Kośa

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Kośa (Skt., ‘covering’). The five coverings of the ātman in Hinduism—see e.g. Taittirīya Upaniṣad: (i) the outer and furthest from ātman, annamaya-kośa, the material covering of food; (ii) prānamaya-kośa, the vital covering, manifest as breath; (iii) manomaya-kośa, the mental covering; (iv) vijñanamaya-kośa, the intelligence covering; (v) ānandamaya-kośa, the bliss covering, where the human is closest to ātman.

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