The Stages of Evolution

According to ancient sages. The evolutionary stages of the physical universe are represented by the Sanskrit terms: Aakasa, Vaayu, Agni, Aapa and Prithvi. They are known as the Pancha-Bhootha-s. The term Pancha-Bhoota-s is usually translated as ‘five-elements’ and the above mentioned five stages as ether, air, fire, water and earth. They are not five separate materials but five causal evolutionary stages through which a boundless subtle energy field transforms itself as the manifested universe. The prescribed order of these pancha-bhootha-s from the subtlest to the grossest itself shows that they mean the evolutionary stages, not separate materials.

Aakaasha (sky), according to Indian philosophy, is not empty space, but the subtlest field of physical energy. (Causal to Aakaasha is Chittaakaasha, the mental space, which originates from Chidaakasha, the Space of Supreme Intelligence.) The almost static Aakaasha transforms itself as active energy and this stage is represented by the term Vaayu (Air). Here, this term does not signify the atmospheric air. An energy that shows the characteristics of consciousness. ‘Vaayu’ can be identified with the concept of Praana, the vital energy basis of the sub-atomic realm, which so far has not come to the awareness of modern atomic physics. The next evolutionary stage is represented by ‘aghni’ which is a stage of atomic forms, and molecular chemical combinations. It is at this stage the visible manifestation of the gross universe begins. The ‘Aapa’ represents the next stage where atoms combine into molecules, which are loosely united and have certain facility of movement as in fluids. The next stage ‘Prithvi’ represents the firm interlocking of molecules giving rise to solid materials. These are the salient evolutionary stages of the universe as conceived by the sages. Divine consciousness is latent in all these stages and expresses itself as organic life at the stage of solidity.

The ancient sage’s point out that this is a reversible scheme. As man has reached a highly evolved state he is capable through an evolutionary effort to untie his consciousness from the knot of the above mentioned stages and expand himself to supreme divine consciouness.