पञ्च कोश; “Five sheaths”
In the last article “जीव & शरीर; Jiva, its Microcosm & body” we saw how the three bodies in a human being, correlate to the PanchaKoshas or five layers/sheaths that are manifested from Brahman. Let’s dwell into much detail about these five layers.
The Atman: आत्मन्; Atman, also referred to as Sushuptatman, Antaratman, Parmatman, Brahman or ParaBrahman, is the true self. It is pure cosmic consciousness. It is the reality or the substratum behind the manifested universe.
Anatman: The human being and all beings truly are the manifested reality of Brahman. The human being has essentially five sheaths or layers that we are made of. These layers are defined as the PanchaKoshas. By non-realisation of the true nature of the atman, the atman is mistaken as the PanchaKoshas or the three bodies we learned about. This ignorance is the basis of all suffering. This ignorance is called अविद्या; (Avidya – Ignorance, Delusion). Let’s address each of these layers, so that we can continue on the path of removing this ignorance.
अन्नमय; Annamaya: Anna means matter, annam literally means food; Taittiriya Upanishad calls food the medicament of all. The gross body, which is matter-born and matter sustained and transient and subject to perception. It is visible, dependent and impure. It is not the atman because it did not exist before its origination and ceases to exist once it is destroyed. It is subject to origination and destruction every moment.The human being is a part of the food chain as any other creature and this layer is the visible part of our Self, and because of this we erroneously identify ourselves with it.
प्राणमय; Pranamaya: The Pranamaya Kosha still exists in the physical body but pertains to the Subtle body; Sukshma sarira, it is the sheath of the vital airs completely enclosing and filling the Annamayakosha. The Prana in combination with the five organs of action constitutes the Pranamayakosha. The pranic flows are in the blood, lymphatic and nervous circulation. Breath is a life-principle and is a controllable expression.
मनोमय; Manomaya: The organs of knowledge and the अन्तःकरण; AntahKarana, The Internal Instrument, form this kosha which is the cause of the sense of the “I” and of the “mine” and of all conceptions. It governs the faculties of perception and instincts. It is the mind which is connected to the ज्ञानेन्द्रिय; Jnanedriyas and कर्मेन्द्रिय; Karmendriyas, that are the input and output to the universe.
विज्ञानमय; Vijnanamaya: बुद्धि; Buddhi with its organs of knowledge and its actions having the characteristics of an agent is the Vijnanamaya kosha. This body is responsible for inner growth, for ethics and discernment. It helps to reach beyond mundane existence into wisdom and subtle knowledge.
आनन्दमय; Anandamaya: Anandamayakosha is the modification of अविद्या; avidya; Ignorance and appears as a reflection of the atman compacted of absolute bliss, as the feeling of joy produced by the seeing, getting and enjoyment of a desired object. Anandamaya Kosha is the most subtle body and without its existence, life is impossible.
What this means: The Atman can be correctly identified, only by negation of the anatman. The Panchkoshas are anatman, that hide the atman. These koshas or sheaths are required to be systematically transcended through साधना; Sadhana; spiritual practice. This and only this will lead to attainment of uninterrupted and constant happiness by transcending the cyclic and dual nature of the material universe.