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A ''kosha'' (also ''kosa'';
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 ...
कोश,
IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Brahmic family, Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that ...
: ), usually rendered "sheath", is a covering of the ''
Atman Atman or Ātman may refer to: Religion * ''Ātman'' (Hinduism), meaning "Self", a philosophical concept common to all schools of Hindu philosophy * ''Ātman'' (Buddhism), ''attā'' or ''attan'', a reference to the essential self ** ''Anattā'' ...
'', or Self according to
Vedantic ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox ( ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompasses the ideas that e ...
philosophy. The five sheaths, summarised with the term
Panchakosha A ''kosha'' (also ''kosa''; Sanskrit कोश, IAST: ), usually rendered "sheath", is a covering of the '' Atman'', or Self according to Vedantic philosophy. The five sheaths, summarised with the term Panchakosha, are described in the '' T ...
, are described in the ''
Taittiriya Upanishad The Taittiriya Upanishad (, ) is a Vedic era Sanskrit text, embedded as three chapters (''adhyāya'') of the Yajurveda. It is a '' mukhya'' (primary, principal) Upanishad, and likely composed about 6th century BCE. The Taittirīya Upanishad is ...
'' (2.1-5), and they are often visualised as the layers of an onion. From gross to fine they are: # ''Annamaya kosha'', "food" sheath (Anna), the physical body; # ''Pranamaya kosha'', "energy" sheath (
Prana In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as origin ...
), the vital principle; # ''
Manomaya kosha A ''kosha'' (also ''kosa''; Sanskrit :wikt:कोश, कोश, IAST: ), usually rendered "sheath", is a covering of the ''Atman (Hinduism), Atman'', or Self according to Vedantic philosophy. The five sheaths, summarised with the term Panchak ...
'' "mind" sheath (Manas), the mind and the five senses; # '' Vijñānamaya kosha'', "discernment" or "Knowledge" sheath ( Vigynana) # ''
Anandamaya kosha The Anandamaya kosha or "sheath made of bliss" ( ananda) is in Vedantic philosophy the most subtle or spiritual of the five levels of embodied self. It has been interpreted differently according to specific schools of Indian (and also Theosop ...
'', "bliss" sheath ( Ananda)


Origins

The five sheaths summarised with the term
Panchakosha A ''kosha'' (also ''kosa''; Sanskrit कोश, IAST: ), usually rendered "sheath", is a covering of the '' Atman'', or Self according to Vedantic philosophy. The five sheaths, summarised with the term Panchakosha, are described in the '' T ...
are described in the ''
Taittiriya Upanishad The Taittiriya Upanishad (, ) is a Vedic era Sanskrit text, embedded as three chapters (''adhyāya'') of the Yajurveda. It is a '' mukhya'' (primary, principal) Upanishad, and likely composed about 6th century BCE. The Taittirīya Upanishad is ...
'' (2.1-5). ''Panchakoshas'' are divided in three bodies: * The gross body ''sthula sarira'' - made up of physical matter. This body consists of Annamaya kosha. * the subtle body ''suksma sarira'' - This body consists of Pranamaya Kosha, Manomaya Kosha and Vijnanamaya Kosha. * the causal body ''karana sarira'' - This body consists of Anandamaya Kosha. The ''atman'' is behind the ''Panchakoshas''. According to Vedanta the wise person, being aware of the subtle influences of the five elements within each ''kosha'', ever discerns the
Self In philosophy, the self is an individual's own being, knowledge, and values, and the relationship between these attributes. The first-person perspective distinguishes selfhood from personal identity. Whereas "identity" is (literally) same ...
amidst appearances.


