Kosha

Koshas, from the Sanskrit word meaning sheath, is a framework in Hindu philosophy describing five concentric layers that enclose the atman, or true self. The model appears in Upanishadic and later Vedantic and yogic literature as a way to explain how human experience arises from both material and subtle aspects of consciousness. The five koshas are described from outermost to innermost as follows: Annamaya kosha is the gross physical body, nourished by food (anna). Pranamaya kosha is the vital sheath, comprised of prana or life-energy and the life-supporting breath. Manomaya kosha is the mental sheath, including the mind, senses, emotions, and desires; it processes impressions and organizes experience. Vijnanamaya kosha is the intellectual sheath, containing buddhi (higher intellect), discernment, memory, and knowledge. Anandamaya kosha is the innermost, the bliss sheath, associated with deep joy; in some traditions it is described as the causal body that may veil the Atman.

In Vedanta, the koshas are viewed as coverings rather than separate selves, and spiritual practice aims to recognize the true self beyond or within these layers. They serve as a framework for meditation, self-inquiry, and ethical living, illustrating how body, breath, mind, intellect, and bliss interrelate in the pursuit of self-realization.