Dr. N.L. Kachhara
How the subtle bodies and the gross body are physically connected to each other? Without any connection, they are not likely to hold together. According to the text Gommatasara (Karmakanda), the body (sarira) form-producing karma has the following types of bonds:
1. Gross-gross body bond, meaning that parts of the gross body bond together.
2. Gross-fiery body bond, meaning that these two bodies bond together.
3. Gross-karma body bond, meaning that these two bodies bond together.
4. Gross-fiery-karma body bond, meaning that these three bodies bond together.
Similarly, there is bonding between parts of the fiery body and between the fiery and karma bodies.
The karma and tejas bodies are made up of karman vargana and tejas vargana, respectively, and are of an electric nature or have some kind of static electric field. These two bodies therefore probably have an affinity or some kind of electrical attraction. A third unit of the conscious mind (dravyamanah), which is made of manovargana, comes into existence in five-sense beings. This vargana is of a similar kind, so the three units mix together to form a subtle composite structure. The three kinds of varganas perform different functions according to their specific properties but are not different spatially: they occupy the same space as the gross body and the soul. The working of the conscious mind is different from that of the other two subtle bodies since it is dependent on the structure of the gross body. The mind works in conjunction with the brain and the nervous system, and in the absence or malfunctioning of this system the mind, in spite of having the potential power, cannot deliver the requested output. This is not the case with the karma and tejas bodies, as these are unaffected by the structure of the gross body.
Besides having mutual connections, these three units are also connected to the gross body. In the beginning of the lifecycle, the tejas body is the first to make contact with the fertilized egg that is, the fertilized egg is infused with the prana energy of the tejas body because of the ayush karma of the soul taking birth. The naama karma then decides the structure and further growth of the body. All of the karmas are supposed to be transferred to the gene structure of the egg cell by the process called paryapti. The subtle energy of the tejas body, prana, is the essential ingredient for the structure and functioning of the gross body and there is intimate connection between the tejas and gross bodies. Prana flows to the gross body and it is distributed to other parts through prana channels known as nadis. In this manner, the gross body is energized for it to function. The karma body, on the other hand, is intimately connected to the soul but is also linked to the tejas body. Thus, the soul has a primary connection with the karma body and a secondary connection with the tejas body. The karma body is connected to the gross body through the tejas body and also through the conscious mind.
The conscious mind is a derivative of ghatin karma and it functions in conjunction with the brain and the nervous system. So, the conscious mind is intimately connected to the gross body on one hand and to the karma body on the other hand. Thus, the tejas body, conscious mind and gross body are connected to the karma body in various ways. The connection of the soul to these three units is made through the karma body.
There are two ways in which the tejas body establishes connections with the developed gross body. One way, through prana energy, was described above. The other way develops due to electrical activity in the gross body. The gross body has centers of intense electrical activity like the brain, nervous system, endocrine glands, joints, extremities like fingers and toes, and other centers recognized in the acupressure and acupuncture systems. These centers induce high electrical activity in the tejas body, leading to the formation of local vortices in the tejas body, which are called chakras in the yoga system. These chakras become channels of prana energy transfer between the tejas body and the gross body; they also provide additional coupling between the two bodies. The major chakras are located in the brain and on the spinal cord, matching the position of the endocrine glands. The rate of energy transfer in these channels is a function of the prana potential that can be increased by pranayama techniques. The conscious mind becomes a catalyst in this activity; by focusing attention on a particular center, the rate of energy transfer at that center can be increased manifold. The increased rate of energy transfer enhances metabolic activity, improves the health of the gross body and enables the various body systems to function efficiently. The location of chakras shift in space as the body grows and develops. At the time of conception, no chakras exist; the chakras only come into existence as the body parts are formed. The enhanced potential and increased activity in the tejas body also influences the karma body, which undergoes transformation and ultimately affects the soul. Vortex formation in the tejas body may also extend to the karma body and the conscious mind because of their spatial relationship, resulting in a kind of coupling between these units. All units of the system are therefore interconnected and mutually influence each other. The activities of the gross body, tejas body (prana) and conscious mind all influence the soul in some way. For example, it can be seen that in meditation practice, focusing attention on the chakras and pranayama practices are potent means of influencing the karma body.
The living being is a coherent system: all of its component units (the soul, the subtle body, comprising the karma body and the tejas body, and the gross body) work in unison and in a coordinated way. Any activity of the system has component activities in the three units simultaneously and the three component activities together constitute the system activity or the life event. The three units need energy for action and have individual, but interconnected, energy sources. The soul is its own energy source; it has virya property without which no activity in the soul can take place. The fiery body is the energy source for the subtle unit. The fuel for energy in the fiery body is tejas vargana, which flows in from the cosmos. The energy source in the gross body is oxygen inhaled by the respiratory system, which is stimulated by the prana energy of the fiery body. The oxygen is carried to all parts of the body by the circulating blood. Oxygen generates energy in the cells through metabolic processes. Thus virya, tejas vargana (prana) and oxygen (pranvayu) are all essential for the life of mobile beings. The system of immobile beings is of a different kind that does not require oxygen to live.
At the time of death, ayusya karma is completely eliminated and the connection between the tejas and gross bodies is snapped. The brain stops working and loses connection with the conscious mind. The connection between the conscious mind and the tejas body is also snapped, as this needs a working brain. When the soul leaves the body, the conscious mind does not accompany it; only the karma and tejas bodies transfer to the new gross body. For this reason, conscious memories are not carried forward into the new life, but the information in the karma body, the unconscious mind, is carried forward. In the absence of the gross body the chakras do not exist; these are formed again in the new body according to its structure.
It is interesting to know what happens when the soul transfers from one body to another in its lifetime, a feat that can be performed by some yogis. In this case, the ayusya karma is in balance and the connection between the brain and the conscious mind is not snapped. Therefore, the conscious mind is also transferred to the new body along with the karma and tejas bodies. How the conscious mind works in the new body depends on its structure. Suppose a human soul transfers to a dead human body: a proper brain structure is available. The tejas and karma bodies are connected to the new gross body and the conscious mind functions according to the existing brain structure. On the other hand, if a human soul transfers to an animal body, say a (dead) lion, the karma and tejas bodies are connected to the new gross body as before, but the conscious mind suffers the limitations of the brain structure available in the lion's body. Although the soul continues to feel the existence of its human form through the conscious mind, the functioning of the mind is impaired. The soul now thinks as a human being (i.e. purely mental activity) but can only perform the activities of a lion as compatible with the available body and brain structure. The behavior of this lion will of course be different from other lions and will have many behavioral characteristics of human beings.
This is only a broad analysis of the possible connections among the bodies. A great deal more thinking and research is required to explore the wonders of the body system scientifically.
