The Five Sheaths of the Self: Understanding the Panchkosh
International Journal of Social Science Research July 1, 2026 Divyaraj Singh
The Panchkosh, or five-sheath model, first described in the Taittiriya Upaniṣhad, maps human existence as five concentric layers veiling the innermost self (Atman): the food sheath (physical body), vital-energy sheath, mind-and-emotions sheath, intellect-and-discernment sheath, and bliss sheath. This paper examines the doctrine alongside other Upanishadic texts and proposes correspondences with the seven chakras of tantric tradition. It shows how the framework, through the paired categories of mental affliction (Adhi) and bodily disease (Vyadhi), continues to inform yoga therapy, Ayurveda, and modern holistic health models. The aim is to recover the Panchkosh as a living tool for self-knowledge and make it understandable to students of all ages.