This document summarizes a research presentation on using the Bhagavad Gita as a bibliotherapeutic tool in post-war Sri Lanka. The researchers analyzed the Bhagavad Gita qualitatively and found that its teachings on topics like developing self-knowledge, controlling the mind, renouncing attachments, and cultivating compassion could help relieve emotional pressures, develop new interests, promote tolerance, and encourage decision making for those experiencing distress after the war. The presentation concludes that as the Bhagavad Gita can create affective and cognitive changes in readers, it is an appropriate bibliotherapeutic resource for post-war Sri Lankan society.

1. University of Kelaniya 13th Annual Research
Symposium 2012 Nov. 22nd & 23rd
Suitability of Bhagavad-Gita as a bibliotherapeutic
tool in a post war Sri Lanka
– a Librarian’s view
by
Navaneethakrishnan, S
Assistant Librarian, the Library, University of Jaffna
and
Sivasamy, V
Emeritus Professor. Visiting lecturer of the Department of Sanskrit, Faculty
of Arts University of jaffna

2. Introduction
Where we are?
• We are thinking about development and rehabilitation while
living in a post war society.
• War plays an important role among the causes for distress and
mental pain of the people.
• Sri Lanka ranks first among South-East Asian countries with
respect to commitment of suicide.
• War has adverse effects on the people exposed to it, whether
they fired or were fired upon.
• More than 7% of the total population seeking for help in solving
personal problems.
What we are going to do?

3. Research purpose & Objectives
What we are going to do? Vs What I am going
to do?
• Being as a library professional, whether we are ready to deal
with the task of helping affected people? I believe we are not
ready and the effort must be made.
• I think this is the opportune time for the library professionals to
study this growing trend and take serious note of the social
needs as well as health care necessities of this helpless group.
• This study was carried out to help and shape the future of those
who are experiencing stress and crises in their lives, through
Bibliotherapy
Objective of the study is to find out the significant features of
Bhagavad –Gita as an appropriate bibliotherapeutic tool in a post
war society.

4. Understanding the basic elements
What is Bibliotharapy?
 Bibliotherapy as a term coined by Samuel Crothers in 1916 is
deriving from two Greek words biblio meaning "book" and therapia
meaning "healing―
 Bibliotherapy refers simply to the use of reading materials for help
in solving personal problems or for psychiatric therapy.
 Appropriate reading materials which were used or designed to be
used in Bibliotherapy are called as bibliotherapeutic tool.
 There are three types are identified in bibliotherapy
 Institutional bibliotherapy, Clinical bibliotherapy , Developmental
bibliotherapy
 Developmental bibliotherapy refers to the use of both imaginative
and didactic materials with groups of ―normal‖ individuals.
 The goal is to promote normal development and self-actualization or
to maintain mental health.

5. Understanding the basic elements
Functions of bibliotherapy
Developing an individual self-concept
1. Improving the understanding of behavior and self-motivation
2. Building self-honesty
3. Showing the path for finding personality and other interests
4. For emotional sustainability and mental pressure
5. Showing that he/she is not the only person having problems
6. Showing that there are many solutions for solving problems
7. Helping someone through problem discussion
8. Helping plan an action for solving the problems
-(Nola Kortner, Eric Digest: Bibliotherapy)

6. Understanding the basic elements
Bhagavad -Gita
• is a holy scripture
• comprises 18 chapters in the Bhishma Parva of the epic Maha
bharata
• consists of 700 verses in Sanskrit language
• more than 1000 English language versions and commentaries
• translated into more than 500 world languages other than
English.
• many renowned scholars and philosophers from all over the
world have commented on the Bhagavad Gita
• is universal and non-sectarian
• its teachings are applicable not only to a particular group but to
everybody.
• The message of the Bhagavad Gita is not only limited
to spiritual development but also in other aspects of
human development.

7. Research Methodology
Research method
• Qualitative aspects of Bhagavad-Gita were analyzed
in this study based on the descriptive method, which
involves study, understanding and interpretation of
ancient and classical text.
Review of literature
• shows that several studies have been done in the
area of bibliotherapy from various perspectives.
• Few have been done on bibliotheraputic tool. An
Australian-based research conducted on the use of
the Internet as a bibliotherapeutic tool.
• This paper provides some new significant features of
Bhagavad- Gita as a bibliotherapeutic tool from the
library science perspective.

8. Findings
Through out the entire structure of Bhagavad- Gita merely related
with an attributes of bibliotherapy.
Altogether 700 verses in conversation mode were divided into 18
chapters.
• The first two chapters deal with despondency of human
being and philosophy of discrimination.
• Three and four shows the paths of action and wisdom.
• Fifth to tenth chapters explain renunciation of action,
self-control, knowledge, experience and human life.
• next three chapters from the eleventh chapter reveals
the cosmic vision, path of love, spirit, and qualities.
• The essences of last four chapters are the divine and
faith
We can see the elements for functional attributes of
bibliotherapy were scattered in bhagavad gita.

9. Findings
Through this study it is identified that some significant
instructions of Bhagavad- Gita help readers to
• develop positive self-image,
• relieve emotional pressures,
• develop new interests,
• create a desire to emulate models,
• promote tolerance,
• encourage realization that there is good in all
people
• stimulate decision making through critical thinking.

10. Findings ……..
develop positive self-image,
The Bhagavad-Gita illustrates the importance of the control of the
mind for gaining the self knowledge It says that living in humility,
with compassion and with honest detachment and through the
control of mind, the self-realized man can understand the true self
and the world around him.
Relieve emotional pressures
Because of anger the perception gets completely distorted. The
distortion of perception causes the loss of memory (about one’s
own achievements). And the loss of memory brings to the loss of
the energy of the consciousness. By losing the energy of the
consciousness, man degrades

11. Findings………………
develop new interests, create a desire to emulate
models,
BG encourages to do some thing . Actions done with
expectation of its rewards bring bondage. If you do not thirst
for them, you get purification of heart and ultimately
knowledge of the Self.
promote tolerance,
He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate
to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in
pleasure and pain, and forgiving, (he, My devotee, is dear to

12. Findings……………………..
encourage realization that there is good in all people
It says the same in honour and dishonour, the same to friend
and foe, abandoning all undertakings—he is said to have
crossed the qualities.
stimulate decision making through critical thinking
Krishna says One should not abandon, O Arjuna, the duty to
which one is born, though faulty; for, all undertakings are
enveloped by evil, as fire by smoke!

13. Discussion and Conclusion
When the post war society in Sri Lanka read the Bhagavad-Gita
again and again, ,
• their minds will become more articulate
• nervous system will be stimulated.
• they could feel a new strength with courage.
• they will become tolerant, patient and forgiving.
• egoism will fall away from them.
• it will send them back to active life with renewed hope,
zest and vigour.
In a nutshell,
As the Bhagavad-Gita helps its readers by creating affective and
cognitive changes; it is an appropriate bibliotherapeutic tool in a
post war society of Sri Lanka.

14. Thank You Very Much
Questions ?
―Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject
ourselves, or we know where we can find
information upon it.‖
-Samuel Johnson(1709-84)