The Three Bodies and The Five Koshas
Our physical body is tangible, we can see and touch it. Made of the mass of flesh and bones, our physical body gives us a sense of orientation in time and space as it dense and definable. From the perspective of yoga, however, we are not just a physical body. In fact, yoga states that we have three bodies.
The term “body” is not being used in its ordinary sense of the word. The three bodies are varying degrees of density from the gross elements to the subtle layers of our mind. Beyond the bodies resides the higher Self, which is beyond all manifestation. Thus the bodies can be thought of as encasements of our soul. Yoga aims at understanding the mystery of these bodies which serve as a bridge to the pure Self.
“The three - body, mind, and soul - are like a tripod. The whole world stands by their combination; in them everything abides. This combination exists for the sake of the Purusha or conscious being. ”
An Overview of The Three Bodies
For context, it may be helpful to use the analogy of the various forms of water. Ice represents the form of the physical body, water represents the subtle body and steam represents the seed body.
The gross or physical body is composed of the 5 elements:
earth (prithivi)
water (apas)
fire (agni)
air (vayu)
ether or space (akasha)
The stages of this body are birth, growth, change, decay, and death.
2. The subtle or astral body holds the chakras and nadis. To be more specific, it is composed of nineteen elements:
5 organs of action (karma indriyas)
5 organs of knowledge (jnana indriyas)
5 pranas
4 elements of antahkarana, or inner instruments:
mind (manas)
intellect (buddhi)
subconscious (chitta)
ego (ahamkara)
3. The causal or seed body holds all of the subtle impressions or samskaras and karmas of all the lives we have lived. As its name indicates, the causal body is the causative power of both the astral and physical bodies. The causal body is the source of our fundamental ignorance which perpetuates the cycle of our soul’s embodiment. The astral body is connected to the physical body by a thin thread. When this cord is severed the body dies. The astral and causal bodies remain together.
The Five Koshas in Relation to the Bodies
The bodies make up layers of matter which are known as the koshas. These layers are often misaligned much like an unfocused lens. We may be able to perceive the image coming in through the lens, but the image lacks clarity. When we attune our koshas we are focusing the lens of the mind to perceive and respond with clarity.
Kosha can be translated as a “sheath” or “veil” which covers or contains our higher consciousness just as a pillow case covers the pillow. Evolution from one kosha to another occurs when we evolve from being primarily physical beings expanding into spiritual beings. Through the mind and the subtle bodies, our experience is one of our individual, separate consciousness. Through this lens we experience apparent limitations. However, there is no limit which can be set on the spirit or consciousness, it is without division.
As B.K.S. Iyengar mentions in his book Light on Life, a doorway has two directions, in and out. Spirit has a similar quality, it draws us to it and yet it wants to come out to meet us. Therefore, the mind and the bodies are the active and outward part of spirit as it causes their manifestation which creates individual consciousness. The bodies and koshas are simply parts of the whole of the spirit.
By developing mindful disciplines in our everyday activities of eating, breathing, movement, mindfulness, and tuning into our higher wisdom, we cleanse and align the koshas. This alignment allows us to expand and ultimately realize the unitive state.
The Gross/Physical Body (sthula sarira)
The gross or physical body contains annamaya kosha.
Annamaya Kosha (Food Sheath or Sheath of Matter) is composed of elements of the physical world. As we become aware of the physical body, we establish a foundation in sthula sarira, which is sustained by food. Made of food, the physical body returns to the food cycle after death. Therefore, to balance this kosha, we need to fuel our body with healthy foods. Movement, including asana and exercise, mudras, clean water and air, and healing modalities are tools that will bring balance to this kosha.
In Ayurveda, the emphasis to balance this kosha is placed on diet. The element associated with this kosha is earth.
The Subtle/Astral Body (sukshma sarira)
The subtle or astral body contains pranamaya, manomaya, and vijnanamaya koshas.
