Pranamaya Kosha (Vital Air Sheath)

Pranamaya Kosha is the Vital Air Sheath or the Bio-Energy Sheath. It is the second of the Pancha Kosha (five sheaths) and is inside Annamaya Kosha.

Pranamaya Kosha consists of five modifications of the vital air which are called Pancha Pranas (five vital airs).

The Pancha Pranas are listed below.

Prana – Breathing process consisting of inhalation and exhalation are governed by Prana.
Apana – Situated in the pelvic floor, takes care of the evacuation and removal of all waste and toxins.
Vyana – Situated in the lungs and heart, it is responsible for the blood circulation energizing every cell in the entire body.
Udana – Situated in the throat is responsible for speech, self-expression and the thoughts emerging in the mind.
Samana – Situated in the abdomen, governs the digestion and assimilation of food.

We actually refer to Pranamaya Kosha when we say “I am breathing fast”, “I am hungry”, “I am thirsty”, etc.

The five pranas described above are vital to life and the vital air is the link connecting the individual body to the outer world.

In the Vedic tradition, every time before consuming food a mantra is recited. As part of that mantra the names of all the vital airs are remembered with a reverence and thankful feeling that "I am about to start consuming the food to energise all my five vital airs". This mantra is called Parishinchami Mantra.

The breath should be deep, slow and rhythmic. Whenever we are agitated, angry or anxious, the breathing becomes shallow and fast. During such times, bringing our Consciousness to the breath and deliberately taking a few deep slow breaths helps alleviate anger, fear and anxiety.

Slow and deep breath calms the mind. According to scriptures, that is because Pranamaya Kosha along with the next two, Manomaya and Vignanamaya, all three together constitute Sukshma Sharira (subtle body) and hence these three koshas, sheaths or layers are closely connected to each other.

We never wrongly identify ourselves with Pranamaya Kosha. That means we never say "I am my breath" or "Breath is me". Thus we clearly know that "I", the Self, the Atman is not the breath.

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