Sthula Sharira, or gross body, is one of the three types of
body as per Hindu teachings. The other two are Sukshma Sharira (subtle body)
and Karana Sharira (casual body).
The body is known as Sharira in Hinduism because of its
perishable nature.
It is known as Sthula because it is perceivable by the sense
organs.
The body is the complex of six tissues – hair, skin, veins,
flesh, bones and marrow.
It is made up five elements – earth, water, fire, air and
space.
The five elements emanate from prakriti, which is dominated
by Tamo guna. In the process of creation, prakriti which has attributes of
Sattva, Rajas and Tamas becomes heavily laden with Tamo Guna in response to the
desire of Ishvara to initiate creative process.
In panchakarana, each element becomes a composite mixture of
itself as well as the other four elements, which results in its grossness.
Through this process, the elements are rendered capable of producing gross
bodies of human beings, animals, insects etc.
The Sthula Sharira is divided into four categories – those born
out of sweat, those born out of egg, those born out of other bodies and those
emerging from seeds.
The different types of bodies are vehicles for enjoying the fruits
of actions (both good and bad) performed by jivas earlier.
Source - Encyclopedia of Hinduism Volume X page 134
- 135 published by India Heritage Foundation