STRESS MANAGEMENT AND PATANJALA YOGA DARSHAN: A Scientific Approach

Stress is a state of prolonged imbalancement of human mind caused by any unfavorable situation. Stress and strain are two common words generally used as synonyms. But there is a great difference between them. Stress is always an external factor – may be due to any unfavorable circumstance or others’ manner and dealings provoking threat or anxiety to an individual. On the other hand strain is a subjective phenomena. It is caused due to excessive pressure on mind and muscles of any part of human body. In some cases strain is caused by stress. And it is therefore; psychosomatic disorders are inter-related with both mind and body also.

But on the other hand, it has been observed by the concerned scholars of Medical Science that if an individual realizes the state of strain due to stress as an unbearable force for comparatively longer period, then in the long run, it leads to the manifestation of various psychosomatic disorders one by one. However, Medical Technology seems to be insufficient to manage or control stress disorders. So after a deep study about alternative systems of health care, scholars of Medical Science have widely accepted Yoga as a curative and preventive system of healthy care that can heal pain in mind as well as body. Yoga is one of the systems of Indian Philosophy, the information of which is available in Patanjala Yoga Darshan. A scientific study of this text relating to health care is very helpful to know how Indian Philosophy can help for the management of stress.

So, for understanding the application value of Yoga Philosophy in reducing psychosomatic disorders like Hypertension and others, it is proposed here to throw some light on “Stress Management and Patanjala Yoga Darshan: A Scientific Approach” on the basis of some relevant quotations available in Patanjala Yoga Darshan and other relevant Sanskrit writings.

Khagendra Patra
Rourkela (Orissa)