What are the koshas?

To normal understanding, the human personality is comprised of a physical body along with all its organs and systems. There is a component of emotion, and a component of rationality. Then there is a component of interaction, behaviour and expression; call it creativity. There is also the component of ego. Just as we try to understand the human personality in these terms, Yoga has also described it in the form of koshas. In brief, although each kosha can be greatly expanded upon, there are five. “Kosha” means “sheath” or “body” – physical body, mental body, motional body, spiritual body and so forth. The first kosha described in Yoga is annamaya kosha, or the body of matter. This body of matter can be animate as well as inanimate. A building, the trees and the physical body are also annamaya kosha. One is immobile and the other is mobile; one is inanimate and the other is animate. So the concept of annamaya kosha or the body made of matter is a very vast idea. After annamaya kosha comes pranamaya kosha. That is the body of energy or stimulus. Yogis have realised that everything in the universe contains energy, and that energy is termed very generally “prana”. The prana which controls the whole universe is known as “maha prana”. It is the pranic force which maintains and supports a body.

Third comes manomaya kosha. That is the rational mind. This manomaya kosha again incorporates the various aspects of mind. The conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious; expression, behaviour and relationship are all aspects of manomaya kosha. Extreme conditions of mind such as euphoria, happiness, joy, frustration, depression and anxiety are also aspects of manomaya kosha. Fourth is vigyanamaya kosha. Vigyanamaya kosha is the sheath of wisdom, understanding and realisation. There are two aspects or levels of vigyana- muya kosha. The first and lower aspect is that of external and internal knowledge, and the second level is the understanding of samskaras and karmas. Fifth is anandamaya kosha. It means the body of bliss where the experience of spirit is taking place; where the individual personality has fused with the higher personality. So even the koshas represent an aspect of yogic psychology, because one progresses from annamaya to anandamaya kosha in the course of natural growth.

From the book “On the Wings of the Swan, Vol. 3”, pg. 16-17, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati

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Koshas

What are the koshas?

To normal understanding, the human personality is comprised of a physical body along with all its organs and systems. There is a component of emotion, and a component of rationality. Then there is a component of interaction, behaviour and expression; call it creativity. There is also the component of ego. Just as we try to understand the human personality in these terms, Yoga has also described it in the form of koshas. In brief, although each kosha can be greatly expanded upon, there are five. “Kosha" means “sheath” or “body” - physical body, mental body, motional body, spiritual body and so forth. The first kosha described in Yoga is annamaya kosha, or the body of matter. This body of matter can be animate as well as inanimate. A building, the trees and the physical body are also annamaya kosha. One is immobile and the other is mobile; one is inanimate and the other is animate. So the concept of annamaya kosha or the body made of matter is a very vast idea. After annamaya kosha comes pranamaya kosha. That is the body of energy or stimulus. Yogis have realised that everything in the universe contains energy, and that energy is termed very generally “prana”. The prana which controls the whole universe is known as “maha prana”. It is the pranic force which maintains and supports a body.

Third comes manomaya kosha. That is the rational mind. This manomaya kosha again incorporates the various aspects of mind. The conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious; expression, behaviour and relationship are all aspects of manomaya kosha. Extreme conditions of mind such as euphoria, happiness, joy, frustration, depression and anxiety are also aspects of manomaya kosha. Fourth is vigyanamaya kosha. Vigyanamaya kosha is the sheath of wisdom, understanding and realisation. There are two aspects or levels of vigyana- muya kosha. The first and lower aspect is that of external and internal knowledge, and the second level is the understanding of samskaras and karmas. Fifth is anandamaya kosha. It means the body of bliss where the experience of spirit is taking place; where the individual personality has fused with the higher personality. So even the koshas represent an aspect of yogic psychology, because one progresses from annamaya to anandamaya kosha in the course of natural growth.

From the book “On the Wings of the Swan, Vol. 3”, pg. 16-17, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati