report to the father about his realisation. Brghu is now established in the knowledge of the final truth that Ananda is the basic stuff of this universe from which every thing has been created.

This is called Anandamaya kosa - the bliss layer of our existance. This is the most subtle aspect of our existance which is devoid of any form of emotions; a state of total silence - a state of complete harmony, and perfect health.

While, in Manomaya Kosa the creative power predominates, in Vijnanamaya Kosa it is the power to discern and descriminate. Bliss is embodied in Anandamaya Kosa, the highest stage of evolution in the manifested existence. It is the subtlest among the five layers of existence. In his journey towards the Ultimate(also the state of perfect health), man crosses these kosas of existence one by one. Through analysis called ‘Panca Kosas Viveka’ (Knowing through experience one’s five Kosas of existence) and the associated practices called ‘Tapas’ man transforms himself by gradually getting relieved from the bondages and constrictions of each Kosa. This is one of the methods of reaching the ultimate goal (Brahman - consciousness), enumerated and described in the Upanisads.

3. Yogic definition of stress

The erratic life style of excesses either in eating and drinking habits, excessive indulgences in any form of pleasures of life, work, sleep etc., begins in manomaya kosa and this is at the base of the majority of the cases of non organic causes of low back pain.Thus the seed of stress is in the manomaya Kosa.The distressful experience that we all experience as stress is an emotional state which could be triggered by different factors in different persons. The sages say that it is less useful to discuss what caused the stress than to know what is the state of your