Hinduism And Akasha Comparison
During my life I've been involved in many different religions, and studied many religious paths trying to find the one that was right for me. I've taken college classes in comparative religion, and I've also done a lot of reading on my own. As a result I have many preconceived notions about terms that are used in Paganism, and on many occasions this knowledge is based on how these terms are used in other faiths, not in Paganism. Akasha is one of those terms; most of my knowledge of the word Akasha comes from Hinduism, and other religious traditions. While comparing my current knowledge of Akasha with the Pagan use of this term I found many similarities, since they both use the term to refer element of spirit.
Akasha is a Sanskrit word which means 'aether' (also called ether). According to Hinduism Akasha is the essential core of all things in the material world, and is the unifying force which exists in all human beings. Its origin is found in the ‘Rig Veda’ which was written around 1300 B.C. Akasha is one of the Panchabhutas (Five Elements): Akash (ether), Vayu (air), Jal (water), Agni (fire) and Prithvi (earth) . The concept of Akasha is also …show more content…
found in Jainism, a spiritual tradition dating back to the 6th century B.C. in India. According to the Jain tradition Akasha means all space in the universe. This space is divided into two parts: Lokakasha (Loka) and Alokakasha (Aloka). Additionally according to the Buddhist tradition Akasha is separated into two parts: limited space (ākāsa-dhātu) and endless space (ajatākasā), and is usually defined as "infinite space." (1)
The pagan concept of the fifth element Akasha emerged from the concept of the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water which is ascribed to the Greek philosopher Empedocles around 500 BCE.
At this time a group of philosophers known as the monists were heatedely debating which element was the first element, the one which all others emerged. Empedocles believed that there wasn't a first element, because the universe was composed of all four elements, that matter existed because the four elements combined. For example, Empedocles believed that the sea was mostly composed of Water, but Air, Fire, and Earth were also within it, or it couldn't exist. Empedocles's idea of a combined Universe of Four Elements became the dominate philosophy, and other philosophers such as Plato, Hippocrates, Galen, and others expanded upon
it.
Aristotle, circa 335 BCE, became very interested in the four elements, and in their origins. In Metaphysics he expounded upon the idea that the four elements arose from four essences: heat, cold, dryness, and moistness. Aristotle believed that the four essences were constantantly interacting, and it was this interaction that created the elements. He further speculated that if the essences could combine into core states, such as wet and hot, or dry and cold, were all combinations possible. What would wet dryness or cold heat be like? It is from this speculation that Aristotle created the concept of an unworldly fifth essence (quintessence) which he called aether. He believed that aether was the material that composed the heavens.
It is from Aristotle's concenception of aether that modern pagans got the idea that Spirit was the fifth element. According to Raven Grimassi Akasha is the fifth formative element of pure spirit, which pervades all space. Unlike the eastern traditions I noted above he states that Akasha is not ether itself, but is an ether-like substance of spiritual rather than material substance. Scott Cunningham characterized Akasha as the original element from which Earth, Air, Fire, and Water emerged. In addition, other Pagan traditions believe that Akasha is a combination of the four other elements, and that it exists in every living creature, without which there would be no spirit, soul, or magic.
All of the information I discovered while researching this paper is far removed from my original idea of what Akasha meant. However, I do believe my own magicial practices can be inhanced by my old knowledge combined with my new perceptions. In the past I've felt connected to the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water, but I was never concerned about incorporating the fifth element spirit into my rituals. I now eagerly anticipate exploring the fifth element, Akasha, in my future magical workings.
Akasha is a Sanskrit word which means 'aether' (also called ether). According to Hinduism Akasha is the essential core of all things in the material world, and is the unifying force which exists in all human beings. Its origin is found in the ‘Rig Veda’ which was written around 1300 B.C. Akasha is one of the Panchabhutas (Five Elements): Akash (ether), Vayu (air), Jal (water), Agni (fire) and Prithvi (earth) . The concept of Akasha is also …show more content…
found in Jainism, a spiritual tradition dating back to the 6th century B.C. in India. According to the Jain tradition Akasha means all space in the universe. This space is divided into two parts: Lokakasha (Loka) and Alokakasha (Aloka). Additionally according to the Buddhist tradition Akasha is separated into two parts: limited space (ākāsa-dhātu) and endless space (ajatākasā), and is usually defined as "infinite space." (1)
The pagan concept of the fifth element Akasha emerged from the concept of the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water which is ascribed to the Greek philosopher Empedocles around 500 BCE.
At this time a group of philosophers known as the monists were heatedely debating which element was the first element, the one which all others emerged. Empedocles believed that there wasn't a first element, because the universe was composed of all four elements, that matter existed because the four elements combined. For example, Empedocles believed that the sea was mostly composed of Water, but Air, Fire, and Earth were also within it, or it couldn't exist. Empedocles's idea of a combined Universe of Four Elements became the dominate philosophy, and other philosophers such as Plato, Hippocrates, Galen, and others expanded upon
it.
Aristotle, circa 335 BCE, became very interested in the four elements, and in their origins. In Metaphysics he expounded upon the idea that the four elements arose from four essences: heat, cold, dryness, and moistness. Aristotle believed that the four essences were constantantly interacting, and it was this interaction that created the elements. He further speculated that if the essences could combine into core states, such as wet and hot, or dry and cold, were all combinations possible. What would wet dryness or cold heat be like? It is from this speculation that Aristotle created the concept of an unworldly fifth essence (quintessence) which he called aether. He believed that aether was the material that composed the heavens.
It is from Aristotle's concenception of aether that modern pagans got the idea that Spirit was the fifth element. According to Raven Grimassi Akasha is the fifth formative element of pure spirit, which pervades all space. Unlike the eastern traditions I noted above he states that Akasha is not ether itself, but is an ether-like substance of spiritual rather than material substance. Scott Cunningham characterized Akasha as the original element from which Earth, Air, Fire, and Water emerged. In addition, other Pagan traditions believe that Akasha is a combination of the four other elements, and that it exists in every living creature, without which there would be no spirit, soul, or magic.
All of the information I discovered while researching this paper is far removed from my original idea of what Akasha meant. However, I do believe my own magicial practices can be inhanced by my old knowledge combined with my new perceptions. In the past I've felt connected to the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water, but I was never concerned about incorporating the fifth element spirit into my rituals. I now eagerly anticipate exploring the fifth element, Akasha, in my future magical workings.