Disciple: What is meant by a Kosha?
Guru: Kosha means a sheath.
Disciple: How many sheaths are there in the body?
Guru: There are five sheaths.
Disciple: Please name them.
Guru: Annamaya Kosha, Pranamaya Kosha, Manomaya Kosha, Vijnanamaya Kosha and Anandamaya Kosha are the five Koshas or sheaths.
Disciple: Kindly illustrate these sheaths.
There is the singlet
close to the body; over this there is the shirt; over the shirt there is
the waist-coat; over the waist-coat there is the coat; over the coat
there is the overcoat. Even so, the Atman is enveloped by these five
sheaths.
Disciple: How many Koshas are in the physical body?
Guru: One Kosha - Annamaya Kosha..
Disciple: How many Koshas are in the Linga-shareera or subtle body (Astral body)?
Guru: Three sheaths, viz., Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya.
Disciple: How many sheaths are in the causal body or Karana Sarira?
Guru: One sheath, viz., Anandamaya Kosha.
Disciple: How many sheaths operate during the waking state?
Guru: The five sheaths function during the waking state.
Disciple: How many sheaths function during the dream state?
Guru: Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya Kosha function during dreaming state. Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya Kosha function partially.
Disciple: How many sheaths function during deep sleep?
Guru: Only one, viz., Anandamaya Kosha.
- Guruji Swami Sivananda