Contents
What is Pancha Kosha?
Translation: Pancha – Five; Kosha- Layers/ Sheath;
Panchakosha (or panchakosa) are the five layers under which our true self (the atman) resides. These layers are not any mystical dimension but are a part of a normal human being. Dividing our whole being into five parts is a Yogic way to simplify and explain how our mind, body, energy, and emotions work (in the same way modern science has got a methodology and nomenclature to explain things).
These are often described as layers that tend to conjure a 3D image of spheres in or around your person. This isn’t completely the wrong idea but try not to get attached to that image or the word layers as English doesn’t have the exact vocabulary required to describe the concepts. Try to get a feel for the message we are putting across.
Yoga considers the ‘self’ as five different types of matter, from the gross physical to the causal. All of the layers are interconnected and interrelated, so healing on one level will have an impact on all of the others, in the same way, that harm on one level will have an impact on the others.
There are many more specifics to each category but these are the main ideas.
You are not the body, you are not even the mind. The Yogi who realized this found out that our real self (atman) soul, is covered under the five sheaths called the koshas. The real thing being said is that You are none of these five koshas but you are something beyond. Koshas means a covering, sheath, or layer; that is if you start uncovering these then you might find something else, the real self, the atman. To be able to function most efficiently you should understand that these koshas are just a tool for you to function but not you.
What are the five layers?
Here we have explained the kosha in very brief. To read the full details and understand the particular kosha and how to pierce them click on the links. The explanation also includes verses from the ancient Sanskrit manuscript Taittriya Upanishad.
Annamayakosha– Anna- food; maya- made of; kosha- sheath, layer; The food sheath or the food body.
| Form | Physical body |
| Function | Gives forms to beings |
| Composition | Five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether |
Pranamayakosha–Prana- vital energy; maya- made of; kosha- sheath, layer; The energy body or the Vital energy sheath
| Form | Prana- The vital energy |
| Function | Energetic movement between other layers |
| Composition | Five prana vayus – Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana, and Samana |
Manomayakosha– Mano- sensory mind; maya- made of; kosha- sheath, layer; The outer mind sheath
| Form | Outer mind – The senses (five sense organs and five motor organs) |
| Function | Gathering sensory data |
| Composition | Impressions from the senses (Tanmatras) |
Vijnanamayakosha– Vijnana- intellect, wisdom; vital energy; maya- made of; kosha- sheath, layer; The intellect sheath or wisdom sheath
| Form | Intelligence |
| Function | Wisdom, logic, reason, and discernment |
| Composition | Mental activities (Vrittis) |
Anandmayakosha– Ananda- bliss; maya- made of; kosha- sheath, layer; The bliss sheath or bliss body
| Form | Consciousness |
| Function | Inner bliss |
| Composition | Love, Spiritual aspiration |
Viewing the self in this way allows us to look at problems such as physical and mental illness in a different way, and approach the healing process with new insight.
How can we work on the different sheaths (kosha)?
| Annamaya kosha | Asana, Kriya, Diet, Exercise |
| Pranamaya kosha | Asana, Pranayama, Mudra |
| Manaomaya kosha | Concentration technique, pratyahara |
| Vijnanamaya kosha | Contemplation, analytical breakdown of mind tendencies (counseling) |
| Anandamaya kosha | Meditation, hypnotization |