basic energies in the hindu universe

Question 1

prithvi/prithivi

Answer 1

earth; the heaviest of Hindu elements; predominant quality forming the body; two types of earth energy; located at the feet; has a sweet taste

Question 2

nitya

Answer 2

eternal earth energy found within the atom

Question 3

anitya

Answer 3

perishable earth energy expressed through work

Question 4

jal/apas

Answer 4

water; bestows coolness, fluidity, and smoothness; transfers happiness; eternal in its atomic structure; perishable in a river, pond, or sea; force of water is contracting, flows downward, leads to calm; related to the knees; astringent in taste

Question 5

vayu

Answer 5

air; light yet tangible; linked with action and movement; there is eternal air; the air we breathe is pershiable; force is motion; travels at acute angles; found in the navel; tastes acidic

Question 6

agni/tejas

Answer 6

fire; related to passions, heat, beauty, goodness, and valor; character is to generate heat; agni is one of the eight guardians protecting our universe; there is an eternal fire; there are several types of perishable fires, including fires of the earth, sky, and stomach; there is fire we use to warm ourselves; force is expansive, flows upwards, tends towards endings or death; located at the shoulders; tastes pungent

Question 7

panchabhuta

Answer 7

ether; carrier of sound, humanmade or otherwise; always eternal; essence can´t be quantified; is the nature of God; force and do what all the other elements accomplish without location, taste, or physical association

Question 8

prana

Answer 8

air of breathing; always lies in the heart; found in the navel, mouth, nose, and great toe; most important air of all

Question 9

apana

Answer 9

air of the rectum; moves through the lower part of the trunk; helps release excrement and urine; found in the rectum, thighs, knees, lower abdomen, waist, navel

Question 10

samana

Answer 10

air of digestion; found in the navel; intestinal fire, also resides in the limbs

Question 11

udana

Answer 11

air in the throat that serves speech; active in the hands and feet; causes enlargement of the body

Question 12

vyana

Answer 12

air that cirulates through the body; operates in the ears, lips, throat, nose, mouth, cheeks, and navel

Question 13

naga

Answer 13

air of erection

Question 14

kurma

Answer 14

air of blinking

Question 15

krkara

Answer 15

air of sneezing

Question 16

devadatta

Answer 16

air of yawning

Question 17

dhananjaya

Answer 17

air prevading the entire body that lasts beyond death