A healthy mind has a healthy Body”. The mental health of the
individual plays a significant role in the well being of a person. WHO
also defines health as ‘physical, mental and social well being.’
During the past two decades interest and research in the field of
mental health and mental disorders have grown rapidly. A recent
study conducted by WHO has predicted that in terms of disease
burden; by the year 2020 (that is in the next seventeen years)
depressive illness will become the no.2 disease in the world
overriding diabetes, cancer, arthritis etc.
Depressive disease is universal and has been prevalent in the
society since time immemorial. Its clinical features were described
in ancient Indian literature by Sudarka, a renowed playwright of the
2nd century B.C.It figured prominently in the sacred writings of
India, its mythological literature, including the twin epics, the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata, Arjun was
afflicted with the illness. He says, “ Mind is very restless, forceful
and strong, O Krishna, Krishana it is more difficult to control the
mind than to wind.”
Mind is the cause for both bondage and liberation. The verse is an
ethmological pun, manu; human is derived from man ‘to think.’
Milkon too rhymed that the mind is in its own place; it may make
heaven of hell or hell of heaven. Mind, which should have been
source of joy ‘ananda’, becomes a source of sorrow ‘dukha’. In
Atharvveda, mind has been called as sixth sense, which is made
active in us by the Supreme Being.
The old civilization of India was a concrete unity of many sided
development in arts, architecture, literature, religion and morals
and sciences as far as it was understood in those days. But the
important achievement of Indian thought was philosophy. It was
regarded as the goal of all highest practical and theoretical activities
and indicted the point of unity amidst apparent diversities.
Hinduism is a major religion of India, which has at its heart a kind
of ethical mysticism, based on their sarced scriptures. At its heart is
a love of life in all its forms. It believes that one’s actions in this life
will generate Karma or consequences in the next life. Reincarnation
(on the wheel of life, Samsara) may be at a higher level or not,
depending on ones current actions. It accepts body and soul as a
equal partners in life and the use of both in religious life. When
Hindus meet they greet God as present in other person. Many
Hindus believe that religious practice involves the awakening of the
‘chakras’ or energy centers of the body, in order to let divine energy
flow into the body freely. This perception is included in the eastern
and western ideas of energy bodies or ‘auras’, which surround the
physical body.
Concept Of Mind In Vedas (10,000 TO 5000 BC)
Mind has been conceived to be a functional element of ATMAN (soul
which is self) in Vedas, which are earliest written script of human
race. In Rigveda and Yajurveda there is mention of prayer through
mantras for noble thoughts to come in the mind. It has been
mentioned that thoughts determine facial appearance, thoughts
influence facial appearance, and thoughts can be purified through
mantras and purified thoughts influence instincts. In Veda there is
emphasis on prevention of mental pain (depression).
In Rigveda, the speed of mind, curiosity for methods of mental
happiness, prayers for mental happiness and methods of increasing
medha (intelligence) have been described. It has been further
stated in Rigveda that purification of mind prevents diseases in
human beings there fore one should have noble thoughts. The
power of mind in healing has also been described. First time the
three traits of personality-sattva, Rajas and Tamas were described
and also mental illnesses were independently identified along with
physical illnesses where it has been prayed that may these mental
illnesses not destroy this body.
In Yajurveda the mind has been conceptualized as the inner flame
of knowledge. It describes perceiving knowledge is mind, mind is
described as yog and Samadhi (state of mind), all our sensory
organs are under control of mind and they function under the
control of mind.
According to Bhagvad Gita the senses and the objects constantly blast the mind. Here it is said that the self is like the lord of the chariot and the body is his chariot. The intellect is the charioteer and the mind the reins. The senses they say are the horses; the
objects of the senses are the roads. The senses (horses) are to be
controlled by the buddhi (the charioteer) through the reins, the
mind. The mind restrained or unrestrained by the buddhi leads to
the region of vivid joy or the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara)
respectively.
The mind of man is like a veritable battle field:’manahkshetra’ in
which there is an endless state of war between opposing forces.
This constant tussle within the mind is called “psychomacia” by the
ancient Greeks.
The Ayurvedic Era (1500-1400 BC)
Ayurveda derives its roots from Athervaveda and it is one of the
ancient science, which means science of life. The classic written
documents are Charak Samhita and Shushrut Samhita. These two
describe mental disorders, personality types according to trigunas-
the satva,raj and tam and tridoshas-the three humours in the body
vat,pitta,kapha. The 14 causative factors are mentioned for mental
disorders as follows-
1.
Pragyaparadh- involving in socially unsanctioned behavior and
involving in actions arising out of envy, pride, fear, anger, greed,
attraction, proud and deluded thinking.
2.
Anuchit bramhacharya-One who is out following the rules of
brahmacharya, which includes Indriya Nigrah ie, control over
demands of instincts. Due to this when the person carries out
activities to gratify his instinctual needs his conseus is not able to
control his mind, becomes conflict ridden which leads to mental
disorders like Depression.
