Matter is a mixture of five universal elements containing one or the other in a predominant ratio. According to Sushruta, all substances are derived from a combination of the five bhootas and a predominance of any one of them in a particular substance determines its character and this is at the heart of Ayurvedic pharmacology.

Apart from the predominant quality, each Mahabhoota is also attributed with other traits described in terms of 10 opposing pairs of qualities. These are the Gurvadi gunas or the associated qualities (Table 2.2). The Gurvadi gunas and their relationship to the five basic elements and five senses is shown in Table 2.3. Each of these is associated with a particular element and its opposite quality will be manifest in the element that has an opposing action or effect; e.g., Prithvi is associated with the quality of guru (heavy); the opposing quality of laghu is associated with Vayu. To some extent prithvi and vayu have opposing forms and actions. Each pair of opposites is only one specific dimension in interaction, however with each subsequent pair representing a contrasting dimension. By recognizing several different dimensions of interaction the result is a multidimensional model that explains the complexity of interactions that occur between the five basic elements.