Trikaya
3 bodies

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Every human has 3 bodies - the material body, the astral body and the causal body.

The concept of 3 bodies is fundamental to many of the Indian philosophical points of view (darshans). Advaita's Sharira Traayam and Buddhism's Trikaya, the 3 bodies house the 5 bodily sheaths - (the panch koshas) and finds mention in the Bhagavad Geeta as well.

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STULA SHARIRA

The gross or material body.
Housing the Anna Maya Kosha, first of the five panch koshas, the Stula Sharira is the gross material body, made of the panch bhutas, the 5 elements. This is the body most commonly identified as "you", the one we usually, and mistakenly, assume to be "me" or "I".

When Consciousness functions in our waking state, while identifying with the Stula Sharira, it is called Vishwa, The Waker.

SUKSHMA or LINGA SHARIRA

The subtle or astral body.
Home to 3 of the 5 panch koshas, namely the prana maya kosh, the mano maya kosha, and the vigynan maya kosha, the Sukshma (subtle) or Linga (astral) Sharira is the energy body. It is the energy aura captured by Kirlian photography.

When Consciousness functions in REM sleep or dream sleep states, it identifies with Sukshma or Linga Sharira, and is called Taijas, The Dreamer.

KARAANA SHARIRA

The causal body.
The Karaana Sharira houses the fifth of the panch koshas, the anand maya kosha, along with all our individual karmas. The only thing more subtle that this body is the Atma (consciousness) - an essence of Purusha, the infinite consciousness embedded within us all. The Karaana Sharira is the body that accompanies the soul across lifetimes.

When Consciousness functions in our dreamless, non REM deep sleep state, it is identifying with the Karaana Sharira, and is called Pragyna/ Prajna, The Deep Sleeper.

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