International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159)

Volume: 4, Issue: 1; Jan- June 2015

Holistic Psychotherapy in Patanjal Yoga Darshan

Rakesh Kumar Ranjan*
*Research scholar, Dept. of Philosophy and Religion,
Banarah Hindu University, Varanashi U P
Abstract

Modern age is the age of psychological disorders. Now a day’s modern generation due to modern life style
each and every one child, young, old, men-women all are suffering from the psychological disorders. This is
the reason modern psychology is trying to understand the human psychological nature its constitution and
disorders.

Modern psychology is steel far away from the holistic understanding of human psychological nature its
constitution and disorders. That is why its therapeutic approach towards the psychological disorders is only at
surface level. This is the reason modern psychology is unable to provide the holistic approach for
psychotherapy of psychological disorders.

Patanjal yoga darshan is one of the ancient yoga philosophy book written by sage Patanjli in which the
philosophy of yoga in the form of holistic approach towards the cessation of mental waves and its disorders
has been given for the attainment of holistic mental & spiritual health. For this purpose sage Patanjli has
discussed various mental therapy principles like Abhyas- Vairagya, Kriya Yoga, Ishwarpranidhan etc. which
can be applied as the holistic psychotherapy principles for the therapy of various mental disorders.

Key words- Holistic psychotherapy, Mind, Chitta, Abhyas-Vairagya, Kriya-Yoga.

Introduction That is why the efforts have been made both in

western and eastern world to understand the nature
As the modern age is the age of psychological of mind, but the first attempt has been made in
disorders. Hence the holistic approach towards the India in Vedic age.5 Riga Veda is the most ancient
study of human mind, its nature and disorders is world famous literature of Vedic age which
the crucial need of the day. Efforts for this are enlightens the nature of mind.6 In this way we find
going on in eastern as well as western countries. In the nature and secretes of mind in the thoughts of
western countries modern psychology developed Indian Vedic sages.
as the branch of natural sciences is also trying to
find out the solution for the problem at its own Yoga philosophy is one of the six Indian Vedic
level. However due to its materialistic prejudices philosophies, given by sage Patanjli which adopt
and single sided vision towards the human mind the holistic approach towards the study of human
and nature it is unable to reach at the root cause of mind and its disorders. In Patanjal yoga darshan
the problem and adopt the holistic approach for its the nature of mind has been clarified
therapy. In the word of Dr. Madhusudan Reedy psychologically in the form of chitta.7 It remains
“Modern psychology with its scientific and active in various forms/stages due to three gunas
materialistic basis deals with surface mind and satva, rajas and tamas of the nature.
surface values.1
The five stages of mental health
The concept
Patanjal Yoga darshan discuss the mental health
2
Mind is the root of mental health. With not only at surface level but also at very subtle
comparison to mind and body, mind is thousand level and classify it into five stage- Mudha,
times more valuable than body.3 Even the Kshipta, Vikshipta, Akagra and Niruddha. These
constitution of mind is subtle still the mind has a five stages of mental health are called the five
significant role in the regulation and control of all stages of chitta.8 These five stages of chitta can be
our physical and psychological activities. This is listed as follow-
the reason the mental disorders are more harmful
and dangerous than any physical disorders.4 1. Mudhavastha (Neurotic Stage) - This is the
lower stage of chitta (mental health) in which

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International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159)
Volume: 4, Issue: 1; Jan- June 2015

tamoguna is dominant. In this stage it is full of 8. Alabdhabhumikatva (Inability to find any

laziness, attachment, fear, illusion, inferiority stage of yoga)
etc. it is the undesirable stage of chitta and 9. Anavasthitatva (Inability to maintain any
highly fertile for all negative actions. stage of yoga)
2. Kshiptavastha (Psychic Stage) - This is the
second lower stage of chitta in which rajoguna In this way these nine chittavikshepas are the main
is dominant. This is the stage in which mind mental disorders which are called as yoga Antraya
always runs behinds the materialistic pleasure. & yoga obstacles.10 These nine chittavikshepas
It is the complete extrovert and unstable stage manifest in the form of various psychological
of mind. Pleasure-sorrow, stress-anxiety etc. disorders which accompany Pain, Despire,
are the common symptoms of this stage. This Trembling, Irregular inhale and exhale five other
is the stage of common man. mental distraction.11
3. Vikshiptavastha (Mild Neurotic Stage) -
This is the third stage of chitta in which The five major root causes
satavaguna is slightly dominant. That is why it Apart from the detail discussion of five stages of
is the state of chitta in which mind move chitta (mental health), nine yoga Antraya (major
towards the stability. So this is the mental mental disorders) Yoga darshan has also enlighten
stage of the entire spiritual seeker moving on the five root cause of mental disorders. Ignorance,
spiritual path. Egoism, Attachment, Hatred and fear of death are
4. Akagravastha (Mently Healthy Stage) - This the five root cause of mental disorders, which are
is the complete satvaguna dominant stage in known as Panchklesha.12 these five afflictions
which rajas-tamas are very light. This is the (Panchklesha) are as follow-
concentrate and stable stage of chitta. This is
the reason this is the ideal stage for the 1. Ignorance- It is the consideration of non
attainment of smadhi. This is the mind stage of eternal to be eternal, the impure to be the
yogis. pure, the painful to be the pleasant and the
5. Nirudhavastha (Perfect Mental Health not self to be the self.13
Stage)-It is the stage of complete cessation of 2. Egoism –It consists of the apparent oneness
mental waves, so complete stable stage of between the power of seer (the self or
mind and ultimate stage of Samadhi, in which Purusha) and the power of seen (Prakriti in
ignorance is completely destroyed and seer the form of chitta).14
becomes stable in his state. That is why it is 3. Attachment- It is that which follows the
the stage of perfect mental & spiritual health. happiness.15
4. Hatered- It is what which follows the
The nine types of mental disorders pain.16
In Patanjal yoga darshan for the holistic 5. Abhinivesha-It is the affliction of clinging
psychotherapy apart from the five stage of chitta to life, which exist equally in the learned as
(Mental health) the various chittavikshepa (mental well as dull-witted, since it flows with
disorders) has been also discussed in detail so that spontaneity from past lives.17
we can have the complete understanding of mental The major techniques of psychotherapy
disorders and can adopt the holistic approach
towards its therapy. These mental From the above it is obvious that Patanjal yoga
disorders/chittavikshepa are known as Yoga darshan not only discuss the stages of mental
Antraya.9 There are nine major yoga Antraya health, mental disorders and its root cause only at
which are as follows- its surface level but also at subtle level. In this way
it adopts the holistic approach for the diagnosis
1. Vyadhi (Disease) and therapy of mental disorders. For this purpose
2. Styana (Dullness) sage Patanjli has given various yogic principles
3. Sansya (Doubt) which not only purify the conscious, subconscious
4. Pramada (Procrastinating nature ) and unconscious level but also super conscious
5. Alasya (Laziness) state for complete mental and spiritual health.
6. Avirati (Lack of dispassion) These yogic techniques of chitta-shudhi ( mental
7. Bhranti darshana (False knowledge) purification) are as follows-

