8.5 EASTERN PSYCHOTHERAY:

The sadhana are so called because of the efforts of the individual towards his own upliftment. The efforts come from within and are less imposed from the external forces. The eastern psychotherapies in general have this subjectivity compared to the western traditions, which emphasize objectivity.

 The fruits of the sadhana are also discussed later.  Most of the informations are contained in the dhasakariam, nitai vilakam, panchakra pahrodai…..and thirumanthiram. The part is arranged initially with a description about mental illness and psychosomatic disorders and later about the core issues in agamic psychiatry and siddha vaidhyam.

 Later the principles of management with the introduction to  panchakra pahrodai.  The mantras are constructed using god’s name like namasivaya and each later is given a psychotherapeutic value and a state or a level. The name of god is thus used only a face value. The underlying psychotherapeutic principle is laid into it.

They are used as tools in psychotherapy. The god’s name as such does not have a therapeutic value. It is used masterly by the guru on the seedan(sishya). More elaborate discussions about nitai and dheekai follow in the later chapters which have important psychotherapeutic connotations.