Pranamaya Kosha (Vital Sheath) is composed of the five pranas or vital energies, also known as the five vayus. The pranas are sub-categories of the vital force or prana.
prana - “forward moving air” - moves inward
apana - “air that moves away” - downward and outward
samana - “balancing air” - moves from the periphery to the center
udana - “upward moving air”
vyana - “outward moving air” - moves from the center to periphery
Pranamaya kosha is the sheath which supports mental and psychic activity as well as personal consciousness. The nadis and chakras reside in this kosha. Asana, pranayama, meditation, visualization, mantras, chanting, and bodily cleansing are all methods which help to establish balance in this kosha and activate the five vayus.
Lifestyle has a profound impact on the pranamaya kosha and its pranas. Irregularities in lifestyle, dietary indiscretions, and stress all deplete and obstruct pranic flow leading an individual to feel tired and drained. Creating healthy lifestyle habits and living in moderation help to build prana.
In Ayurveda, this sheath is associated with the vata dosha and the element air.
Manomaya Kosha (Mental Sheath) is composed of:
manas: the outer mind which works with the 5 senses; thinks and doubts
chitta: the subconscious; the storehouse
jnana indriyas: the sense organs, or organs of knowledge: eyes (sight), ears (sound), nose (smell), tongue (taste) and skin (touch)
Manomaya kosha is the sheath associated with mental functioning, the nervous system, understanding, and balancing the emotions. Thinking, doubting, depression, worry, anxiety, distraction, exhilaration, delusion, and mental chatter are all the workings of the manomaya kosha. Therefore, pranayama, meditation, mantras, chanting, visualization, sensory withdrawal, yamas, niyamas, selfless service, mental health therapy, and energy-release work all help to establish balance in this kosha.
In Ayurveda, this sheath is associated with the pitta dosha and the element fire.
Vijnanamaya Kosha (Intellectual Sheath or Sheath of Knowledge/Wisdom) is composed of:
buddhi: the intellect
ahamkara: the ego
Vijnanamaya kosha is the sheath in which we make the leap from egocentricity — a sense of self that holds us in time and space — to pure consciousness. The buddhi analyzes and determines the true nature of all objects. Ahamkara is the self-asserting principle and works with the five organs of knowledge. Viveka, or discrimination, and decision-making are the workings of the intellectual sheath. The cultivation of detachment is how we harmonize this sheath. This is only possible once we have harmonized the first three sheaths. Detachment requires us to be able to observe while remaining neutral on an emotional level.
The Causal/Seed Body (karana sarira)
The causal or seed body contains anandamaya kosha.
Anandamaya Kosha (Blissful Sheath) is a state of being rather than a place. This is the state of transcending duality. Just like the acorn is the blueprint for the oak tree, we too have always held the knowledge of our own self-realization, but have not fully expanded into that knowledge. Because this sheath holds our karmic seeds, we learn what we need to work through in order to grow into our highest spiritual awareness. We harmonize this sheath through focusing on the divine, deep meditation, raising the kundalini, and Samadhi.
Why is this relevant?
The identification with our physical body and rational mind runs so deep that we have settled to live small versions of our self. Our sensory driven society has deranged our mind and senses to continually search for the next stimulation. With so much outward seeking and grasping we have lost sight of the doorway pointing inwards to our higher Self. It is as if we have a blindfold on and are lost in a dense forest becoming more and more frightened. The bodies and the koshas are like a series of doorways. As we unfold their mysteries, we uncover the key which unlocks the door to the higher Self.
When we have greater awareness of the functioning of the subtle body and the koshas which reside in it, we increase our ability to vitalize our physical body and utilize our mind in more enlightened capacity. Yoga sadhana or practice lifts the blind from our eyes bestowing the capacity to see with clarity and discernment. Ultimately, as we refine the koshas, we begin to understand the causative factors of our struggles and uncertainties and gain new meaning, direction and purpose guiding our choices. Through the bodies and the koshas, we create a threshold between our physical body to the limitless spirit. We can consciously travel inwards expanding our consciousness and travel outward offering the gifts of consciousness back to our families, communities and as an offering to the soul of the world.