Hanuman Complex And its Resolution : An Illustration of Psychotherapy from Indian mythology

The rich heritage of Indian mythology has been very little explored and used in psychotherapy in India. The present article deals with the story of Hanuman. How he lost the knowledge about his power to fly due to a childhood curse by Rishis and how he regained his powers when reminded by Jambavan during a crucial mission in search of Queen Sita, is the subject of author′s description of Hanuman complex and its resolution. The author has often used this story in helping patients in psychotherapy as well as in teaching medical doctors and trainees in psychiatry. A plea is made for wider use of stories from Indian mythology in psychiatric practice.