   akasha (or akash, ÄkÄÅa, ) is the sanskrit word meaning "aether" in both its elemental and metaphysical senses. ==meaning in different philosophies== ===hinduism=== in hinduism, akasha means the basis and essence of all things in the material world; the first material element created from the astral world, (akasha (ether), earth,water,fire,air,) in sequence). it is one of the panchamahabhuta, or "five elements"; its main characteristic is shabda (sound). in sanskrit the word means "space", the first element in creation. in hindi, marathi and gujarati, and many other indian languages, the meaning of akasha has been accepted as sky.dictionary of world philosophy by a. pablo iannone, taylor & francis, 2001, p.&nbsp;30. isbn 0-415-17995-5 the nyaya and vaisheshika schools of hindu philosophy state that akasha or aether is the fifth physical substance, which is the substratum of the quality of sound. it is the one, eternal, and all pervading physical substance, which is imperceptible.indian metaphysics and epistemology by karl h. potter, usharbudh arya, motilal banarsidass publications, 1977, p.&nbsp;71. isbn 81-208-0309-4 according to the samkhya school of hindu philosophy, akasha is one of the five mahÄbhÅ«tas (grand physical elements) having the specific property of sound.six systems of indian philosophy; samkhya and yoga; naya and vaiseshika by f. max muller, kessinger publishing, 2003, p.&nbsp;40. isbn 0-7661-4296-5 ===jainism=== akasha is space in the jain conception of the cosmos. it falls into the ajiva category, divided into two parts: loakasa (the part occupied by the material world) and aloakasa (the space beyond it which is absolutely void and empty). in loakasa the universe forms only a part. akasha is that which gives space and makes room for the existence of all extended substances.encyclopaedia of jainism by narendra singh, anmol publications pvt. ltd., 2001, p.&nbsp;1623. isbn 81-261-0691-3 ===buddhism=== in buddhist phenomenology akasha is divided into limited space (ÄkÄsa-dhÄtu) and endless space (ajatÄkasÄ).buddhist dictionary by nyanatiloka, buddhist publication society, 1998, pp.&nbsp;24-35. isbn 955-24-0019-8 the vaibhashika, an early school of buddhist philosophy, hold akasha's existence to be real.encyclopedia of asian philosophy by oliver leaman, contributor oliver leaman, taylor & francis, 2001, isbn 0-415-17281-0, p
Classical_elements Hindu_philosophical_concepts