Indian scientists have a spiritual solution to prevent suicides, a major issue haunting the nation. This is in the backdrop of World Health Organization’s (WHO), finding that China and India are the largest contributors to the absolute number of suicides in the world.
According to Peeter Varnik of Estonian — Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute, Estonia, India registered 2,30, 314 suicides in the year 2016. That means 631 persons commit suicides in India every day on an average. The number is increasing by the day and the causes which force the victims to the extreme step too are multiplying.
While social scientists stare stunningly at the figures, an Indian medical doctor-turned-scientist-turned–spiritual Guru says the problem of suicide could be addressed with spirituality. The age old Indian spirituality is the answer to this ever increasing social issue, says a scientific research paper authored by Dr Jayant Athavale, head, Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwa Vidyalaya, Goa.
“This findings drew the attention of the delegates who participated in the international conference organized by Indian Academy of Health Psychology at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi, earlier last week. The focal theme of the conference was Suicide: Issues, Challenges, Prevention and Management,” said Prof Anand Kumar, president IAHP and former head of the department of psychology, Kasi Vidyapeeth.
It may sound strange to those who swear by scientific temper but Dr Athavale, Nilesh Singbalji and Sean Clarke who authored the paper have sufficient evidence to substantiate their findings. “It is a spiritual issue and needs spiritual healing,” Sean Clarke, a research scientist at MAVV, told The Pioneer over telephone from Goa.
The scientists say that a person’s capacity to face stress depends on how much energy he has to face it. “His available mental energy is less when there are more personality defects and unfinished business. The unfinished business means unpleasant incidents in the past like failed relationship, childhood trauma and things like that. Many problems have a spiritual root cause, destiny or karma,” explained Singbalji.
Dr Athavale , with decades of his practice and interactions with persons suffering from schizophrenia and mental disorders found that people with high emotional quotient are vulnerable to stress.
“When they face unexpected developments emotionalism comes to the forefront leading to depression and finally suicide. We found that if they have positive spiritual energy, the spirituality builds a protective shield and this acts as a remedy,” said Clarke.
Dr Athavale found that chanting the name of God was an easy and potent spiritual practice that can generate tremendous amount of positive energy to overcome defects in a person’s mind. “Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya is the chant that we recommend based on our research. We also found that Shri Gurudev Datta is a powerful protective chant that helps to protect against any kind of distress,” said Clarke.
The hymn Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya is popularly known as Dwadasakshari Mantra which finds mention in Shrimat Bhagawatam and Vishnu Puranam. Chanting of Shri Gurudeva Datta for one hour creates a sheath of energy around the devotee, said Singbalji.
Parappanangadi Unnikrishna Panicker, leading thanthric scholar from Kerala pointed out that the chanting Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya has been mentioned in PRAYASCHITHA SUDHANIDHI authored by Sayanacharya, the Hampi born Sanskrit scholar. “The book prescribes remedial measures and expiation to resolve the root cause of all known physiological and psychological problems,” said Panicker.
Clarke said while the focus was on the hymns and chanting from Sanatan sriptures, people belonging to Christianity and Muslim religions can try the same with hymns from their scriptures. “Our focus was on India and hence the Sanatana scriptures,” he said.
According to Prof Anand Kumat, the research paper by Dr Athavale was a hot subject of discussion in the seminar. “It is going to create waves all over the globe in days to come,” he said.