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International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159)
Volume: 4, Issue: 1; Jan- June 2015

1. Abhyas-Vairagya-These chittavrities but also the yogic principles to remove mental

(mental waves) are controlled & purified by disorders i.e yoga antraya. These principles can be
the practice and dispassion.18 Practice is the listed as follow-
repeated efforts to secure the steadiness of
the modification of mind.19 When the 1. Meditation on a point- One can remove
aforementioned Abhyas (repeated practice) the mental obstacles/disorders just by
when practiced well without break, for a practicing meditation on point or god.30
long time, and with a perfect faith and 2. Practice of Matri, Karuna, Mudita and
devotion becomes firmly established.20 Upeksha- one can also purify his mind &
Those who don’t have the hankering for the emotion by being friendly with joyous
objects seen in the world and the objects personalities, compassionate towards the
heard have attained the lower Vairagya afflicted, cheerful with the virtuous and
named Vashikara or control.21 So in the indifferent towards the evils.31
form of Abhyas and Vairagya sage Patanjli 3. Exhale and hold of prana- mental
has given the principles of behavioral purification can also be attained through
therapy through which all the unwanted controlling one’s prana by exhalation and
mental waves (mental disorders) can be retention of breath.32
controlled and eliminated.22 4. Function of mind pertaining to divine
2. Kriya Yoga- Austerity, study of scripture objects- Mental obstacle can also be
and surrender to God constitute the Kriya removed and the state of meditation can be
Yoga.23 The Kriya yoga is helpful in acquired by the function of mind pertaining
attaining the success in Samadhi and to divine objects because it binds the mind
destroying the kleshas (afflictions). 24 So up to the state of meditation.33
Kriyayoga is highly effective yogic 5. Luminous function of chitta- One can
psychotherapy principles given by sage also control his mind by pursuing that
Patanjli to attain complete mental and luminous function of chitta and ahankara. 34
spiritual health stage i.e. the stage of 6. Meditating upon the mind of yogi- one
Samadhi and destroy punch Kleshas (five can also remove the mental obstacles by
afflictions) the root cause of all the mental meditating upon the minds of yogis that are
disorders. devoid of attachments.35
3. Ishwarpranidhana- It is complete 7. Knowledge of sleep and dream-one can
surrender to God and working just as an also remove the mental disorders and lead
instrument in the hand of God25 It helps in his mind to Samadhi by the utilizing the
refinement of emotions and attainment of support of yogic knowledge of dream and
complete mental and spiritual health i.e sleep.36
Samadhi.26 8. Meditating as per own wish- mental
4. Concentration and Meditation- stability and health can also be attained by
Concentration is the process of binding the meditation of one’s own God as per one’s
chitta to a place or object.27 When during the own wish.37
concentration Chittavrities (thought waves)
flows continuously it is known as Conclusion- from the above it is obvious that
meditation.28 Concentration and meditation Patanjal yoga darshan not only enlighten the mind,
ultimately leads towards the Samadhi (the its nature, stage of mental health, mental disorders
state of complete mental and spiritual and its root cause at surface level but also at subtle
health) because meditation itself becomes level. In this way it not only diagnoses the mental
Samadhi (super consciousness) when the disorders but also gives the various techniques for
object alone shines and the mind loses itself, cure of mental disorders and attainment of
as it where, in the object of meditation. 29 complete mental health up to super conscious
level. So it can be said that Patanjal yoga adopts
The yogic principles of psychotherapy the holistic approach towards mental purification,
mental therapy and mental health.
Sage Patanjli has not only given these major
principles of mental purification and mental health

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International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159)
Volume: 4, Issue: 1; Jan- June 2015

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