Yoga explains the nature of human beings in terms of energy at different levels if subtlety. These 5 levels are called the Pancha Koshas.
The pranamaya kosha, or vital energy body, interpenetrates the physical body but is much larger. When you feel energy expanding into your heart or head during meditation or asana practice, or when waves of heat ripple through your body, you are in contact with the vital energy body. Feeling energized, sleepy, dull, restless, or calm are all. Pancha Kosha Yoga, also referred to as Pancha Kosha Meditation, is a style of yoga that was developed in the year 20070 The Pancha Koshas are commonly referred to, as the five hierarchal levels of energy in the bodyd Pancha kosha yoga is a certain discipline or a method of Yoga, which is based on the ancient texts of Indian philosophyh The word. The Vedic Sciences. Before we talk about yoga, breathing, and meditation individually, let’s examine the common goal of all the Vedic sciences. These three techniques were all used as part of Ayurveda, which was the Vedic system of health designed to purify the body in order to enhance self awareness and lay the foundation for deep and profound transformational changes in one’s life. “Pancha” means 5 and “kosha” means bodies or vehicles of consciousness. This figure provides you with a visual representation for clear understanding: The yogis are telling us that the human being has 5 bodies, which out of these 5 we are familiar with the physical body. Thirdly, you can purify the Manomaya kosha through meditation, positive thinking, proper behavior, karma yoga (selfless service), bhakti yoga (devotion), yamas and niyamas (yogic ethics). The Manomaya kosha is the mind, emotions and the senses, and in it you also have the subconscious. Dhyana – Meditation. Connects us with a Reality beyond thoughts and emotions.
These 5 levels / bodies are all part of the same continuous energy field. Light sources emit light at different frequencies and we see these different frequencies as different colours. In the same way, the koshas are all part of the same energy field, but at different vibrational levels. They are the same, they are a whole, but they are also distinct.
The concept of the Koshas may sound abstract and esoteric, but it is important to remember that this concept describes aspects of our being and that we CAN experience them. In our Yoga practice, and in meditation in particular, we quieten the mind and thereby eliminate things that distract us from knowing ourselves better.
It can be a simple thing to understand and experience the Koshas, we just need to be quiet and pay attention!
Anna-maya Kosha
Prana-maya Kosha
Mana-maya Kosha
Vigyana-maya Kosha
Ananda-maya Kosha
Anna-maya Kosha : The physical body
‘Anna’ means food, so this is literally the ‘food body’. This is energy in its most obvious, solid state. The Anna-maya kosha can be maintained by a healthy lifestyle and hatha yoga practice.
Prana-maya Kosha : The energy body
The pranic body is more subtle than the physical body which it pervades and supports. It is prana which sustains life. Breathing has a direct influence on the Prana-maya kosha. Pranayama (yogic breathing) improves the health & functioning of the energy body and makes us more sensitive to it.
Mana-maya Kosha : The mind / mental body
This is the level of the ‘individual mind’. Our attitudes, emotions, personality, desire, nature, strengths & weaknesses, patterns of thought are all aspects of Mana-maya Kosha. This is sometimes called chattering mind
Pancha Kosha Meditation
Through Meditation and other practices we can bring balance and equilibrium to the mind.
An agitated mind gets in the way of our understanding of ourselves. By witnessing and observing the activity of the mind we learn to understand it better; gradually the mind becomes more balanced, lucid and clear.
Vigyana-maya Kosha : The intuitive / higher mental body
This is a more subtle, ‘higher’ aspect of the mind which opens up insight and understanding. Witnessing, or observing our thoughts and feelings, our experiences is part of this Kosha.
Vigyana-maya Kosha is beyond the limitations of our personality and leads to an awareness of our true, underlying nature.
At this level we are united. The harmony and clarity we all experience when we connect with a higher level of mind is common to us all.
Ananda-maya Kosha : The blissful body
The 5 Koshas
This is the purity and perfection at the centre of our being. We can access Ananda-maya Kosha in meditation and thereby catch a glimpse of the joy and bliss of pure Awareness.
“Knowing and experiencing Anandamaya Kosha gives meaning to our life and to existence” (Swami Nishchalananda).