Gyanendriya — Five senses
The five senses in scriptures are called gyanendriya (Devanagari: ज्ञानेन्द्रिय ISO15919: jñānendriya ). It is a blended Sanskrit word created by combining gyan which means knowledge and indriya which means sense.
Each of these preceptory subtle senses originate from one panchtanmattra .
Each panchtanmattra creates one of the panch mahabhoot . So each subtle sense has kinship with its related panch mahabhoot . That is why each sense can perceive only one of the bhoot .
Gyanendriya are preceptory and are considered superior to the karmendriyan .
There are five senses
Hearing
The sense of hearing is called karnendriya (Devanagari: कर्णेंद्रिय ISO15919: karṇeṁdriya karṇa ).
The akaasha (space) element of panch mahabhoot is prominent in the construction of this sense. That is why this sense has the ability to perceive sound . This sense lives inside the ear called karna (Devanagari: कर्ण ISO15919: karṇa).
Touch
The sense of touch is called tavachendriya (Devanagari: त्वचेन्द्रिय ISO15919: tvacendriya ). The vayu (air) element of panch mahabhoot is prominent in the construction of this sense. That is why this sense has the ability to perceive touch . This sense lives inside the skin or tavacha (Devanagari: त्वचा ISO15919: tvacā) |
Sight
The sense of touch is called chakshuendriya (Devanagari: चक्षुइन्द्रिय ISO15919: cakṣu indriya ).
The tej (light) element of panch mahabhoot is prominent in the construction of this sense. That is why this sense has the ability to perceive form . This sense lives inside the eyes or chakshu (Devanagari: चक्षु ISO15919: cakṣu).
Taste
The sense of touchis called rasendriya (Devanagari: रसेन्द्रिय रसना ISO15919: rasendriya ). The jal (water) element of panch mahabhoot is prominent in the construction of this sense. That is why this sense has the ability to perceive taste . This sense lives inside the tongue or rasana (Devanagari: रसना ISO15919: rasanā ).
Smell
The sense of touch is called nasika indriya (Devanagari: नासिका इन्द्रिय ISO15919: nāsikā indriya ). The pritvi (earth) element of panch mahabhoot is prominent in the construction of this sense. That is why this sense has the ability to perceive smell . This sense lives inside the nose or nasika (Devanagari: नासिका ISO15919: nāsikā ).
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