three bodies and five sheaths

 

The Universe (macro) is made of three bodies.  That is Creation.  The human body is made in the image of God. 

As such the miniature Universe that is human body is also made of three bodies. They are:

1.           Causal or idea body (karana sareera)

2.           Astral or Subtle or linga body (sukshma sareera)

3.           Physical body (sthula sareera)

 All these three bodies or worlds are sub divided into five sheaths.  They are

       1.    Annamaya kosam -                  Physical world/body

       2.    Pranamaya kosam

       3.    Manomaya kosam                       Astral world/body

       4.    Vignanamaya kosam      

       5.    Anandamaya kosam             Causal/Idea world/body

Three bodies are further explained.

1. Causal or Idea Body (Karana Sareera):

Causal body is the root cause of Creation.  This comprises three gunas viz., Satwa (+ve) rajas (Neutral), and tamas (-ve).  This body is called moola agnanam (primordial ignorance), moha swaroopam (body of delusion) and hence it is called avidya kavacham and armour of ignorance.  The untainted/untreated intangible five vibratory elements i.e., ether, air, fire, water, and earth are manifested due to this armour of ignorance.  These vibratory elements are the root cause of Creation. This is Anandamaya Kosam.

2. Subtle Body or Sukshma Sareera:

Five sense organs (ear, nose, skin, tongue, and eye), five organs of action (feet, hands, mouth, phallus, and anus), five pranas (prana, apaana, vyana, samaana and udaana), four antahkarana (mind, intellect, feeling, and ego).  These nineteen elements together are called Subtle body. Subtle body comprise three sheaths or kosams. They are Vignanamaya, Manomaya and praanaMaya kosas.

3. Physical Body or Sthoola Sareera:

Initially five vibratory elements of Tamo guna (-ve) that were untreated/untainted were tainted/treated and hence become tangible.  With these tangible vibratory elements Five sense organs, five organs of action, five pranas, five tanmatras, and antah karana, total 24 principles were manifested.  This is annamaya kosa.  All these inert three bodies i.e., Causal, Subtle, and Physical bodies become sentient due to the entrance of Cosmic Consciousness. 

Subtle body is responsible for the sustenance of Physical body.  Causal body is responsible for the sustenance of Subtle body.

FIVE SHEATHS (OR) PANCH KOSAMS:

1. Annamaya Kosam:

The sheath or annamaya kosam is manifested from the tainted / treated tangible 24 principles of Physical body. That is antah karana (4), sense organs (5), action organs (5), five pranas; tanmatras (5) together form the annamaya kosa.  So, the visible world of 24 principles is called annamaya or inanimate sheath or kingdom.

2. Pranamaya Kosam:

Pancha Pranas (Prana, apana, samaana, udana and vyana).  5 organs of action (vakku, paani, paadam, paayu, upastha) (mouth, hands, feet, anus and phallus).  These 10 principles together are called Pranamaya kosa or vegetable kingdom or sheath.  These 10 principles are part and parcel of Subtle body.

3. Manomaya Kosam:

Five Sense Organs (eyes, nose, ears, skin and tongue) (Chakshu, ghraana, sravana, twak, and rasana), mind and feeling (manas and Chittam), all these seven together are called Manomaya kosa (or) animal kingdom.  These seven principles are part and parcel of Subtle body.

4. Vignanamaya Kosa:

Five sense organs ego and intellect (ahamkara or buddhi). These seven principles are called vignamayaMaya kosam.  This is the sheath of mankind.  These seven principles are part and parcel of Subtle body.  So Pranamaya, Manomaya and Vignanamaya kosams all together known as Subtle body.

5. Anandamaya kosam:

Three gunas, Satwa (+ve), rajas (neutral) and tamas (-ve), armoured with primordial ignorance, subjective to illusion/delusion is called Anandamaya kosam.  This is nothing but Causal body or karana sareeram.  This is the sheath of angels.

Levels or states

1. Conscious, Sub conscious and Super conscious are the three levels.

When God is creating He is called God in Creation. This God in Creation is called Krishna Consciousness or Christ Consciousness. This is also called suddha Satwa Maya.

2. Super Conscious Level or Sushupti Avastha.

            In deep sleep the Causal body which is the embodiment of ignorance is merged with Cosmic Consciousness is called super Consciousness.  Normal man does go through this level unconsciously or unknowingly.  But a true Yogi can attain this super-Consciousness level consciously or knowingly.  The other two bodies, Subtle and Physical are not active.

3. Sub Conscious Level or Swapna or Nidraavastha.

When Causal and Subtle bodies become sentient or activated due to the presence of Cosmic Consciousness while the Physical body becomes inactive is called sub conscious level.

4. Conscious Level or Jagrata Avastha.

          When Cosmic Consciousness enters Physical body through Causal and Subtle bodies and activates the Physical body is called conscious level.  So in conscious level all the three bodies are activated.