Theory of Five Sheaths

The idea of knowledge being inherent in the universe is frequently mentioned in the Upanishads. Even as early as 800 BC the sage of the Upanishads had developed a holistic understanding of the universe as a multidimensional independent system. Each of the ten major Upanishads reveals some aspect of the total vision. For instance, the Taittiriya Upanishads conceives Reality as having five levels: matter (anna), life (prana), mind (manas), self awareness (vijnana), and joy, happiness (ananda).

     i)       At each level the universe is split into the individual and the cosmic. The individual division is known as microcosm and the cosmic division is known as the macrocosm. Shankara has termed each level of consciousness as kosha which means sheath. This may give the impression that the microcosm is empty. But the Upanishad states that each level of microcosm is ‘full; with consciousness. Each level of microcosm has its own function and laws. The Upanishads refers to each level of microcosm as atman or Self (not as kosha). But since the term kosha or sheath is well established, we will continue to use it.

ii) Corresponding to each kosha there is a vast space know as the macrocosm. The microcosm and the microcosm have the same structure and constituents. For instance, the physical body (annamaya kosha) is made up of the same gross elements that constitute the physical world. Similarly pranamaya kosha has all the characteristics of life that all living beings have in common. Manomaya kosha shows thinking, feeling, imagination and other characteristics which are common to all human lives.

iii) Each kosha is dependent on the corresponding level of macrocosm for its sustenance, and there is constant interaction between microcosm and macrocosm at each level. At the physical level, the body (annamaya kosha) is sustained by the food, water, oxygen etc. that come from the outer world. Similarly, the manomaya kosha interacts with other human minds through exchange of ideas, information, feelings etc.

iv) Each level of the macrocosm has its own realm of knowledge and all events are governed by its own rules and laws.

The physical level has its own realm of knowledge and is governed by physical laws; the pranic level has its own realm of knowledge and is governed by biological laws, the mental level has its own realm of knowledge and is governed by psychological laws. Modern science is now trying to understand these realms of knowledge and to bring these levels of the universe under human control.