Tattva Bodha - Post 21

Pancha koshaah ke?

Annamayah,

Pranamayah,

Manomayah,

Vignanamayah,

Anandamayah cha Iti.

What are the Five Sheaths? They are:

the Food Sheath,

the Pranic Sheath,

the Mind Sheath,

the Intellect Sheath,

and the Bliss Sheath.

Kosha Panchakam – Five Layers 

Now we will see the five-fold personality layers. This Kosha Panchakam is the division of Shareera Trayam itself in another manner. The three bodies which we discussed in Shareera Trayam, the same three bodies are divided into five layers. 

Matter-based division is Shareera Trayam. This texture-based classification is Shareera Trayam. 

But the very same three are divided into five, based on functions. Functional division is Kosha Panchakam.

The physical body is termed Annamaya Kosha. 

Kaarana Shareeram is called Anandamaya Kosha and also has not got sub-divisions. 

The middle Shareeram, the Sookshma Shareeram alone is sub-divided into three Koshas known as: 

    - Pranamaya Kosha
    - Manomaya Kosha
    - Vijnanamaya Kosha 

Food layer (Anatomical system) 

Annamaya Kosha or the Sthoola Shareeram can be termed as our anatomical system. The anatomy of the body is called Annamaya Kosha. 

The structure of the body, the organs of the physical part, the limbs of the body is called Annamaya Kosha. It is so called because it is born out of and nourished out of the essence of Annam or food. 

Energy layer (Physiological system) 

This corresponds to the physiological system. This means the functions of the anatomy. Anatomy refers to the various parts of the body. Physiology deals with the functions. So Pranamaya Kosha refers to the functions. That is why at the time of death, the Sookshma Shareeram is supposed to leave the body, which means that three Koshas leave the body. These are: 

    - Pranamaya Kosha
    - Manomaya Kosha
    - Vijnanamaya Kosha 

The Pranamaya Kosha is otherwise called Kriya Shakti and consists of ten organs. Those ten organs are:

   - Pancha Pranaha : giving energy
   - Pancha Karma Indriyani : giving the tools. 

Hence Energy + Tools = Kriya Shakti

Mind layer (Psychological function) 

Can be termed as the psychological function. All the emotions, doubts is Manomaya Kosha or psychological personality or Iccha Shakti. Kriya Shakti is preceded by Iccha Shakti because desire alone prompts a person to action. Therefore, Manomaya Kosha pushes Pranamaya Kosha into action. This psychological personality otherwise called Manomaya Kosha consists of six organs. 

The six organs include: 

- Pancha Jnana Indriyani or Five sense organs of knowledge 

-  Mind or Manaha which includes Chittam and Ahankara 

The mind sheath controls the Prana. We observe a close correlation between the functioning of the mind and the Prana. 

When we are angry, the Pranic body is thrown out of gear. The body becomes hot, eyes become bloodshot, speech starts getting into disarray. On the other hand, if we do some slow breathing exercises before meditation we find that it helps us to concentrate better. 

The emotional component of the mind has a special link with the Prana. Not only anger as seen above, but any emotion affects the Pranas first. When we weep, it is the Pranic body that is reacting to the emotion and releasing some of the emotional energy. 

Intellect layer (Knowing personality) 

It is the cognitive personality or the knowing personality. While Manomaya Kosha corresponds to emotions or Iccha Shakti, this Vijnanamaya Kosha refers to knowing personality or Jnana Shaktihi – cognitive personality or judging personality or weighing personality. 

In other words, Vijnanamaya Kosha knows, Manomaya Kosha desires and Pranamaya Kosha acts. 

This also consists of six organs which are: 

- Pancha Jnana Indriyani or Five sense organs of knowledge

- Buddhi or intellect or rational faculty. 

This sheath controls the mind. It has the power to analyse thoughts, group them, notice certain patterns in them, apply logic to them, etc. Thoughts can get classified by the intellect, not just remain a random mass. Therefore intellectual analysis can greatly relieve one of unwanted emotions and fears. 

Bliss layer (Causal body / “The Unconscious”) 

This corresponds to Kaarana Shareeram. 

In Kaarana Shareeram or in Sushupti also, you do not feel any pain. These are the five layers of the personality which are called Kosha Panchakam. 

We have witnessed the causal body in the state of deep sleep. We did not have our mind available in that state, and so there was not much information about it. Now we take a glimpse of the causal body from the waking state. 

In the waking state three shades of joy are experienced:

i) Priya – the joy that comes on seeing or just thinking of the object of pleasure. 

ii) Moda – the more intense joy of actually possessing the object or being with it. 

iii) Pramoda – the most intense joy of being one with and actually enjoying it. 

This feeling of satisfaction and pleasure comes from the Ignorance which forms the causal body. It does not enlighten us, but instead pushes us into deeper darkness. 

It gives us a false feeling of joy which we immediately associate as coming from the sense objects being enjoyed. A strong memory of this experience is left behind. This memory makes us want that object again and again. The craving for it increases. So, in effect, the joy of sense pleasure pushes us into greater darkness. 

Where does this joy really come from? We are told that the Self is the only source of bliss, that bliss is its very nature. The bliss of the Self is reflected off Ignorance during moments when our mind is stilled – as during the moment we are enjoying sense pleasure, when the mind gets concentrated. 

Due to it coming to us from ignorance, we mistakenly believe it to be the result of the sense enjoyment. This is the fraud played on us by Avidya or ignorance at the individual level. 

The Anandamaya Kosha is like muddy water compared with the crystal clear fresh water of the Self. 

Love.