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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 26: Verses 35-50
The process of evolution of the Mahat-tattva andother fundamental principles
From ether, which is an evolute of the principle of sound, as it underwent transformation under the impulse of Time, sprang up the principle of touch and thence the air as well as the tactile sense, by which we perceive touch. Softness and hardness, and even so cold. and heat are the distinguishing attributes of touch and it is further characterized as the subtle form of air. Even so shaking (the boughs of trees etc.), bringing together (straws lying apart), having access everywhere, bearing particles of substances containing smell etc., to the olfactory and other senses, and sound to the auditory sense. and giving strength and vitality to all the Indriyas-these are the characteristic functions of air. From air-which is a product of the principle of touch-impelled by the destiny of the various Jivas, was evolved the principle of colour and thence fire as well as the sense of sight, which enables us to perceive colour. To appear in the same form as the material substance (in which it inheres), to depend (for its existence) on the substance, to have the same spatial relation as the substance and to constitute the essential nature of fire-these, O virtuous lady, are the functions of the principle of colour. To give light, to cook and digest food, to destroy cold, to dry (moisture etc.), to give rise to hunger and thirst and to drink and eat through them-these are the functions of fire. (From fire-which is an evolute of the principle of colour-impelled by the destiny of the various Jivas, proceeded the principle of taste and thence water as well as the sense of taste, which enables us to perceive taste. Taste, though one (sweet only), becomes manifold as astringent, sweet, bitter, pungent, sour and salt, due to contact with other substances. Even so to wet substances, to bring about cohesion, to cause satisfaction, to maintain
life[1] to refresh by slaking thirst, to soften things, to drive away heat and to be in a state of incessant supply (in wells etc.)-these are the functions of water. From water-which is an evolute of the principle of taste- impelled by the destiny of the various Jivas, proceeded the principle of smell and thence earth as well as the olfactory sense, which enables us to perceive 'odour alone. Smell, though one, becomes many-as mixed, offensive,fragrant, mild, strong, acid and so on,according to the proportion of connected substances. Even solo give form (through images etc.) to the concept of Brahma (the Infinite); to remain in position (without any support other than water etc., which are its causes); to hold (water and other substances); to limit (the unlimited space through walls of houses etc.) and to manifest the bodies as well as the distinctive qualities (sex etc.) of all living beings-these are the characteristic functions of earth. The sense whose object of perception is sound (the distinctive characteristic of ether), is called the auditory sense. And that whose object of perception is touch (the distinctive characteristic of air) is known as the tactile sense. Even so the sense whose object of perception is colour (the distinctive characteristic of fire) is spoken of as the sense of sight. Again, that whose object of perception is taste (the distinctive characteristic of water) is known as the sense of taste. And (finally) that whose object of perception is odour (the distinctive characteristic of earth) is called the olfactory sense. Since a cause exists in its effect as well, the characteristics of the former are observed in the latter. That is why the peculiarities of all the elements are found (to exist) in earth alone. When the Mahat tattva, the ego and the five gross elements-these seven stood disunited, Lord Narayana (the Cause of the universe) entered them taking with Him Time, the destiny of the various Jivas and the Gunas (modes of Prakrti).
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