The five sheaths


Annamaya kosha

This is the sheath of the physical (body) self, the grossest of the five ''koshas'', named from the fact that it is nourished by food. Living through this layer humans identify themselves with a mass of
skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...
,
flesh Flesh is any aggregation of soft tissues of an organism. Various multicellular organisms have soft tissues that may be called "flesh". In mammals, including humans, ''flesh'' encompasses muscles, fats and other loose connective tissues, ...
,
fat In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food. The term often refers specif ...
,
bone A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, ...
s, and
feces Feces (also known as faeces American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, or fæces; : faex) are the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the ...
, while the human of discrimination knows oneself, the only reality that there is, as distinct from the body. The physical body is formed of the essence of food. Birth and death are the attributes of the ''Annamaya kosha''. ''Anna'' means matter, ''annam'' literally means food;
Taittiriya Upanishad The Taittiriya Upanishad (, ) is a Vedic era Sanskrit text, embedded as three chapters (''adhyāya'') of the Yajurveda. It is a '' mukhya'' (primary, principal) Upanishad, and likely composed about 6th century BCE. The Taittirīya Upanishad is ...
calls food the medicament of all. The gross body which is matter-born and matter sustained and transient and subject to perception is the ''Annamayakosha'' whose origin is food eaten by parents. It is visible, dependent and impure. It is not the ''atman'' because it did not exist before its origination and ceases to exist once it is destroyed. It is subject to origination and destruction every moment. It is the ''anatman'' because it is not in the beginning and at the end, is non-existent also in the present. It does not know itself. The deluded mind that does not inquire considers his ''atman'' to be this body or ''kosha''. Such a person cannot enjoy bliss.


Pranamaya kosha

''Pranamaya'' means composed of ''
prana In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as origin ...
'', the vital principle, the force that vitalizes and holds together the body and the mind. It pervades the whole organism, its one physical manifestation is the breath. As long as this vital principle exists in the organisms, life continues. Coupled with the five organs of action it forms the vital sheath. In the Vivekachudamani it is a modification of ''
vayu Vayu (; ), also known as Vata () and Pavana (), is the Hindu deities, Hindu god of the winds as well as the divine messenger of the gods. In the ''Vedic scriptures'', Vayu is an important deity and is closely associated with Indra, the king o ...
'' or air, it enters into and comes out of the body. ''Pranamayakosha'', separate from and subtler than ''Annamayakosha'', pertains to the ''Sukshma sarira'', it is the sheath of the vital airs completely enclosing and filling the ''Annamayakosha''. The ''
Prana In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as origin ...
'' in combination with the five organs of action constitutes the ''Pranamayakosha''. The ''Annamayakosha'' is an effect of the ''Pranamayakosha''. The ''Annamayakosha'' gets life by the ''Prana'' entering into it and engages in all kinds of action. ''Prana'' is the life of beings and the Universal life. Whatever happens in the ''Annamayakosha'' is wrongly identified as belonging to the ''atman'' by reason of its being pervaded by the ''Pranamayakosha'' which is effect of ''
Vayu Vayu (; ), also known as Vata () and Pavana (), is the Hindu deities, Hindu god of the winds as well as the divine messenger of the gods. In the ''Vedic scriptures'', Vayu is an important deity and is closely associated with Indra, the king o ...
'', and totally unaware and dependent.


Manomaya kosha

''Manomaya'' means composed of ''manas'' or
mind The mind is that which thinks, feels, perceives, imagines, remembers, and wills. It covers the totality of mental phenomena, including both conscious processes, through which an individual is aware of external and internal circumstances ...
. The mind, along with the five sensory organs, is said to constitute the ''manomaya kosa''. The ''manomaya kosa'', or "mind-sheath" is said more truly to approximate to personhood than ''annamaya kosa'' and ''pranamaya kosha''. It is the cause of diversity, of ''I'' and ''mine''.
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedanga, Vedic scholar, Hindu philosophy, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and h ...
links it to clouds that are brought in by the wind and again driven away by the same agency. Similarly, man's bondage is caused by the mind, and liberation, too, is caused by that alone. ''Manomayakosha'' belongs to the ''Suksma sarira''. It is the "self" having ''Pranamayakosha'' as its body. The organs of knowledge and the mind form this ''kosha'' which is the cause of the sense of the "I" and of the "mine" and of the varying conceptions. It creates difference of names etc., because organs of knowledge are dependent on and determined by the mind which is of the nature of determination and doubt. It is powerful because bondage and liberation depend on the mind which producing attachment binds a person and which by creating aversion for them liberates them from that self-made bondage. It pervades the ''Pranamayakosha''. It is the sacrificial fire, the five organs are the priests who pour into this fire the oblations of sense-objects, which fire fuelled by various ''vasanas'' burns out the world created and expanded by the mind that when fouled by ''rajas'' ("projection") and ''tamas'' ("concealment") superimposes the '' samsara'' but when free of ''rajas'' and ''tamas'' can bring about the state of being established in
Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...
.


