes
• Vayu - air; creates the physical sensation of touch (sparsha), its sensory organ being skin
• Pruthuvi - earth; creates the sensation of smell and odour (gandha), its sensory organ being the nose
• Akasha - ether (space); creates the auditory sensation of sound (sharsda), its sensory organ being the ear.

These are the basic foundations and principles upon which Ayurveda lies. All five elements have a key role in our lives, since our bodies are composed of these mahabhutas (elements). All matter is considered fluid, with the balance of component elements constantly shifting.