EMERGENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY

Traditional (ancient) psychology is derivative of scriptures like the Upanishad, Vedas, Dharmashastras, Nitishastra, Smritis, Arthashastra, Mahabharat, Puranas. There are two major ideas about ancient Indian Psychology. They are Dharma, and the Self. Dharma is not translated correctly in English. It is referred to as ‘proper action’, or ‘moral duty’, or ‘law of human nature’. But in the Rig concept and later elaborated in Gautam’s Dharmashastra (about 600 B.C.) Dharma is dependent on four aspects:

• Guna- The physiological and psychological attributes of an individual
• Desh- the individual’s country and region of origin 
• Kala- the historical context one is born in 
• Shrama– The work and occupation one is engaged in