The elements of life come in five forms. Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Ether are known as Panchamahabhutas (Pancha meaning 5, Maha meaning big, Bhuta meaning elements).  They form the building blocks of life and existence on this planet.  The Ayurvedic system analyses the human body on the basis of the existence of these 5 elements of life. Furthermore, knowledge of the elements of life is essential to understanding the interrelation of the mind, body and spirit.  These elements construct the macrocosm which is the universe, as well as the microcosm, that is, our inner worlds.