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śramana, Vol. 55, No. 10-12 October-December 2004
Concept of Sūksma Śarira in Indian Philosophy
Dr. Saroj Sharma*
The doctrine of subtle body is available in Upanişads. In Chāndogya Upanişad subtle body is said to be made up of five vital breraths, ten sense powers and as the sixteenth parts, the mind (manas). These sixteen parts form the subtle body of jīva. The jīva on account of being reflected by this subtle body constituted of sixteen parts, is called Șodaşakalah puruṣaḥ'. According to Caraka, subtle body is the aggregate of subtle elements (tanmātras) of the earth (prthivi); water (apa), fire (teja) and air (vāyu). Ether (ākāśa) has not been included in the category of subtle body since it is all pervading in its magnitude.
Subtle body is eternal till it is liberated. The subtle body receives a new body after each birth, and each death along with self and manas. It is minute, therefore, it can not be perceived by senseorgans. It is minute but it is not atomic. It is non-eternal because it is destroyed after liberation. It is a seat of soul. It is invisible and it can be seen only by Siddha Yogīs. Under the influence of karma, it enters in the womb of any creature and takes birth accordingly. When it enters in the womb of a woman it takes shape of a human.
According to Sāmkhya the subtle body is composed of five sense organs (jñānendyiya), ego (aharnkāra), mind (manas) and five subtle elements (tanmätras). Subtle body carries all the impression of previous life. Subtle body is the basis of buddhi (intellect), ahamkāra (ego) and ātman (soul).' Vijñānabhikṣu8 and Bhavāganesa admit that it is composed of eleven senses, five subtle elements and buddhi. They do not include ahamkāra in the subtle body.
In the Sāṁkhya - Pravacana - Bhāsya it is described that the subtle body, like a little flame, pervades the whole room by its * Department of Philosophy and Religion, B.H.U.
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