[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c7.1536 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.1536 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c7.1536 - **Language:** English ### [c7.1536](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.1536) 'From this Ātman came into existence ether possessing the qualities of sound. From ether air, possessing the qualities of sound and touch, came into existence. Fire with the qualities of sound, touch and colour came into being. From water earth with the qualities of sound, touch, colour, taste and smell came into existence. Vegetation grew from earth, and from vegetation food, from food semen, and from semen Pūruṣa came into existence. The materialized form of aparabrahman is the body. Its subtle form is the soul. Jīvātman or the individual soul is the subtle form of soul dwelling in the materialized form of the aparabrahman. This soul sits in the miniature lotus of heart in the miniature ether. The body which is made of the five elements is the dwelling place of this Jīvātmā. The individual life exists in every living being. The body originated from food is the outer covering of the Jīvātmā. This materialized body is also called Annamayakośa (the cask of food). Inside this annamayakośa there is the Prāṇamayakośa (the chest of the life breaths). It is stated in the Taittirīyopaniṣad that this Prāṇamayakośa is separate from and existing inside the annamayakośa. The Prāṇamayakośa which exists inside the annamayakośa has the shape of man. The life breath which appears as the inhaling and exhaling breath is the head of the Prāṇamayakośa. The life breath Vyāna is the right wing and Apāna is the left wing, ether its soul and Pṛthvi (the earth) its tail.² Inside the Prāṇamayakośa, there exists the Manomayakośa (the chest of mind), but it fills the entire interior of the Prāṇamayakośa. The Vijñānamayakośa (the chest of knowledge or understanding) exists inside the Manomayakośa. The Jīvātmā or the individual life dwells inside this Vijñānamayakośa and pervades the entire body. It is by the activity of Vijñānamayakośa that the Jīvātmā feels its individuality. Inside the Vijñānamayakośa there exists a fifth kośa (chest) called the Ānandamayakośa, which is the immediate covering of Jīvātmā, and which has no sense of individuality. The three Kośas, Ānandakośa, Vijñāna-kośa and Prāṇamayakośa together is called Sūkṣmaśarīra (the subtle body). It must be remembered that Sūkṣmaśarīra is different from Susūkṣmaśarīra (the minute subtle body). - [Previous: c7.1535](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.1535) - [Next: c7.1537](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.1537) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.1536](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c7.1536) · Pramāṇa