Ever thought that mental health is a Western concept? Well, you’re not the only one.
Even though our understanding of mental health and mental well-being has been shaped by Western ideas, mental health is both intrinsic to our culture and our traditions. The role of religion, family, eastern philosophies, and Eastern medicines have largely been overlooked.
It is no wonder that a majority of the older generation is known to say, “In our times, depression and anxiety didn’t exist. You are feeling all of this because you are influenced by Western culture.” If only it was easy to denounce our mental illness as ‘Western influence’.
What we overlook is how mental health is a significant theme in our sacred texts that comprise ‘Vedic Philosophy’.
First, let’s look to understand what Vedic Philosophy entails.

What is the Vedic Philosophy?

As we all know, the Vedas are considered the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Natural elements such as fire, wind, and water are worshipped to express gratitude for the beautiful wonders offered in life. The Vedas are divided into four kinds: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda.
Vedic Philosophy provides answers to profound questions about life, pain, pleasure, inequality, and the conceptualisation of God. It provides answers to the quality of the souls of animals and humans. It asks existential questions such as the purpose of life and the purpose of human beings.
Mental health is not just prominent in Vedic philosophy, but also in Vedanta philosophy (which emerged at the end of the Vedic period). This is comprised of the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. The main themes in Vedanta philosophy include the concepts of the soul (atman) and the relationship it has with God (Brahman).
Now that we have the basics covered, let’s move to the interesting bit. What do the Vedas teach us about mental health?

Vedas and Mental Health

Thousands of years ago, the wise sages established an intrinsic connection between the body, mind, and spirit. As a result, mental health was understood by this connection.
The Vedic sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga address the mind, body, and spirit to get to the root of the disease. Even though Vedic philosophy does not describe ‘psychology’, it recognises that mental disturbances, such as stress, anxiety, and depression manifest as imbalances in all aspects of the human condition. This holistic understanding of mental illness is prevalent even now.
The answer to mental health issues in the Vedic period is thus, ‘spirituality’.
Thinking about how different texts contributed to mental health? Let’s dive in.
The Rig Veda and Yajur Veda conceptualised ‘mental pain’ which we now understand as depression. They suggest that mantras (prayers in the form of chants) can lead to producing more noble thoughts in the mind which helps in the prevention of depression. There are prayers for mental happiness, methods for increasing intelligence, and the power of the mind in healing of any kind all laid out in the Rig Veda as well.
The Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda conceptualise the mind based on what it means to have consciousness and knowledge. The instrument of hypnotism is also introduced. The Vedas provide the readers with detailed descriptions of willpower, consciousness, and inspiration. Emotional states such as bibheeti (fear), manya (fury), irshya (jealousy), krodha (aggression), etc., are also described. The state of psychosis, referred to as Unmada is also described. It is understood as the deluded state of mind. Sex disorders (gandharva or apsara), epilepsy (apsamar) etc., are also understood.
The Upanishads dig deeper into the understanding of cognitive processes. It provides descriptions of perception, memory, thought, and consciousness. It is understood in functions such as manisha (reflection), mati (opinion), kama (desire), vijnana (understanding), samkalpa (will), etc. Prakritui of humans is described. This can be understood as the equivalent of ‘personality’ in modern psychology and psychiatry. There are different states of mind outlined in the Upanishads as well, such as the waking state, the dreaming state, the deep sleep state, and finally the Samadhi (a state of meditative consciousness). The psychopathology of the mind is understood in terms of trigunas (three fundamental universal energies) and tridosas (three principles that govern the function of our bodies emotionally and physically).
The Bhagavad Gita, through the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjun, describes emotional and cognitive deviations. It provides a detailed description of how to gain mastery over the wavering mind and the consequences of the failure to attain it.
Isn’t it so intriguing that most of these ancient conceptualisations correspond to how we understand mental health and psychology now?
Surprisingly, there is even treatment outlined for these disorders.
When it comes to psychosis, aggression, sleep disorder, and epilepsy, Bhesaj (medicine) and prayers to God along with behavioural control in the form of Yam and Niyam and physical activities such as Asan and Pranyam are outlined.

Final Thoughts

In essence, Vedic and Vedanta philosophy has a holistic view of mental well-being, linking the human mind, body, and spirit. These ancient scriptures bring up a unique perspective that complements the Western understanding of mental health. This multidimensional perspective caters to the diverse needs of the Indian culture.