Kosha is a Sanskrit word translated as layer or sheath. It is used in yoga philosophy to describe the different layers of our being. These layers are called sheaths or veils because they cover each other, one on top of each other. Koshas are often compared to the image of a Russian nesting doll or the concentric layers of an onion. The physical body is the outermost layer and coarsest sheath of the koshas. The deeper layers include the emotional, mental, and causal bodies. At the deepest layer of one’s consciousness is the bliss sheath, which is said to contain our true nature, pure consciousness itself.

 

The koshas function is to protect, contain and support the atman, the individual soul. They help create a healthy balance among the various aspects of our personality and provide an opportunity to develop compassion and empathy. When we can clearly see, harmonize and align the layers of the koshas, we then attain the unitive state of yoga , an experience of oneness with the universe.