PANCHKOSH : Five Layers of Human Personality

Vedanta analyzes the human personality into five layers/sheaths (koshas) or levels. This scheme is known as panca-kosha-vishleshana, i.e., ‗analysis of the five sheaths‘ and is based on the second section of the Taittiriya Upanishad. According to this theory, the fundamental Self (Atman principle), is covered by five layers or koshas (sheaths): annamayakosa(food sheath), pranamayakosa(vital airs or energy sheath), manomayakosa(mental sheath),vijnanamayakosa(intellectual sheath), and anandamayakosa(bliss sheath).