Dhātu
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Dhātu literally means ‘that which exists in all’.
Dhātu Generally[edit]
Metals dug out from the bowels of earth like gold and silver as also precious stones are also known as ‘dhātu’.
Dhātu as per Darśanas[edit]
This word is used in several senses. In the darśanas or treatises on philosophy it stands for the pañcabhutas or the five elements, viz., earth, water, fire, air and sky or space or ether.
Dhātus of Body[edit]
In the ancient medical sciences, seven dhātus which sustain our body[1] are mentioned. They are:
- Rasa - chyle
- Asṛk or rakta - blood
- Mānsa - flesh
- Medas - fat
- Asthi - bone
- Majjā - marrow
- Śukra - semen
Dhātu as per Sanskrit Grammar[edit]
In Sanskrit grammar, the word means the root form of a verb, like bhu.[2]
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore