5 Sheaths of Body

                                    5 Koshas ( पंचकोश )

5 sheaths of the body

Genes only limit our physical bodies, not our mind. In ancient medicine, the body was understood to be  composed of five layers.

The 5 Sheaths (Koshas)

• Annamaya.  (अन्नमय कोष) Physical Body : The annamaya kosha is the physical sheath that composes the outer layer. ...
• Pranamaya. The pranamaya kosha is the vital energy, breath, or life force sheath. ...
• Manomaya. The manomaya kosha is contained within the annamaya and pranamaya koshas. ...
• Vijnanamaya. ...
• Anandamaya.

Annamaya kosha is also called a gross body. It is a physical sheath. Our body is composed of millions of cells, which are nourished by food.

The Pranamaya kosha is nourished by prana or energy. If prana goes our body won't function, it will be dead.

Manomaya kosha Mental sheath which is very important for Adhytma or spiritual awakening.

Vijnanamaya. kosha is a wisdom sheath .It gives us the sense of good and bad deeds.

• Anandamaya.kosha is blessed sheath. Which is very important. In the materialistic world we have lost our inner peace and happiness. We should focus on internal bliss. As as psychosomatic diseases starts from the mind.

According to the ancient yogic text,  the physical body or the Annamaya Kosha (अन्नमय कोष) 
depends on gross forms of energy (Prana)  in the form of food water and air. It is also dependent on the subtle form of energy from other Pranic body; Pranamaya kosha (प्राण मय कोष ) Manomaya kosha (मनोमय कोष), mental body,Vijanmaya kosha (विज्ञानमय कोश )  and Anandmaya kosha. (आनंदमय कोशा ) bliss body. Each subtle body gives energy  to the body beneath it. Thus the pranic body infuses energy into the physical body. The energy is divided into five main pranas: according to location and function - apana, samana, prana, adana and vyana.

 

ANNAMAYA KOSHA or Gross Body

The basic layer was called Annamaya Kosha or the layer created  from food.

. Origin of universe : This means :With the power of Primal sound OM and the supreme soul- space is created, from the space the wind, from wind the fire, from fire- the water, from water the earth, plants and food were created. Therefore all beings are constituted of food and water.

Water and air is also food.

All beings are evolved from food and production of food depends on rain.

From the five elements are born five sense organs and the five motor organs. Mind is born from the mixture of these elements. Thus there are 24 evolutes originating from nature.

PRANAMAYA KOSHA  or Pranic Body

 

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The next layer was from life force or breath. and this was called Prana mayi kosha.. Prana is a life force. According to Yoga philosophy  Pranamaya Kosha sheath is made up of five major Pranas which are collectively known as Panch Prana. They are Prana, Udana, Samana, Apana and Vyana. Pranamaya kosha governs the area between the larynx and the top of the diaphragm.

Prana

Introduction :

There are Panch Prana in our body. They carry out various functions.They are named after the regions they work and functions they carry out.This is the force that is associated with the organs of respiration, speech, the gullet, muscles and nerves that activate these organs. It is by this force that the breath is drawn inside.

Apana

Introduction :

This force is located below the navel region and provides energy to the large intestine, kidneys, anus and the genitals.This force is concerned with the expulsion of waste from the body.

Samana 

Introduction :

Samana is one of the five Vayus which helped digestion. Samana mudra carries the activity of digestion. Samana is located between the heart and navel. It activates and controls the digestive system the liver, intestine, pancreas and stomach and there secretions. Samana also activates the heart and circulatory system and is responsible for the assimilation of nutrients.

Udana

Introduction :

This force is associated with the area of the body  above the neck.It activates the sensory receptors such as eyes, nose, ears etc. The main function is to activate thought and consciousness. This force also activates limbs, their muscles, ligaments and their nerves and joints and helps an erect posture.

The wind - Udana Vayu is the great force that carries out the functions of mind, brain and limbs. The region Udana helps the  functions of Vishudhi Chakra which is situated in the throat pit. Udana mudra activates the functions of Udana Vayu.

Vyana

Introduction :

This force pervades the whole body. It regulates all movements, co-ordinates other Pranas and acts as reserve force for them. Vyana is the main cause of blood circulation throughout the body.

Upa Pranas

Along with these 5 major Pranas, there are 5 minor Pranas known as Upa Pranas. They are :

1. Naga : Belching and hiccups.
2. Koorma : Opens the eyes and stimulates blinking.
3. Krikara : Generates hunger, thirst,sneezing and coughing.
4. Devdatta : Induces sleep and yawning.
5. Dhananjaya : Lingers immediately after death and responsible for the decomposition of the body.

