Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.167

c16.167

¹ These Yoga stages of *Samādhi* may be compared with the *Koshas* of the Upanishads. The doctrine of *Koshas* is mentioned in the *Taittirīya* Upanishad [ii, 1–5], according to which there are five *Koshas* or "sheaths" enfolding the soul. The outermost *Kosha* is called *Annamaya* signifying the body or physical covering of the *Jīva* and the natural aspect of individual existence. Next comes the *Prāṇamaya Kosha* representing the vital or organic side of an individual's existence. Then come the higher levels of life, the conscious (*Manomaya*), and the self-consciousness (*Vijñānamaya*), crowned by the *Ānandamaya Kosha* marked by bliss, and peace, and *rasa*. *Brahma* Itself is described as "*Raso vai sah*" [ib., ii, 7]. The body, *prāṇa*, and *Manas* may be thus taken to constitute a sort of 'empirical home' for the soul. Only conscious activity is taken over by *Manas*. It may also be noted that the Upanishads anticipate the Sāṁkhya-yogic terms *vijñāna* or *ahaṁkāra* [cf. *Bṛi. Upa.*, i, 5, 3].