What Does
Linga Sharira Mean?
Linga sharira is the subtle body within Hinduism’s three-body philosophy. From Sanskrit, linga translates to “reason,” “characteristic” or “conclusion,” and sharira means “body.” This body is considered to contain all vital functions and keeps the physical (gross) body alive. It is believed to exist after an individual dies and operate as a medium for reincarnation.
Within a spiritual practice, yogis seek to balance the three bodies through pranayama, meditation and asana.
Yogapedia Explains Linga Sharira
In Hinduism, an individual is considered composed of three bodies: the karana sharira (causal body), linga sharira (subtle body) and karya sharira (gross body). These three bodies are connected, and a person functions best when they are in harmony with one another.
The linga sharira is made up of the pranamaya kosha (vital life breath), manomaya kosha (mind) and the vijnanamaya kosha (intellect). It includes the five organs of sense, the organs of action (genitals, anus, hands, legs and speech), the five vital breaths, as well as wisdom and intellect.
The three-body concept is an important core belief in Indian philosophy and in yoga. If these three bodies become unbalanced, it can cause negative effects such as disease and/or confusion.
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.