Panchakosha (पञ्चकोशाः)

Panchakoshas (samskrit : पंचकोश) are discussed in the Bhriguvalli Chapter of Taittiriya Upanishad. This knowledge teaches how the atma is bound in various layers of existence, how to purify those layers and liberate oneself and finally attain the perfection of life.

What are 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.

The five layers are Annamayakosh (physical sheath), Pranamayakosha (energy or vital-air sheath), Manomayakosha (mental sheath), Vijnanamayakosha (intelligent sheath) and Anandamayakosha (blissful sheath)

The gross body or sthula sharira is the physical body. Subtle body or sukshma sharira is furthur divided into two. In the head area lives the mind and intellect and the causal body or karan sharira is in the heart area and here lives ego and chitta. Food sheath and the gross portion of vital-air sheath together constitutes the gross body. The subtle portion of vital-air sheath together constitute the gross body. The subtle portion of vital-air sheath combined with mental and intellectual sheaths form the subtle body. While the gross body is made of gross matter, the subtle body is constituted of passions, desires, emotions, feeling and thoughts. Bliss sheath is the causal body consisting of (vasanas) desires for enjoyment alone.

A human being is given an opportunity to be 'Complete'. A complete person is healthy, talented, sensitive, conscientious and grateful. Such persons fill their world with happiness. If one understands the system called the body of five layers, one can understand the way to be in harmony with the whole universe.

अन्नमय कोश || Annamayakosha

Also called the physical sheath consists of gross physical body and the senses. The five organs of perception (jnanendriyas) viz. eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin and the five organs of action (karmendriyas) viz, hands, legs, belly, genitals and rectum, are a part of it. Anna means foodgrains; hence the layer of body which is dependent and sustained on food grains is called as Annamayakosha. This layer is made of five gross material elements viz. earth, water, fire, air and ether. When food is consumed it is transformed into (rasa) plasma, liquid in which nutrients float. plasma into (rakta) blood, blood into (mamsa) muscles, muscles into (medha) fat, medha into (asthi) bones, asthi into (majja) marrow, marrow into (shukra) or the reproductive fluid. The reproductive fluid is transformed into (ojha) immunity. When this kosha is purified one becomes physically healthy.

Domain Physical health which includes weight, height, chest, sight, capacity of hearing, smelling, muscles, bones, hair, strength, bodily beauty, nourishment, etc.

Functions Food storing, attraction, reproduction and also to be the medium for the functioning of other kosha's, for example if the mind desires to enjoy a cookie, that desire is fulfilled by the body.

Favourable factors Annamayakosha can be purified by focusing on four important factors. (Satvic ahar) food, (nidra) timely sleep, (vyayam) exercise and (suchi) cleanliness. Also Yama, niyama, asanas, tapashcharya (practice of auterity) and upavas (fasting for health) purify this kosha and make one fit to perform pranayama and control the life airs.

Unfavourable factors Laziness, conflicts, addiction, malnutrition, starvation, disease, accident, unrestricted desires.

प्राणमय कोश || Pranamayakosha

The energy sheath or the layer of life force which is technically called 'pran' is a very subtle layer. This kosha is responsible for all the movements and activities. Sun is the source of energy and therefore sun and the movements of sun has an effect upon the functions of this kosha. The energy of the sun is received in the plants during photosynthesis. This energy (pran) is stored in the seeds/grains. The energy is released and used by the humans when they eat and digest these grains. This kosha is subtler than Annamayakosha and holds the gross body and subtle body (consisting mind, intelligence and false ego) together. Pranmayakosha controls the food sheath. Its physical manifestation is breath. As long as this vital principle (breath) exists in the living organisms life continues. (Pran) life airs are spread all over in the atmosphere. This pran is the source of action. Unless there is pran in the body, it is dead matter.

The subtle body stores five important things which determines the body of the next birth, the unfulfilled desires, memories, the fruits of pious activities, the fruit of impious activities and the sadhana (spiritual activities). The Annamayakosha through the senses comes in contact with the external world and the sense objects. However, only auspiciousness must enter the subtle body. The Pranmayakosha is the doorway hence it is very important rendevous of the gross and subtle body.

This kosha is the basis of all the systems in our body. 72000 nadis or astral tubes are running throughout the body. This mesh of nadis holds the gross body and the subtle body. This nadis are not nerves of the nervous system but are subtler than the subtlest of the five gross elements i.e ether.

Domain Energy levels, skills, talents

Function It holds the gross body and subtle body. All activities of the body are carried out. All systems of the body are based on Pranamayakosha.

