A Comprehensive Analysis of Anger from the Perspective of Ancient Indian Literatures, Ayurveda and Western Psychology

Abstract

Different Indian literatures have discussed the genesis of anger along with its different negative impact with approaches to overcome it, among which Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita are principal ones. Apart from them various other texts like Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Manusmriti, Chanakya Niti Darpana etc. also have discussed the various aspect of anger. Likewise principal Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita also addressed this topic and discussed thoroughly about its genesis, character, assessment and its role in causation of diseases. Likewise, in recent times many modern psychologists also have investigated anger as a global social problem and threw light on its physiological and cognitive aspects. Discussions: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra viewed anger as one of the Chitta Vrittis as well as among Pancha Klesha. Patanjali advised to overcome anger by habituating the mind into contrary ideas. Manusmriti viewed anger as a negative emotion which has lots of repulsion in human’s social and personal life. Likewise, other texts on morality and ethics like Chanakya Niti Darpana, Panchatantram, Hitopadesha etc. have similarly analysed anger and its negative impact. Primarily Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita also described anger as product of vitiation of Pitta Dosha as well as Raja - Tama Dosha. In addition, Charaka Samhita also discussed the method of assessment of anger, its anthropological genesis in Kali Yuga, its importance as forbidden object in various compromised conditions. They have discovered new facts like role of amygdala in provocation of anger. Based on all these findings, the present authors have chalked out some fundamental approaches of anger management from the perspective of ancient Vedic tradition, Ayurveda as well as modern psychology. Conclusions: The present study is a novel approach in discussing anger with all its psychopathology, impact on personal and social life as well as its management in a comprehensive manner showing the perspectives of age-old Indian literatures, various texts of Ayurveda as well as modern psychology.