Vijñānamaya kosha

''Vijñānamaya'' means composed of ''
vijñāna ''Vijñāna'' () or ''viññāa'' ()As is standard in WP articles, the Pali term ''viññāa'' will be used when discussing the Pali literature, and the Sanskrit word ''vijñāna'' will be used when referring to either texts chronologically subse ...
'', or intellect, the faculty which discriminates, determines or
will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...
s.
Chattampi Swamikal Ayyappan Pillai (born 25 August 1853 – 5 May 1924), better known as Chattampi Swamikal was a Hindu sage and social reformer whose thoughts and work influenced the launching of many social, religious, literary and political organisations and ...
defines ''vijñānamaya'' as the combination of intellect and the five sense organs. It is the sheath composed of more intellection, associated with the organs of perception. Sankara holds that the ''
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'' ...
'', with its modifications and the organs of knowledge, form the cause of man's transmigration. This knowledge sheath, which seems to be followed by a reflection of the power of the '' cit'', is a modification of ''
prakrti Prakriti ( ) is "the original or natural form or condition of anything, original or primary substance". It is a key concept in Hinduism, formulated by the '' Samkhya'' school, where it does not refer merely to matter or nature, but includes all co ...
''. It is endowed with the function of knowledge and identifies itself with the body, organs etc. Vijnanamaya kosha also belongs to the ''Suksma sarira'' and pervades the ''Manomayakosha'' that pervades the ''Pranamayakosha'' which pervades the ''Annamayakosha''. ''Buddhi'' with its organs of knowledge and its actions having the characteristics of an agent is the ''Vigyanakosha'', the cause of ''samsara''. It has the power of reflection of the ''chaitanya'' which it accompanies as a modification of ''
Prakrti Prakriti ( ) is "the original or natural form or condition of anything, original or primary substance". It is a key concept in Hinduism, formulated by the '' Samkhya'' school, where it does not refer merely to matter or nature, but includes all co ...
'' (''avidya'') and characterised by knowledge and action and always identified with the body, organs etc. This ''kosha'' is endowed with ''jnana'' and to it belong the waking and dream states and the experiences of joy and sorrow. Being very luminous in close proximity of the ''
Paramatman ''Paramatman'' (Sanskrit: परमात्मन्, IAST: Paramātman) or ''Paramātmā'' is the absolute '' Atman'', or supreme Self, in various philosophies such as the Vedanta and Yoga schools in Hindu theology, as well as other Indian r ...
'' deluded by which ''upadhi'' it is subject to ''samsara'', this ''atman'' which is compacted of ''vigyanana'' and shining in the heart near the ''pranas'' being immutable becomes a doer and enjoyer in the midst of the ''upadhis''. Its "jivabhava-existential-character" i.e. Jivahood, persists so long as there is delusion as it is born of ''mithyajnana''. Though ''avidya'' is beginningless it is not eternal.


