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| #आनन्दमयकोशः ॥ Anandamaya kosha (bliss) | | #आनन्दमयकोशः ॥ Anandamaya kosha (bliss) |
| Vedanta Darsana sees the five sheaths as distinctly different than Atman and therefore what is real (the Atman) is obfuscated by the reality that we construct for ourselves through the experiences of the five sheaths<ref name=":2">Chinmayananda, S. (2011). Kindle life: The joy of living. Mumbai, IN: Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.</ref>. Shankaracharya describes the purpose of the sheaths as “I know the different conditions of my bodies and sheaths and therefore I am different from them.”<ref>Tejomayananda, S. (2010). Tattva Bodha: Commentary by Swami Tejomayananda. Mumbai, IN: Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.</ref> In Tattvabodha, Shankaracharya, elaborates how the knowledge of Panchakosha tattvas which will bring about the discriminatory knowledge or viveka ([[Tattva-viveka Prakriyas in Vedanta (वेदान्ते तत्वविवेक-प्रक्रियाः)|tattva-viveka]]) required for understanding the Supreme Self, the Brahman. | | Vedanta Darsana sees the five sheaths as distinctly different than Atman and therefore what is real (the Atman) is obfuscated by the reality that we construct for ourselves through the experiences of the five sheaths<ref name=":2">Chinmayananda, S. (2011). Kindle life: The joy of living. Mumbai, IN: Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.</ref>. Shankaracharya describes the purpose of the sheaths as “I know the different conditions of my bodies and sheaths and therefore I am different from them.”<ref>Tejomayananda, S. (2010). Tattva Bodha: Commentary by Swami Tejomayananda. Mumbai, IN: Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.</ref> In Tattvabodha, Shankaracharya, elaborates how the knowledge of Panchakosha tattvas which will bring about the discriminatory knowledge or viveka ([[Tattva-viveka Prakriyas in Vedanta (वेदान्ते तत्वविवेक-प्रक्रियाः)|tattva-viveka]]) required for understanding the Supreme Self, the Brahman. |
− | ===पञ्चकोशविवेक-प्रयोजनम् ॥ Use of the Knowledge of Panchakoshas===
| + | ==पञ्चकोशविवेक-प्रयोजनम् ॥ Use of the Knowledge of Panchakoshas== |
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| Vidyaranya's Panchadashi spells out the prayojana or use of the knowledge of Panchakoshas summarily extending it from the Taittriya Upanishad.<blockquote>यो वेद निहितं गुहायां परमे व्योमन् । सोऽश्नुते सर्वान् कामान् सह ब्रह्मणा विपश्चितेति ॥ (Tait. Upan. 2.1.1)<ref name=":3">Taittriya Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4% Brahmananda Valli])</ref></blockquote>The knowledge which aids to explore that which is "hidden" and helps a seeker to recognize Brahman - is the chief purpose of Panchakosha-viveka. Symbolically Brahmatattva which is well "hidden" is revealed by the knowledge of Panchakoshas.<blockquote>गुहाहितं ब्रह्म यत्तत्पञ्चकोशविवेकतः । बोद्धुं शक्यं ततः कोशपञ्चकं प्रविविच्यते ॥ १॥ (Panchdashi. 3.1)<ref name=":4">Panchadashi ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%80/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_-_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0% Pariccheda 3])</ref></blockquote>It is said that by removing each layer of the Panchakoshas, the hidden Brahmatattva is revealed; thus pointing to the fact that Panchakoshas are separate (caused by Avidya or Ignorance) from what they encase, namely the seed of Brahman.<ref name=":5">Pt. Ramavatara Vidyabhaskar. ''Panchadashi by Sri.Vidyaranyamuni.'' Lahore: Hindi Bhavan Press (Pages 72-90)</ref> Further Vidyaranya elaborates on the location of each of these Koshas thus,<blockquote>देहादभ्यन्तरः प्राणः प्राणादभ्यन्तरं मनः । ततः कर्ता ततो भोक्ता गुहा सेयं परम्परा ॥ २॥ (Panchadashi. 3.2)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote>Encased within the Deha (body) is the Prana (Vital Energy), Prana encircles the Manas (Mind) and internal to the Manas is the Buddhi (intellect), and internal to Buddhi is Ananda (Bliss) and this is called as Guha.<ref name=":5" /> In this hidden cave is the Brahman who is understood by removing each of the layers of Panchakoshas. | | Vidyaranya's Panchadashi spells out the prayojana or use of the knowledge of Panchakoshas summarily extending it from the Taittriya Upanishad.<blockquote>यो वेद निहितं गुहायां परमे व्योमन् । सोऽश्नुते सर्वान् कामान् सह ब्रह्मणा विपश्चितेति ॥ (Tait. Upan. 2.1.1)<ref name=":3">Taittriya Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4% Brahmananda Valli])</ref></blockquote>The knowledge which aids to explore that which is "hidden" and helps a seeker to recognize Brahman - is the chief purpose of Panchakosha-viveka. Symbolically Brahmatattva which is well "hidden" is revealed by the knowledge of Panchakoshas.<blockquote>गुहाहितं ब्रह्म यत्तत्पञ्चकोशविवेकतः । बोद्धुं शक्यं ततः कोशपञ्चकं प्रविविच्यते ॥ १॥ (Panchdashi. 3.1)<ref name=":4">Panchadashi ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%80/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_-_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0% Pariccheda 3])</ref></blockquote>It is said that by removing each layer of the Panchakoshas, the hidden Brahmatattva is revealed; thus pointing to the fact that Panchakoshas are separate (caused by Avidya or Ignorance) from what they encase, namely the seed of Brahman.<ref name=":5">Pt. Ramavatara Vidyabhaskar. ''Panchadashi by Sri.Vidyaranyamuni.'' Lahore: Hindi Bhavan Press (Pages 72-90)</ref> Further Vidyaranya elaborates on the location of each of these Koshas thus,<blockquote>देहादभ्यन्तरः प्राणः प्राणादभ्यन्तरं मनः । ततः कर्ता ततो भोक्ता गुहा सेयं परम्परा ॥ २॥ (Panchadashi. 3.2)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote>Encased within the Deha (body) is the Prana (Vital Energy), Prana encircles the Manas (Mind) and internal to the Manas is the Buddhi (intellect), and internal to Buddhi is Ananda (Bliss) and this is called as Guha.<ref name=":5" /> In this hidden cave is the Brahman who is understood by removing each of the layers of Panchakoshas. |
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| + | When the Annamayakosha gets purified one becomes healthy. When the Pranmayakosha gets purified one becomes skillful and talented. When the Manomayakosha is purified one becomes sensitive. When the Vijnanmayakosha is purified one becomes conscientious and attains wisdom. When the Anandmayakosha is purified, the person develops gratitude. So, Panchakoshas ensures a healthy, skillful, sensitive, conscientious and grateful individual. Purification of all the five sheaths is necessary for a person's complete evolution and the ultimate union with the Divine. |
| ==Panchakoshas== | | ==Panchakoshas== |
| While most individuals seek happiness by looking outward to obtain experiences (bhoga), a person pursuing self realization (yogi) uses the body and his life time to have an inward journey. There are five sheaths or layers of our body, which are called Panchakoshas. These koshas proceed inwards from gross to subtle layers. Tattvabodha clarifies thus,<blockquote>पञ्च कोशाः के ? अन्नमयः प्राणमयः मनोमयः विज्ञानमयः आनन्दमयश्चेति ।</blockquote>The five sheaths (pancha-koshas) from gross to fine are <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">http://www.swamij.com/koshas.htm</ref> | | While most individuals seek happiness by looking outward to obtain experiences (bhoga), a person pursuing self realization (yogi) uses the body and his life time to have an inward journey. There are five sheaths or layers of our body, which are called Panchakoshas. These koshas proceed inwards from gross to subtle layers. Tattvabodha clarifies thus,<blockquote>पञ्च कोशाः के ? अन्नमयः प्राणमयः मनोमयः विज्ञानमयः आनन्दमयश्चेति ।</blockquote>The five sheaths (pancha-koshas) from gross to fine are <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">http://www.swamij.com/koshas.htm</ref> |
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| '''Unfavorable factors''' | | '''Unfavorable factors''' |
| Hypocritical disciples, praise seeking, illusion, illicit actions, deviation, boasting oneself in front of followers, offense to the holy teachers and defeat. | | Hypocritical disciples, praise seeking, illusion, illicit actions, deviation, boasting oneself in front of followers, offense to the holy teachers and defeat. |
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− | == Significance ==
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− | When the Annamayakosha gets purified one becomes healthy. When the Pranmayakosha gets purified one becomes skillful and talented. When the Manomayakosha is purified one becomes sensitive. When the Vijnanmayakosha is purified one becomes conscientious and attains wisdom. When the Anandmayakosha is purified, the person develops gratitude. So, Panchakoshas ensures a healthy, skillful, sensitive, conscientious and grateful individual. Purification of all the five sheaths is necessary for a person's complete evolution and the ultimate union with the Divine.
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| == Summary of the Panchakoshas == | | == Summary of the Panchakoshas == |