3.
Durbal satva- People who have weak satva characteristics
have increase raj and tam characteristics, which leads to emotions
like anger, and uncontrolled emotions, which leads to mental
disorders.
4.
Durbal Sharir- Nutritional deficiencies leading to weak
physical structure can lead to mental disorders
5.
Sharir dosh vikriti- According to Sushrut and Charak, increase in one of the three humours of body either vat, pitta or kapha leads to mental disturbances like insomnia, anger, fear etc
6.
Manas dosh- (psychological factors) different detrimental
emotions arise out of disorder of raj and tam.
7.
Agantuk karan- outside factors affecting the body like
bacterias, evil spirits.
8.
Manobhighat kardravya- Trauma to mind because of
substance abuse.
9.
Malinahar vihar- Bad food and bad life style both lead to
mental illness.
10. Manoabhighat- Trauma to mind because of stress.
11. Ashasht manah- Conflicts arising in the mind.
12. Ojokshaya- Loss of confidence leads to weakness of mind,
depression.
13. Ayukta nidra- Excessive and inappropriate time sleep leads to
mental illness.
14. Chintya man- inappropriate anxiety.
According to Vedanta treatise the structure of man can be further
divided into five material layers enveloping Atman. Atman is the
core of personality. It is represented in the diagram by the mystic
symbol . The five concentric circles around the symbol represent
the five layers of matter. They are called sheaths or koshas in
Sanskrit. First Anna-maya kosh, the gross human body is made up
of the panchmahabhutas-the five primordial elements i.e.
Akash(vaccum), Vayu(air), Agni(fire), Jal(water) and prithvi(earth).
It is directly under control of the next subtler body, the pranmaya
kosh that consists of the vital energy.
The next three koshas, Manomaya, Vigyanmaya and Anandmaya
pertain to the mental faculties of a person. The Manomaya kosh
receives all the sensory inputs, interpretes them as good or bad and
desires the good. The feeling of ‘me’ and ‘mine’ and the faculty of
intelligence and reasoning constitute the fourth or Vigyanmaya
kosh. The fifth or the Anandmaya kosh means full of pleasure is the
innermost kosh in close proximity of the soul.
When one considers the symptoms of Depression, religious flavour
is evident in the ideas of guilt and sin and their expiation by a
suicide act. Even lethargy and laziness is considered as a sign and
symbol of devils and demons. In India ,Psychiatrist and Psychologist
use religion as a psychotherapy. It performs certain function as
answering question about ultimate meaning; it gives emotional
support, social cohesion sense of belonging and guidelines for life. A
steady state of mind and sustenance of peace have been the aims
of all philosophies.
Gita states “ Let a man raise by himself by his own self, let him not
debase himself. For he is himself his friend, himself his foe.” One’s
own mind has a preventive and a curative function. Healthy habits
of attitude, thoughts, dispositions and feeling can offer equilibrium.
It brings out the fact of enormous resources that are available
within for healing. This has been termed “Anjeneya complex” which
is explored in psychotherapy.
Since India has been the nursery of saints and sages, scientists and
founders of world’s major religions certain yogic and religious
practices helps to attain steady state of mind. Maharshi Patanjali,
the father of modern concept of yoga and a great physician himself
defined yoga as the complete mastery of mind and emotions. It is a
science, which shows us the way to unite the body and mind. The
only form of yoga, which has been studied scientifically, is
Transcendental meditation, a special meditation technique as taught
by Maharshi Mahesh Yogi. He claims that after regular periods of
meditation for even a few months, the individual becomes more
resilient to the stresses of life, works with increased efficiency and
is less likely to be dependent on alcohol or drugs.
Vedic therapy emphasize upon satvic diet, as diet produces great
effect on man’s temperament. Non-vegetarian food makes man
lustful, revengeful, and furious; while vegetarian diet makes him
kind, cool, soft. Also Vedas enjoin on man to leave lethargy and
lead life of actions.
Certain Hindu rituals like Bhajans, Kirtans, chanting mantras called
Namapathy by Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh help in eliminating
repressions and resistances and bring into the field of waking
consciousness many drives, emotions and complexes that were
creating difficulties in the unconscious. It helps to achieve a state of
deep relaxation. Similarly there are certain Hindu festivals and
ceremonies associated not only with Gods and Goddesses but also
with the sun, moon, planets, rivers, oceans, trees and animals.
Some of the popular Hindu festivals are Deepawali, Holi, Dussehra,
Ganesh Chaturthi, which allows people to share their joy and
sorrows and helps to elevate mood.
These innumerable festive occasions and religious practices make
the Indian tradition rich and colorful. It gives us the powers,
tolerence, adaptability, courage, co-operation, patience and
humility, which help to restore holistic health, harmony and
happiness in our life and society today.
And Finally
"Conclusion Is a Place Where We are Tired Of Thinking"..!!!
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