The terms Pancha Koshas arise from Sanskrit, pancha meaning five and koshas implies bodies. Pancha koshas is presented in Taittiriya Upanishad of Yajur Veda, Vedantic literature by Adi Shankara, and other scriptures. These various bodies or sheaths offer different degrees of awareness and also make different levels of experience possible. We generally identify ourselves with the Physical Body alone. However, other sheaths that are invisible to the naked eye interpenetrate and extend beyond the Physical Body. The more subtler bodies encompass the less subtler and grosser bodies.
The five bodies or vehicles are:
1. Annamaya Kosha (the Physical Body) –
It literally means the food sheath. Exercises, diet and sleep are very important to maintain this body.
2. Pranamaya Kosha (the Etheric Body or Energy Body) –
This body is so closely knit with the Physical Body, that it is also known as the Etheric Double. The word “Double” denotes…
