subtle body

noun

The second of three (or more) bodies that make up the fully embodied human in various Hindu philosophies.

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Meanings

nounsubtle body (plural subtle bodies)

plural subtle bodies

  1. Hinduismhuman sciencesThe second of three (or more) bodies that make up the fully embodied human in various Hindu philosophies.
  2. human sciencesThe embodiment of the soul or mind; part of the bodymind of the human being in syncretic, esoteric philosophy.
  3. human sciencesThose parts of the septenary, the 'seven principles of man' which constitute each human being, contrasted with the gross body, the physical human body.

Origin

Translation of सूक्ष्म शरीर (sūkṣma-śarīra) or सूक्ष्म देह (sūkṣma-deha).

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Cite this entry
APA

subtle body. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtle%20body

MLA

“subtle body.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtle%20body. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subtle body,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtle%20body.

Source: subtle body on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.