Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2170

c9.2170

From the attribute of Sattva having the power of knowledge, the ten essentials, such as air, the Sun, Pāśi (Varuṇa) two Aśvinī-gods, Candra (Moon), Brahmā, Rudra, Kṣetrajña and mind, came into being. From these essentials the formation of five matters took place. They are the five elements. When vigour enters the quintupled elements, egoism is given a form. This vigour with perceptible body is called Ādi Nārāyaṇa (Primordial Nārāyaṇa). Anyhow, quintupled elements will be bright with firm attributes. Ether has the attribute of sound only. Air has the attributes of sound and touch. Fire has the three attributes of sound, touch and form. Water has the four attributes of sound, touch, form and taste, and earth has the five attributes of sound, touch, form, taste and smell. The variegated expression of these five elements is called the universe. It is stated in Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 3, that the number of species of living beings found in the universe is eightyfour lakhs.