Yoga is more than breathing exercises and postures; it’s a vast spiritual science that explores existence. According to the ancient study of yoga, a human being has three bodies.
1. Sthula Sharira (Gross Body)
2. Sukshma Sharira (Subtle Body)
3. Karana Sharira (Causal Body)
All three bodies are interrelated.
1. Gross Body (Sthula Sharira)
- Sthula Sharira is the yogic name for the physical or gross body.
- It comprises five Jnanendriyas or sense organs and five Karmendriyas or the organs of action.
- The five sense organs or Jnanendriyas are the ears, skin, eyes, tongue, and nose.
- Five Karmendryas or the organs of action are the vocal cords, hands, feet, excretory, and reproductive systems.
- The physical or gross body is made up of Panchamahabhutas, i.e. Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and Ether.
- The physical body undergoes six-fold changes—Birth-Exist-Grow-Body mature-Body decay-Death.
2. Subtle Body (Sukshma Sharira)
- Other names are linga sharira or Astral body.
- The subtle body is your Astral body and has the yogic name Linga or Sukshma Sharira.
- It comprises the body of the mind and the vital energies that keep the physical body alive.
- It is 1.5 times bigger than the gross body.
- It is made up of manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Ahamkara (ego), prana (vital force)
- The subtle body grows bigger whenever you do Charity, Yoga, Pranayama, Asana, Good food, and sleep on time.
- This body survives after the death of the gross body to carry the karmic imprints.
3. Causal Body (Karana Sharira)
- The yogic name for the causal body is Karana Sharira.
- It is beyond the mind and consciousness, and can only be experienced through deep introspection using meditation as an instrument.
- This body is the doorway to the higher consciousness. It is associated with the state of dreamless sleep and samadhi.
- It links individual consciousness with the collective consciousness.
- It is 1000 times subtler and finer than the subtle body.
- It controls the formation and growth of the other two bodies.
You feel soaked in bliss when the subtle body expands beyond its normal limits. When the subtle body merges with the causal body, you get liberated or you attain moksha or enlightenment.
Understanding suicide with the subtle and gross body
When the subtle body or Sukshma Sharira becomes smaller than the gross body or Sthula Sharira, a person starts feeling miserable and restless. It is the major reason a person loses mental balance and the biggest reason why a person kills oneself.
For example, if a person has an XXL t-shirt size, and that t-shirt becomes an XX size. The person will feel trapped in the t-shirt. This is the root cause of people feeling trapped in their bodies and wanting a way out, desperately, with suicide.
Exercise, yoga, meditation, jogging outside, travelling, dancing under the stars or sun, charity, and all the activities bringing positivity increase the size of the subtle or astral body. That’s why these activities take you from sadness to joy. Increasing the size of the astral body or the linga sharira is the remedy to prevent suicide.
Understanding the three bodies further with an example
We can equate the three bodies with containers.
Visible container- Gross body.
Experimental Container- Subtle body which is not to be seen but meant to be felt.
Existential container- Causal body, which is also the cause of our effects.
States of consciousness and three bodies
Each body relates to a specific state of consciousness.
| Body | State of Consciousness | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Gross (Sthula) | Waking (Jagrat) | Physical world |
| Subtle (Sukshma) | Dream (Svapna) | Mental imagery, dreams |
| Causal (Karana) | Deep Sleep (Sushupti) | No thoughts, pure bliss |
Ways to cleanse the three bodies of existence
Below are the ways to cleanse and strengthen all three bodies.
1. Do Yoga Asanas properly every day.
2. Proper nutrition
3. Pranayama and Meditation
4. Positive thinking
5. Selfless work and charity
6. Truthfulness and contentment
7. Self-realisation
Conclusion
Understanding the wisdom of the three bodies will help a person attain self-realisation. It helps you to realise that you are more than just a physical body. It also helps to understand reincarnation and go deeper into meditation.
Finally, Yoga’s triune brain power is associated with the concepts of mind (left brain), body (central brain) and spirit (right brain). Physical and mental harmony is related to universal harmony; hence, the disposition of yogis towards mysticism.[1]
Reference
[1] Garcia P. Yoga’s Triadic Foundation. Open J Soc Sci. 2020;8(7):1-21. Available from: Link to Study. <Go to Citation>
