Psychological Perspectives: Mahabharata

At a Glance

This course focuses on the following points:

• The Mahabharata psychology

It tries to look at the immortal characters of the epic Mahabharata from the perspective of psychology.

• Revealing the motive behind cctions

It attempts to establish the psychological reason behind the actions of the characters.

• Psychology as the driving force

It aims to establish psychology as the driving force behind prominent events in this widely popular story.

• Character study

The study of iconic Mahabharat characters like Arjun, Bheeshma, and Krishna shows us how their words and actions left an indelible mark in shaping our belief system. 



About This series

As the name suggests, this course aims at explaining Mahabharata from the viewpoint of psychology. In clear, lucid language, the instructor tells us about the main characters' actions of this great story while revealing the psychological motive behind them. 

At the beginning of this Mahabharata psychology course, we are presented with Arjuna's dilemma. He is unwilling to start a war against his elders and the people he has grown up respecting. Here, we see a cognitive dissonance at play where his conflicting ideas are at work. However, as Arjuna's charioteer and counsellor, Krishna dispels his dilemma and clarifies his role as a mighty warrior. 

The next lesson is all about making rational decisions. Bheeshma elevates himself as an iconic character in this epic poem by committing to a monumental vow of staying celibate and protecting the kingdom at all costs. 

The remaining lessons concern themselves with psychological phenomena like the false consensus effect, the misleading nature of second-hand information, and the false uniqueness effect. While the false consensus effect causes people to believe that their actions are appropriate in the given set of circumstances, the false uniqueness effect makes them believe that their qualities are unique in the world while, in reality, they are not. The downfall of the Kauravas can be attributed to the false uniqueness effect. 

Who can attend this series?

This course is for anyone who wants to explore Mahabharata through the lens of psychology. It is apt for students, teachers, and householders of all ages and social statuses.

• People willing to walk the path of self-discovery

Anyone who wants to find their true self amongst various false beliefs and contradictions can benefit from the wisdom derived from this course.

•  Students of psychology

The Mahabharata is full of characters and events with a strong psychological standpoint. Therefore, psychology students will benefit immensely by learning about these unique aspects of Mahabharata psychology.

•  People who wish to improve their lives

By learning about the attitudes that led to the rise and fall of the characters in Mahabharata, people can benefit immensely and implement the right changes in their lives to excel in their respective fields.