What is the relationship between the five elements and the five senses? And how do we connect it with simple Puja rituals at home?

Kanchi Maha Periyava has explained it beautifully in Tamil while talking about the five upachaarams (services) to the Almighty. I am happy to share a gist of Maha Periyava’s explanation translated into English.

We are endowed with five sensory organs – Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue and the Skin. They do not create anything new. They merely sense something external to us and relay the information to the brain.

Our universe is governed by five elements of nature – Sky, Air, Fire, Water and the Earth. These elements help the five sensory organs to sense – like we can feel a        cool breeze, hear the sounds through the sky, see and feel fire, taste the sweetness of water, and enjoy all that mother earth produces including the fragrance of flowers and the taste of fruits. Without these five elements, there is no life!

Because the Almighty God has graciously endowed us the five senses and also provided the five elements of nature, we are able to enjoy various things in life. So, it is our duty to remember the Almighty in our enjoyment.

As a symbolic representation of offering to the Almighty those very items that represent our enjoyment through the five elements, there is a ritual called “Panchoparam” or “The five services in worship.” in temples and also in many homes: These five upachaarams are:

1. Placing Sandal paste on the idol – representing Prithvi or Earth.

2. Puja with flowers – representing the Sky.

3. Dhoopam by fragrant Sambrani or Udubathi – representing Vayu, the Air.

4. Deepaardhanai by showing lighted lamp-representing Fire.

5. Naivedyam by offering food items-representing Water.

Thus, the five elements that create all the matter to satisfy our five senses are included in the ‘Panchoparam.’

In short, this ritual unites the Almighty, the Universe and Us.

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara!