Bhūta

Element, being, that which has come into existence. From the root bhū (to be). The five great elements (pañca mahābhūta) are earth (pṛthivī), water (āpas), fire (tejas), air (vāyu), and ether (ākāśa). They constitute the entire manifest universe in Sāṃkhya cosmology. In tantric and haṭha yoga, bhūta also refers to the five subtle elements (tanmātras) and the practices of bhūta śuddhi — purification of the elements within the body. See [[pancha-mahabhuta]], shatkarma.