The Five Elements and the Three Doshas Ayurveda recognizes five basic elements, or constituents to be the smaller components to which anything can be reduced. They are air, space, fire, water and earth. Everything in nature is composed of these five glorious, mysterious, essential components - including you. Air is the Ayurvedic term for the gaseous form of matter. Water is used to describe the liquid form of matter.
Earth is the solid form of matter and is responsible for groundedness and solidity.
The five elements, in infinite combinations and proportions, are the basis for all life-forms and things. They also constitute three forces. The three doshas, or governing principles are called vata, pitta and kapha. Each dosha has its own set of characteristics and personality traits of people, as well as of everything else. For example, there are vata, pitta and kapha kinds of flowers, people, houses, music, food, trees, birds and bees as well as times of day and seasons.