Manomaya kosha is where one's sense of Self develops, along with the habits of thinking that influence behaviour. Manomaya kosha (the mental or psychological sheath) - referring to the aspect of the mind which governs perception of the world. Pranamaya kosha is composed of prana (life force energy) and is greatly influenced by pranayama (breathwork). Pranamaya kosha (the sheath of vital life force energy) - closely connected with annamaya kosha, this sheath is responsible for animating the physical body.

Asana practice, dietary changes and sleep quality all impact the annamaya kosha. It is believed to be the most vulnerable kosha, since issues with the physical body can manifest as imbalances in the other layers. A gradual process of moving inward through the five sheaths and resolving imbalances is believed to reveal a true understanding of the nature of the self as one with universal consciousness.ДЄnnamaya kosha (the food sheath) - the outermost kosha, referring to the physical body which needs food and nourishment to thrive. The description of pancha kosha in Taittiriya Upanishad is highly symbolic the fuller exposition as taught in the yoga tradition comes from later Vedantic texts such as SankaraвЂ™s Vivekacudamani or Vedantasara of Sadananda.Д¬entral to Vedantic philosophy, the concepts of brahman and atman had a key influence on the development of the kosha model. The classical Upanishads were concerned with addressing the nature of the self and one's relationship to the universe, and pancha kosha is thought to be one of the earliest conceptualizations of the human being. The concept of pancha kosha originated from Taittiriya Upanishad, a Vedic era Sanskrit text embedded within the Yajurveda.

Koshas in the taittiriya upanishad