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hindu-cosmosWe're still mapping where this idea was first discussed. Key passages and related ideas below.

Tattva 35 — Water (Ap / Jala)

Water: the element of liquidity and cohesion, fourth of the five great elements.

Ap (also called jala) is the gross element of water — the fourth of the five great elements, the principle of liquidity, flow, and cohesion that holds things together and moistens them. Denser than fire, it carries the quality of taste. In the tattva descent it unfolds from the subtle element of taste, drawing manifestation nearer to full solidity.

Key passages(9)

Chāndogya Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

Very high

'Water (ap) is better than food. Therefore if there is not sufficient rain, the vital spirits fail from fear that there will be less food. But if there is sufficient rain, the vital spirits rejoice, b

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Tarka-saṃgraha · Annaṃbhaṭṭa

High

Vaiśeṣika-sūtra · Kaṇāda

High

Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Paramārthasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Praśna Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

He replied: "The ether is that god, the wind, fire, water, earth, speech, mind, eye, and ear. These, when they have manifested (their power), contend and say: We (each of us) support this body and kee

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Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Bhagavad-gītā · Vyāsa (Yoga-bhāṣya commentator)

Moderate

Bhumi (earth), Ap (water), Anala (fire), Vâyu (air), Kha (ether), mind, intellect, and egoism: thus is My Prakriti divided eight-fold.

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Praśna Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

Moderate

The earth and its subtile elements, the water and its subtile elements, the light and its subtile elements, the air and its subtile elements, the ether and its subtile elements; the eye and what can b

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