Science Of Illness

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In the anandamaya kosha, one is in the healthiest and most harmonious state possible.

In the vigyanmaya kosha there are movements, and they are channeled in the right direction.

The yogic texts state that imbalances begin in the manomaya kosha. Desire is aroused in this kosha, and likes and dislikes come to surface. Desire begins to govern our actions, and we become misguided. Illness originates here. Agitation starts, the desire intensifies, filtering through to the ranamaya kosha, manifesting as disease in the annamaya kosha. The annamaya kosha is disrupted when the pranamaya kosha is disturbed by the manomaya kosha.

Therefore, the origin of disease is the manomaya kosha, and a remedy should be aimed at the cause, and not the effect. Any action that goes against nature is the cause of imbalance. This imbalance will be amplified, finally resulting in mental illness, called adhis.

In turn these adhis will manifest as vyadhi or disease in the physical sheath. The disease is the secondary manifestation. A simple example of this is seen when anger disturbs the breathing - the physical action can be seen.

Thus, we can understand the importance of the pancha kosha theory as a diagnostic tool in the field of yoga therapy.