Antaḥkaraṇa (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: अन्तःकरण) is a concept in

Hindu philosophy Hindu philosophy or Vedic philosophy is the set of philosophical systems that developed in tandem with the first Hinduism, Hindu religious traditions during the Iron Age in India, iron and Classical India, classical ages of India. In Indian ...

, referring to the totality of the mind, including the thinking faculty, the sense of I-ness, and the discriminating faculty. Antaḥ means 'inner' and karaṇa means 'instrument', or, 'function'. Therefore, the word ''Antaḥkaraṇa'' can be understood as 'inner organ', 'inner functions', or, 'inner instrument'.

Four Functions

The antahkarana is composed of the four functions of the mind, namely the manas (the mind or lower mind),

buddhi ''Buddhi'' (Sanskrit: बुद्धि) refers to the intellectual faculty and the power to "form and retain concepts, reason, discern, judge, comprehend, understand". Etymology ''Buddhi'' () is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit root ''Budh'' ...

(the intellect or higher mind), chitta (memory, or, consciousness), and

ahamkara Ahamkara (Sanskrit: अहंकार; Romanized: Ahaṁkāra), "I-making," is a Sanskrit term in Hindu philosophy referring to the construction of a Self-concept, or the false identification of the self ( Purusha, atman) with impermanent entit ...

(ego, or, I-maker). ''Antaḥkaraṇa'' has also been called the link between the middle and higher mind, the reincarnating part of the mind. Antahkarana

In Vedāntic literature, this (''internal organ'') is organised into four parts: # ahaṃkāra (''ego'')—identifies the Atman (''self'') with the body as 'I'. The attachment or identification of the ego, also known as the 'I-maker'. #

(''intellect'')—the decision-making part of the mind. The part that is able to discern truth from falsehood and thereby to make wisdom possible. # manas (''mind'')—the lower part of the mind that connects with the external world, and controls ''sankalpa'' (will or resolution). It is also the faculty of doubt and volition; seat of desire and governor of sensory and motor organs. # chitta (''memory'')—the consciousness where impressions, memories and experiences are stored; the part that deals with remembering and forgetting. There are three states of

consciousness Consciousness, at its simplest, is awareness of a state or object, either internal to oneself or in one's external environment. However, its nature has led to millennia of analyses, explanations, and debate among philosophers, scientists, an ...

: # jāgrat— waking state # svapna—

dream state Dream State are a Welsh rock band from South Wales formed in 2014. They signed to Australian record label UNFD in 2017 and have released two EPs (their debut ''Consequences'' in 2015 and ''Recovery'' in 2018) as well as a studio album '' Primros ...

# suṣupti— deep sleep state The ''antaḥkaraṇa'' is actively functioning in the first two states and dormant in the third state. Another description says that antaḥkaraṇa refers to the entire psychological process, including mind and emotions, are composing the mind levels, as described above, which are mentioned as a unit that functions with all parts working together as a whole. Furthermore, when considering that mind levels are bodies, they are: '' manomayakośa'' – related to manas – the part of mind related to five senses, and also craving for new and pleasant sensations and emotions, while

(intellect, intelligence, capacity to reason), is related to vijñānamayakośa – the body of consciousness, knowledge, intuition and experience. Antahkarana can also refer to the connection (bridge) between Manas and Buddhi.

References

{{reflist Hindu philosophical concepts Concepts in the philosophy of mind

Four Functions

See also

References