Hindu Medicine c8.217

c8.217

This life-essence is the imperishable, indestructible and unthinkable one. By the dictates of fate it becomes shrouded in the garb of the individual self, which consists in the "subtle body," formed of the five elements (bhūtātman). Impelled by the wind, forthwith it enters the womb and abides in it. It is endowed with the primordial three virtues (guṇa) of universal matter, that is, with sattva, purity; rajas, violent motion; and tamas, dark inertia; and with various divine and demonic forces besides.