Panchakosha Theory

Understanding the filters in our experience

Pānchakōsha Theory was first described in the BrahmandaValli of Taittiriya Upanishad. It explains the nature of the individual in terms of five layers or sheaths – where the Koshas are described as the various layers through which our consciousness experiences life and the world. These layers in turn correspond the ‘three bodies’ of an individual, from the gross to the subtle level.
Annamayakosha exists at the grossest level. “Anna’ means food and this layer constitutes all physical matter, in and around us. We tend to it through our practice of āsana (physical postures) and it forms the gross body or Sthula-Sharira – the physical self of material nature.

PranamayaKosha is the pranic, energetic layer of the breath. In our practice, yogic breathing techniques or prānayama, takes effect through this layer.
ManomayaKosha is the level of the sensing mind, where connection to the five senses rests. VignamayaKosha is the level of the higher intellect eg. emotions, reasoning, creativity etc and the intuition. The meditation aspects (dharana, dhyana, samadhi) of our practice work at this level. The three layers of pranamaya, manomaya and vignamaya  together constitute the subtle body or Sukshma-Sharira.

Lastly, the innermost layer is AnandamayaKosha or level of bliss. It is regarded as the seat of our innermost nature or Self, and corresponds to the causal body or Karana-sharira – that which is the seed for the subtle and gross bodies, and contains all karmic impressions (samskāras).