PAṀCA KOŚAS AND THE GAṆAPATI -ANNAMAYA KOŚA, AND ITS ROLE IN MANAGING HEALTH AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HIV/AIDS

Paṁca kośas are the sum and substance of a being. Annamaya kośa is the grossest of the paṁca kośas. This paper deals with the annamaya kośa, and the message of the purāṇik character Gaṇapati in managing health and the immune system with special reference to HIV/AIDS. The paper starts with explaining the need for knowledge and explaining why the purāṇik stories were required and what they aimed at. Keeping in mind that purāṇik characters are symbolism of some concept, the paper explores the connection between Gaṇapati and the food, which is the maker of annamaya kośa. In the later part the paper, with the help of several references the paper explains the significance of food (nutrition) in managing, health and the immune system with special reference to HIV/AIDS.