Sankara's Vivek Chudamani:: Anandamaya-kosa(Bliss-sheath)

Sankara's Vivek Chudamani:: 
Anandamaya-kosa(Bliss-sheath)(207-211)

• Anandamaya-kosa(Bliss-sheath)  isthat modification of Nescience which  is kissed  by  reflection  of the Atman,  which  is  Bliss  Absolute.Pleasure,etc.are the  attributes and  it springs  into expression  when  an  object  agreeable to  it  presents   itself.   The  fortunate feel  it spontaneously  when  the  fruits  of their  good actions  manifest.   Every being,  without the  least effort, derives great joy  from it.(207)Anandamaya-kosa is  also  a vritti(thought), a mental disturbance.These vritties  can  be said to be  bliss-thoughts (Andnada vritti). Happiness  experienced in  a man's bosom is inversely proportional to the amount  of agitation in  his mind.Sankara  says," The  ripples  of thoughts waves arising out of the    Tamas  in  our mind,kiss  the reflection   of the bliss  of infinititude.    This  is   the  characteristic of the  Anandamaya-kosa.
• Anandamaya-kosa  is fully manifest in the  deep-sleep  state.While in  the dream-state and waking states it is only  partially manifest  depending upon the sight  of the  pleasing objects  etc.(208) 
• Nor can the Anandamaya-kosa  be the supreme Self because  it  has  attributes   which are ever-changing.It is a modification  of Prakriti, is created as  the  result of good actions of the past,and it has  embedded  in the  other  sheaths which  are in themselves all modifications (209).When  the  five sheaths  have been  negated  through  reasoning  based   upon  authoritative  scriptural  texts,  then  at the acme of the  process  what  remains is  the Witness,Knowledge Absolute,the Self(210)

Ved   Prakash