MEHENDIPUR BALAJI REVISITED: A DESCRIPTIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY

Authors

  • S. S. Nathawat Dr., Professor Emeritus, Head, Amity Center for Positivism, Amity University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
  • Gayathri Menon M.Phil (Clinical Psychology), Ph.D Research Scholar, Amity University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v0i0.1516

Keywords:

Mehendipur Balaji Temple, catharsis, faith healing, narrative inquiry

Abstract

The role of faith healing centers in the management of psychiatric conditions has become an integral part of psychotherapy in India. However, there are limited academic ventures trying to explain these practices via a psychological perspective. The present study aimed to explain the Mehendipur Balaji healing tradition by a qualitative exploratory study design using the tool of observation. Data was scrutinized through the strategy of qualitative narrative enquiry. Findings revealed the need of a psychological perspective in understanding faith healing practices along within the healthy accommodation of faith healing to mainstream psychotherapeutic practice.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter

DOI

References

Kakar, S. (1982). Shamans, mystics, and doctors: A psychological inquiry into India and its healing traditions. New York: Knopf.

Kalantri, S. P. (2002). Temple healing: Healing temples may breed superstitions. British Medical Journal, 325(7370), 968.

Nathawat, S., & Menon, G. (2017). Facts and Fiction about Faith Healing as a Psychotherapeutic Intervention: The Indian Scenario. Paripex-Indian Journal of Research, 6(6), 112-114.

Raguram, R., Venkateswaran, A., Ramakrishna, J., & Weiss, M. G. (2002). Traditional community resources for mental health: a report of temple healing from India. Bmj, 325(7354), 38-40.

Satija, D., Singh, D., Nathawat, S., & Sharma, V. (1981). A psychiatric study of patients attending Mehendipur Balaji Temple. Indian journal of psychiatry, 23(3), 247.

Somasundaram, O. (1973). Religious treatment of mental illness in Tamil Nadu. Indian journal of psychiatry, 15(1), 38.

Downloads

Published

2018-03-25

Issue

Vol 4, No 3 (2018)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

 

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).