Prof Mala Kapadia

In Bharatiya Manas Sastra, Prof. Mala Kapadia integrates ancient Indian wisdom with contemporary science to explore the foundations of human psychology and well-being. Drawing on the Vedas, Ayurveda, Yoga, and the Natya Shastra, she reframes psychology around the timeless inquiries: Who am I? and How can life be meaningful?

The book begins with the idea of involution-the movement from the unmanifest to the manifest-and examines how the individual relates to the Universe through the five elements, three gunas, and the purusharthas. It highlights Manas as the bridge between body and consciousness, essential for health, happiness, and sensory harmony. The heart, or Hridaya, is presented as the center of human existence, connecting ancient knowledge with modern research on resonance and psychosomatic wellness.

Prof. Kapadia redefines personality as Swabhava using Ayurvedic principles and explores Chitta through the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga, offering practices to transform deep-rooted samskaras. She also links the aesthetics of the Natya Shastra to emotional intelligence, contrasting Western theories with Abhinavagupta’s insights on emotional transformation.

Tracing psychogenic ideas from the Atharva Veda to modern psychoneuroimmunology, the text presents a holistic view of health (Swasthya) and happiness (Sukha) grounded in Dharma and sustainable living. Aligned with India’s National Education Policy (2020), it proposes a transformative psychology curriculum. Shaped by Prof. Kapadia’s work at the Anaadi Foundation’s Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the book encourages a dharma of peace, health, and collective well-being-offering guidance for educators, leaders, and seekers alike.