The key to health and well-being is to keep our Pranas in harmony. When one Prana becomes imbalanced the others tend to become imbalanced. as well because they are all linked together. The practice of mudras  aids in creating balance among the Pranas. Mantras also purify our body and mind Therefore recitation of mantras  while performing the mudras become very important.

Before any Japa, meditation or worship, mudras are practiced because mudras remove the impurities of the mind like fickleness and lethargy. Mudras activates blood circulation and transmission of energy through the nerves.They balance the five elements, five Pranas and three doshas by, replacing one element with another and increasing or decreasing the proportion of an element within the human body.

Prana Mudra

                        "Mudra practice establish a direct link between the five sheaths."

Chakra Mudra

                         

Lord Vishnu is adorn with Shankha Chakra, Gada and Padma,. The Sudarshan Chakra is a powerful weapon in the hands of Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. Both of them hold it in  the right hand.. Chakra mudra is performed during worship and praying for success in any endeavor.

Formation : Place the right palm on the left palm in such a manner that the index finger of the right hand is placed on the thumb of the left hand and small finger of the right hand is placed on the index finger of the left hand. Now press the palm against each other.

Effect:

The index finger Vayu of the right hand is paced on the thumb, Agni of the left hand.The small finger, Jala, is touching the index finger of the left hand. So , elements Agni, Vayu and Jala become powerful and spread their energy vibrations. Pressing the palm against each other activate the pressure point of the  heart, kidney, thyroid gland and lungs.

Benefits:

• The seven chakras get energy and the heart, lungs, pancreas, thyroid and kidney functions powerfully.
• The aura around the body increases.
• Placing the thumb Agni on wrist  on the wrist sends sends energy to radial, ulna and median nerve and the hand becomes powerful.
• This mudra may be done for 15 minutes a day to increase aura make the body more powerful.

Surabhi Mudra

Kamadhenu is the divine cow who dwells in heaven and grants all our wishes. Surabhi is the daughter of the divine  cow Kamadhenu. Like the mother she also grants our prayers and she secretes nectar from her udders. This mudra represents  the four udders of Surabhi.

Formation :

Form Namaste and keep the thumbs apart. Join the tips of index fingers and middle fingers which are opposite to each other then join little finger with the ring finger tips which are opposite to each other. The mudra formed looks like the udders of the cow.This is Surabhi mudra.

Effect :

Thumbs kept apart help reduce the fire. The joining of tips of middle and index fingers and joining of the tips of  ring fingers and little fingers remove the problems of bile and gout.and rheumatism.As the eight fingers come together  they activate a number of nerve centers and glands especially Adrenaline, Pituitary and Pineal. 

Benefits :

• All glands Adrenaline, Pituitary,, Pineal and thyroid functions better.
• The three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha get balanced.
• Acidity is cured immediately.
• .With Gayitri Japa, this mudra improves the 'Aura' of the body.

MANOMAYA KOSHA

The third was from the mind emotion nexus and was the Manomayi kosha.. This layer was seen as the total of all  our tendencies and set behaviors - the way we react to a situation. and relate to the outside world. Our basic tendency to fear, anxiety, courage, truthfulness, attitude to life,

VIGYANAMAYA KOSHA

hf Then comes the Gyanamayi Kosha or the wisdom layer., which carries past life wisdom too. The Gyanamayi Kosha is our internal guru, also called the inner voice.  The layer gives us the truth. The battle in between our outer mind  and inner truth.  Most people are aware of their inner truth, though they may choose to ignore it. Our inner guru  holds the potential to transform all outer layers if we intend truthfully and consistently( which is different from passionately).  To follow what it says (Passion gives outer successes and single mind intention gives inner success.

ANANDMAYA KOSHA

hf The final layer is the Aanandmayi Kosha. or the layer of bliss., which is the energy layer closest to the heavens. or cosmic light and truth.. 

Our thought process  happens at many layers. ranging from a reflexive to the intuitive.. Reflexive actions are those  emanating from the unconscious levels or the level at which  our way of working is so set  that we do not have to think  before acting. (For example some people if confronted  with dangers will run to save their  lives. , while few will try to save others., such reactions are reflex actions from our past conditioning.. 

We are constantly evolving internally and externally. We can change.

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