Five Sheaths

The five koshas represent progressive layers of the mind extending outward from the physical body. Annamaya kosha, the sheath of food, is the physical body itself. Pranamaya kosha, the sheath of prana, is the electromagnetic or etheric body extending six centimeters from the skin, becoming fainter as it extends and merging into universal space after about two feet.

Manomaya kosha, the mental body, begins approximately one-and-a-half feet from the body and relates to manas — the sensory and emotional mind. The combination of pranamaya and manomaya koshas together forms what is called the astral body, relating to a person's emotional nature. Vijnanamaya kosha, the intellect sheath, lies approximately three feet from the body and is termed the causal body. Between manomaya and vijnanamaya lies the jnanamaya kosha, the sheath of knowledge, often incorporated into vijnanamaya kosha.

Anandamaya kosha, the bliss body, extends about three-and-a-half feet from the physical skin. These koshas from anna to ananda are vibrations of the mind, and the mind operates through them via a central canal connecting the individual mind to the universal mind.