Anandamaya kosha

''Anandamaya'' means composed of ''ananda'', or
bliss BLISS is a system programming language developed at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) by W. A. Wulf, D. B. Russell, and A. N. Habermann around 1970. It was perhaps the best known system language until C debuted a few years later. Since then, C ...
; it is the subtlest of the five ''koshas''. In the
Upanishads The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hind ...
the sheath is known also as the ''
causal body The causal body, originally ''Karana-Sarira'', is a yogic and Vedantic concept that was adopted and modified by Theosophy and from the latter made its way into the general New Age movement and contemporary Western esotericism. It generally refers ...
''. In deep sleep, when the mind and senses cease functioning, it still stands between the finite world and the self. ''Anandamaya'', or that which is composed of supreme bliss, is regarded as the innermost of all. The bliss sheath normally has its fullest play during
deep sleep ''Deep Sleep'' is a series of point-and-click adventure games created by Polish indie developer Mateusz Sokalszczuk (also known by his online name scriptwelder). The series consists of three free browser games in which the player attempts to na ...
: while in the dreaming and wakeful states, it has only a partial manifestation. The blissful sheath (''
anandamaya kosha The Anandamaya kosha or "sheath made of bliss" ( ananda) is in Vedantic philosophy the most subtle or spiritual of the five levels of embodied self. It has been interpreted differently according to specific schools of Indian (and also Theosop ...
'') is a reflection of the Atman which is truth, beauty, bliss absolute. Anandamaya kosha is the last layer and it is the closest layer to the Atman. It is a modification of ''avidya'' and appears as a reflection of the ''atman'' compacted of absolute bliss. It is fully manifested in the dreamless deep sleep. It is not the ''atman'' because it is connected with ''upadhis'' ("limitations") and a modification of ''Prakrti'' as an effect of good deeds.


Significance

'' Ātman'' can be identified only by negation of the ''anatman''. The ''Panchkoshas'' are ''anatman'' that hide the ''atman'', these ''koshas'' or sheaths are required to be systematically removed. Their removal brings to fore a void which void is also required to be removed. After removal of the five sheaths and the resultant void through the process of negation, what remains is the ''Atman''; and then the non-existence of all the modifications beginning with the ''
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 ...
'' is self-witnessed, the self that witnesses is itself the supreme Self. These five sheaths envelop the ''atman'' or "Self". The
Vedanta ''Vedanta'' (; , ), also known as ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six orthodox (Āstika and nāstika, ''āstika'') traditions of Hindu philosophy and textual exegesis. The word ''Vedanta'' means 'conclusion of the Vedas', and encompa ...
conceives the expression of the gross universe possible by traversing through all these stages of emanation from the cloud of ''
Maya Maya may refer to: Ethnic groups * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Mayan languages, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (East Africa), a p ...
'' covering the face of
Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...
to ''Sthula bhutas'' or gross matter with all its multifarious aspect including gross energy. Badarayana, drawing attention to ’s grammar (V.iv.21), explains that the suffix ''mayat'' as in ''Annamaya'' (made of food), ''Pranamaya'' (made of vital air) etc., besides conveying the meaning "made of" has also the sense of abundance and plenitude as well
Brahma Sutra The ''Brahma Sūtras'' (), also known as the Vedanta Sūtra (Sanskrit: वेदान्त सूत्र), Shariraka Sūtra, and Bhikshu-sūtra, are a Sanskrit text which criticizes the metaphysical dualism of the influential Samkhya philos ...
I.i.13
for which reason it is repeatedly said - ''Brahman is the Blissful (Anandamaya) Self.''


See also

* Advaita Vedanta *
Chakra A chakra (; ; ) is one of the various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, part of the inner traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The concept of the chakra arose in Hinduism. B ...
*
Guna Guna may refer to: People * Guna people, Indigenous peoples of Panama and Colombia Philosophy * Guṇa, a Hindu philosophical concept * Guṇa (Jainism), a philosophical concept Places * Guna district, in Madhya Pradesh, India ** Guna, Indi ...
*
Kundalini In Hinduism, kundalini (, ) is a form of divine feminine energy (or ''Shakti'') believed to be located at the base of the spine, in the '' muladhara''. It is an important concept in Śhaiva Tantra, where it is believed to be a force or power ...
*
Mandukya Upanishad The Mandukya Upanishad (, ) is the shortest of all the Upanishads, and is assigned to Atharvaveda. It is listed as number 6 in the Muktikā canon of 108 Upanishads. It is in prose, consisting of twelve short verses, and is associated with a Ri ...
* Three bodies


References


Sources

*


External links


Swami Adiswarananda explanation of kośas



Detailed descriptions on yogamag.net

The Pancha Koshas by Swami Sivananda
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