Panch kosha or 5 layers of human body
In yogic culture human body is described with 5 kosha or sheaths. These kosha are also known as five layers of existence. These 5 layers encloses the true self or Atma. These five kosha are Annamay Kosh( Food Body), Pranamaya kosh (Energy Body), Manomaya kosh ( Mental Body), Vigyanamay Kosha (Intuitive Body) and Anandmaya Kosha ( Bliss Body). Each Kosha is described below about their purpose and how they are formed.
(1) Annamaya Kosha- Food Body
The word Anna means food. This is the layer which is made up of food. the physical body of human being is the Annamaya kosha. It gives a physical form to the being
Annamaya kosha is the composition of Panch tatva. Tatva means element. These five elements are Aakash (vacuum), agini (fire), Jal (water), Prithvi (Earth) and vayu (air). Action and physical activity are the characteristics of this kosha. The physical body is the product of food. Annamaya kosha is the entry point for the rest of the koshas. But we give so much of importance to this layer that we completely forget about the subtle and deeper levels of our existence.
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(2) Pranmaya Kosha- Energy Body
The word prana means energy. So the pranmaya kosha is the layer which consists of energy. It is the source of vital energy. This energy flows in entire body of human being through Nadies. As the Annamaya kosha is related to food, same way Pranamaya kosha is related to breath.
It consists of five Pran Vayu. These are Apana Vayu, Prana Vayu, Saman Vayu, Uadan Vayu and Vyan Vayu. To balance Pranamaya kosha, as per the ashtang Yog, there are yogi practices like Aashna,Mudra and Pranayam. Pranamaya kosha provides energy for various bodily and Mental activities. It is responsible for all the movements being executed within the body.
Know aboutImportance of Pancha Prana in keeping the body intact
(3) Manomaya Kosha- Mental body
The word manomaya is derived from a Sanskrit word called 'manah'. This layer is related to mind. It consists of all the senses that are responsible for thought, feeling and emotions. All the informations and Impressions gather from the external world is accumulated in this kosha.
Manomaya kosha is responsible for various mental activities related to sense like focus, concentration, understanding and creation of thoughts. It is the store house of our feeling and emotions. This is the seat of all pleasures and pains. The three kosha discuss until here are also carried by animals but the next two kosha will differentiate a human being from an animal.
(4) Vignanmaya Kosha- Intuitive Body
The word Vigyan is derived from Sanskrit language that means special knowledge. It is the knowledge which cannot be grasped by your Five Senses but can be acquired in some other ways. The word vigyan also means wisdom. This layer of existence also deals with intuition and future visions. Sometimes we feel that there is a difference between what we think and what we feel. This conflict is because of lack of synchronisation between manomaya kosha and Vigyanamay kosha.
Intelligence is not limited to the mind but also to every individual cell. Modern science has discovered that the process of reformation is always on within the body. Every cell get replaced within a period of 11 months. So we are all new after 11 months from now. The interesting part is that our colour, basic body structure and characteristics remains unchanged. Vigyanamay kosha is the transit path between physical and non physical sheath of existence. The first three koshas i.e. Annamaya kosha, Pranamaya kosha and Manomaya kosha are physical but the Anandmaya Kosha is non physical.
(5) Anandmaya Kosha- Bliss Body
The word Anand means bliss. Anandmaya kosha is a pure non physical layer. There is no exact definition for it. It cannot be explained exactly what it is? It can only be experienced. By being in present you will access the non physical dimension of your body within. You can feel it as the inner joy.
This sheath of Body is the result of Manomaya kosh and Vigyanamay kosha. We cannot work directly upon Anand mahakosh. To work upon Anandmaya we have to start with manomaya kosha and Vigyanamaya kosha.
Summary
Panchkosh are the five layers of the body that covers the Atma. it can also be said that Atma operates through these five bodies. Each layer or kosha can be transformed through yogic practices. As you practice yogic system your five layers unfold one by one and you begin to recognise your true and real self.
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