Pañca-Kośa
पञ्चकोशपुंल्लिङ्ग (masculine) · पञ्चन् (pañcan — five) + कोश (kośa — sheath, covering)
pañca-kośa
Metaphysics
The five sheaths — apparent layers covering the ātman
Pañca-kośa are the five 'sheaths' that appear to cover the ātman: (1) annamaya-kośa (physical body), (2) prāṇamaya-kośa (vital energy), (3) manomaya-kośa (mind), (4) vijñānamaya-kośa (intellect), (5) ānandamaya-kośa (causal bliss). The Taittirīya Upaniṣad uses this analysis to lead the student layer by layer until perceiving that the ātman is beyond all kośas — it is the consciousness that illuminates them.
Using this in academic work? Get formal citation
Vishva Vidya (2026). Pañca-Kośa (पञ्चकोश). Vishva Vidya — Vedanta. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/pancha-kosha
Vishva Vidya. "Pañca-Kośa (पञ्चकोश)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026, https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/pancha-kosha.
Vishva Vidya. "Pañca-Kośa (पञ्चकोश)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/pancha-kosha.
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