Hanuman Complex and Its Resolution : An Illustration of Psychotherapy from Indian Mythology

Prof. Wig, Country's most revered mental-health expert, believes that the Indian (Hindu) mythology is " one of the richest mythologies in the world… and for better practice in psychiatry, we must make more use of the rich Indian Philosophy and religious traditions … ". To substantiate his belief, Prof. Wig narrates a story from Ramayana wherein Hanuman's forgotten powers are restored by Jambavan and calls it " Hanuman Complex ". The divine message imparted by Jambvan to liberate Hanuman of the curse by a rishi and to remind him of his divine powers in a hurriedly called meeting, considered an appropriate forum for a great cause, springs from an intention of securing Sita's release from the clutches of Ravana. This situation cannot be used in therapeutic interventions even symbolically because: 1. Hanuman was energized into action to help their master Lord Rama and not for the personal growth and development of Hanuman himself (a central feature of psychotherapy) 2. Hanuman possessed divine powers bestowed on him by the celestial gods and those were not the qualities of an ordinary human being and thus cannot be equated in psychotherapeutic situations. 3. Hanuman had forgotten his real strength because of a rishi's curse for his mischiefs (misdeeds) and not because of his sickness. Do we wish to convey an already guilt-ridden patient that his misfortune was because of his misdeeds of the past. No such psychotherapy could be of any help to a psychologically disturbed individual. The social life of Hindus in theory is regulated by the books, which are essentially the collection of religious percepts having acquired official and social sanction during the course of times (Senart, 1975). The Germen sociologist, Max Weber (1864 – 1920) in his book, " The Religions of India " observes that religion would greatly hamper the growth of the scientific spirit in India (Risley, 1969). How correct he proved in his forecast when we see that religious thinking only vexes plan processes, it pollutes scientific thinking more shamelessly than ever. Dr. Wig's article is a testimony to the fact that religious books, like Gita, Ramayana etc. are final, immutable or eternal. Exactly opposite is true of the books on science; there is nothing final about them. Unless, they get out of date, science cannot grow to reach from truth to larger truth, from insight to deeper and penetrating insight. The moment one begins to question, …