Favorable factors Sleeping early, rising early, sports, singing, elocution but the most important of them all is pranayaam. A regular pranayama workout helps maintain this kosha in good state. Acupunture, reiki and magnetotherapy seem to be working on this kosha.

Unfavourable factors Too much or too less endeavours, fear, lamentation, uncontrolled anger, uncleanliness, indiscipline, stale humid or dry air.

मनोमय कोश || Manomayakosha

It is made of mind. It is the middle layer. Two layers are ahead and two layers are behind it. Therefore it is very important and powerful layer. It controls all the layers. Mind is the cause of elevation and also degradation. It is our worst enemy if uncontrolled and our best friend if controlled. The mind has impurities of lust, greed, pride, anger, illusion and envy. It is the seat of all the thoughts, feelings and desires.

This mental sheath is more powerful than Pranmayakosha and also controls the vital air and the food sheaths being inside the Pranmayakosha. For instance, when the mind is disturbed, the physiological functions (pranas) and the physical body are affected. But it is also governed by the two koshas superior to it. The Manomayakosha is purified by hearing spiritual knowledge. This kosha according to yogis can be kept in good discipline by Pratyahara. Many modalities of treatment like aroma, music, color, work in this kosha.

Domain Mind

Function To respond to the needs of the senses through thinking, feeling, willing in a given situation with the help of intelligence. Mind responds in two ways, (sankalp) accepting and (vikalp) rejecting

Favorable factors Success, educative exursions, friendship with scholars, mantra and shloka chanting, classical meditational music, determined ambition, obedience, humility, simplicity

Unfavourable factors Defeat, loneliness, bad company, defamation, fear of danger, family conflict, insomnia, greed, illuison, criticism, enmity, poverty, over entertainment.

विज्ञानमय कोश || Vijnanmayakosha

The Vijnanmayakosha is composed of the buddhi or intelligence. This intellectual sheath is subtler than the Manomayakosha. This kosha has the power of discrimination, reasoning, thinking, determination and it also touches the fifth layer. Intelligence processes the requests of the mind in order to make judgments and decisions. If the intelligence is strong it controls the actions of the minds and directs it towards the soul. If it is weak, it gets dominated by the mind and acts to fulfill the desires of the mind.

A yogi does self analysis and investigation and uses this kosha towards self realization. Meditation when used as a therapeutic tool works in this kosha. All sorts of reasoning, counselling and other psychotherapies also act on this kosha.

Domain Memory, foresightedness, broadmindedness, decision making, power of discrimination

Function To offer advice to mind according to time place and circumstance, considering previous experiences, lessons, analysing present options, searching new innovations etc.

Favourable factors Hankering for meditation, inquisitiveness, taste for hearing, reading, learning scriptures, philosophical discussion, perseverance, experimenting and connection with wise persons.

Unfavourable factors Being insulted or having the propensity to insult, disobedience, arrogance, fanaticism, too much strictness, suspicion, pride, over endeavour, agitation, blind faith, frog mentality, etc.

आनंदमय कोश || Anandmayakosha

The purpose of our existence in this world is found in the Anandmayakosha. It is also called as the blissful sheath. It is subtler than the Vijnanamaya kosha. It consists of the atma and paramatma. Both of them are situated transcendentally in the region of the heart. The paramatma is not affected by the fruits of the action of the atma, Karma. The individual atma when considers itself as the body, subtle or gross, it falls in the illusion and gets bound. Then it identifies itself as some 'upadhi' post (human, animal, man,woman, american, indian, engineer, doctor etc). Samadhi is that state when the Atma realizes itself and the perceives the Paramatma. This sheath deals with the false ego, which is called ahankar or chitta. The feeling of I, me and mine is generated from here.

Real bliss is achieved when the consciousness is changed from enjoying propensity to serving attitude. When there is a feeling of gratitude. When there is no envy. When there is no sense of proprietorship. When there is no eagerness to control. This is attained after the realization of God as the supreme proprietor, controller and enjoyer.

Domain Gratefulness, stability, fearlessness, peace, service, compassion, forgiveness, satisfaction and self realization.

Function To offer love and compassion to all, to remain equipoise, tolerance, sacrifice, perseverance, offering values and acting for the welfare of the society

Favorable factors Seeking love for the Absolute, association with holy teachers, selfless service to people in general with Supreme Lord in the centre.

Unfavorable factors Hypocritical disciples, praise seeking, illusion, illicit actions, deviation, boasting oneself in front of followers, offense to the holy teachers and defeat.

Significance

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.