Antaḥkaraṇa (Sanskrit: अन्तःकरण) is a concept inHindu philosophy, referring to the totality of the mind, including the thinking faculty, the sense of I-ness, and the discriminating faculty.Antaḥ means 'inner' andkaraṇa means 'instrument', or, 'function'. Therefore, the wordAntaḥkaraṇa can be understood as 'inner organ', 'inner functions', or, 'inner instrument'.
The antahkarana is composed of the four functions of the mind, namely themanas (the mind or lower mind),buddhi (the intellect or higher mind),chitta (memory, or, consciousness), andahamkara (ego, or, I-maker).[1]Antaḥkaraṇa has also been called the link between the middle and higher mind, the reincarnating part of the mind.[2]
In Vedāntic literature, thisantaḥkaraṇa (internal organ) is organised into four parts:[3]
There are three states ofconsciousness:[4]
Theantaḥkaraṇa is actively functioning in the first two states and dormant in the third state.
Another description says thatantaḥkaraṇa refers to the entire psychological process, including mind and emotions, are composing the mind levels, as described above, which are mentioned as a unit that functions with all parts working together as a whole.[1] Furthermore, when considering that mind levels are bodies, they are:manomayakośa – related to manas – the part of mind related to five senses, and also craving for new and pleasant sensations and emotions, whilebuddhi (intellect, intelligence, capacity to reason), is related tovijñānamayakośa – the body of consciousness, knowledge, intuition and experience.
Antahkarana can also refer to the connection (bridge) between Manas and Buddhi.