akasha

Akasha (Sanskrit: आकाश, akāśa) is a term meaning space, ether, or sky. In classical Indian philosophy it is the subtlest of the five mahābhūtas (great elements) and the basis in which the other four elements—air, fire, water, and earth—manifest. It is described as infinite, all-pervading, and formless, serving as the receptive medium through which sound is perceived and physical phenomena occur.

Traditional schools such as Nyaya–Vaisheshika and Vedanta treat akasha as the elemental substratum of existence, the space in which matter and activity take place yet which itself is not a material substance. In Ayurveda and yoga, akasha is associated with the sense of hearing and with ether energy that underlies the other senses and mental processes.

In Theosophy and modern esotericism, akasha is used to denote an all-encompassing field or ether—the akashic records—said to store a universal archive of events, thoughts, and actions. This concept has influenced New Age thought and popular culture, though it remains scientifically unproven.

See also: Akashic records; Pancha Mahabhuta; Hindu philosophy.