Pancha Kosha Theory of Personality

Abstract

There exist numerous personality theories. Most of the popular and accepted theories of personality have been developed in the West. But the concepts of personality developed in the Upanishads are full proved and have an intrinsic method to achieve happiness and harmony in life with a higher level of personality. Human personality is a combination of physical/ mental and spiritual dimensions. In the East personality is envisaged as a combination of trigunas (tamas, rajas and satva) which can be referred as the Triguna personality theory. The Taittiriya Upanishad describes human being to be having a five sheaths personality (Pancha Kosha) comprising of the material or gross body (Anamaya Kosha), the vital or instinctual component (Pranamaya Kosha), the mental or psychological component (Manomaya Kosha), the intellectual component (Vigyanmaya Kosha), and the fifth aspect of pure bliss and happiness (Anandmaya Kosha). The Triguna theory of personality has been researched by both the Western and Eastern researchers.  But there is a lack of empirical research and development of instruments for Pancha Kosha personality theory. Since the theories are to be culture specific so the Eastern idea of Pancha Kosha should be given proper importance by the researchers of the East and West.