Antahkarana

Antahkarana (literally "the internal instrument") is a concept in Indian philosophy designating the subtle psychic or mental apparatus that mediates between the spiritual soul (atma) and the external world. According to the Sankhya system and Vaishnava theology, the antahkarana is composed of four main functions: manas (the mind, which processes sensory impressions and generates thoughts), buddhi (the intellect, which discriminates and makes decisions), ahankara (the false ego, which generates identification with the body), and chitta (consciousness, which stores impressions and memories). Together, these four elements form the subtle body of the living being, which accompanies the soul through its transmigration across different bodies in the cycle of samsara. The antahkarana is the principal battlefield of spiritual life: it is here that material impressions (samskaras) and desires (vasanas) exert their influence, but also where the grace of the guru and the practice of bhakti-yoga perform their purifying work. By chanting the holy names (harinama) and meditating on Krishna's lilas, the antahkarana is gradually cleansed, allowing the light of spiritual consciousness to shine unobstructed.