Sharira Traya (The Three Bodies)

In Indian philosophy, especially in the Advaita Vedanta tradition, the human being is described as consisting of three bodies (Sharira Traya). These bodies house the Individual Soul (Jivatman) and cover the ultimate Self (Atman).

Definitions from Tattvabodha

Body	Identifier	Sanskrit Definition	Translation
Sthula Sharira (Gross Body)	Vishva	Body: स्थूलशरीरं किम् ? पञ्चीकृतपञ्चमहाभूतैः कृतं सत्कर्मजन्यं सुखदुःखादिभोगायतनं शरीरम् अस्ति जायते वर्धते विपरिणमते अपक्षीयते विनश्यतीति षड्विकारवदेतत्स्थूलशरीरम् । Identifier: स्थूल शरीराभिमानी आत्मा विश्व इत्युच्यते ।	Body: What is the gross body? It is the body made of the five great elements that have undergone quintuplication (Panchikarana), born of past good actions, and serves as the abode for the experience of pleasure, pain, and so on; this gross body is subject to the six modifications: potential existence, birth, growth, maturity, decay, and death. Identifier: The Atman identifying with the gross body is called Vishva.
Sukshma Sharira (Subtle Body)	Taijasa	Body: सूक्ष्मशरीरं किम् ? अपञ्चीकृतपञ्चमहाभूतैः कृतं सत्कर्मजन्यं सुखदुःखादिभोगसाधनं पञ्चज्ञानेन्द्रियाणि पञ्चकर्मेन्द्रियाणि पञ्चप्राणादयः मनश्चैकं बुद्धिश्चैका एवं सप्तदशाकलाभिः सह यत्तिष्ठति तत्सूक्ष्मशरीरम् । Identifier: सूक्ष्मशरीराभिमानी आत्मा तैजस इत्युच्यते ।	Body: What is the subtle body? It is composed of the five great elements which have not undergone quintuplication (apanchikrita), born of past good actions, and serves as the instrument for experiencing pleasure, pain, etc. It consists of seventeen components: the five sense organs of knowledge, the five organs of action, the five vital airs, the one mind, and the one intellect—this is the subtle body. Identifier: The Atman identifying with the subtle body is called Taijasa.
Karana Sharira (Causal Body)	Prajna	Body: कारणशरीरं किम् ? अनिर्वाच्यानाद्यविद्यारूपं शरीरद्वयस्य कारणमात्रं सत्स्वरूपाऽज्ञानं निर्विकल्पकरूपं यदस्ति तत्कारणशरीरम् । Identifier: कारणशरीराभिमानी आत्मा प्राज्ञ इत्युच्यते ।	Body: What is the causal body? It is that which is in the form of beginningless and indescribable ignorance, which is the sole cause of the other two bodies (gross and subtle), which is the ignorance of one’s own true nature, and which exists in an undifferentiated state—that is the causal body. Identifier: The Atman identifying with the causal body is called Prajna.

Mandukya Karika Verses

The relationship between the three bodies, their identifying states of consciousness (waking, dream, deep sleep), and the syllables of OM (Aum) are described in the Mandukya Karika:

Mandukya Karika 1.1

बहिष्प्रज्ञो विभुर्विश्वो ह्यन्तःप्रज्ञस्तु तैजसः ।
घनप्रज्ञस्तथा प्राज्ञ एक एव त्रिधा स्मृतः ॥ १ ॥

Translation: Viśva (experiencing the external) is the gross/all-pervading; Taijasa (experiencing the internal) is the subtle; and Prājña is a mass of consciousness (deep sleep). It is the same one Self that is thus described in three states.

Mandukya Karika 1.23

अकारो नयते विश्वमुकारश्चापि तैजसम् ।
मकारश्च पुनः प्राज्ञं नामात्रे विद्यते गतिः ॥ २३ ॥

Translation: The sound (letter) “A” leads to Viśva, “U” leads to Taijasa, and “M” leads to Prājña. In the soundless (amatra), there is no state or attainment.

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References: Hinduism, Tattvabodha, Mandukya Karika