Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Daurmanasya Mean?
Daurmanasya is a Sanskrit word that is translated as “frustration,” “melancholy,” “despair” and “dejectedness.” It derives from the root, dur, meaning “bad,” “difficult” or “wicked”; and manas, meaning “mind” or “thoughts.” In the context of Hindu and yoga philosophy, daurmanasya is a negative mental state that is a symptom of an inner obstacle to spiritual growth.
Also sometimes translated as “mental unease,” daurmanasya results from agitation of the mind when the person’s desires are not realized. It could be a desire for material goods or something as basic as health or companionship.
Yogapedia Explains Daurmanasya
In addition to daurmanasya, the Yoga Sutras list three other symptoms of the presence of inner obstacles: dukkha (mental or emotional suffering), angamejayatva (physiological disturbances such as tremors and pain) and svasaprasvasa (disturbed breathing patterns).
The Sutras name nine obstacles to union with the Divine that result in daurmanasya and the other symptoms:
- Vyadhi (sickness)
- Styana (fixation)
- Samsaya (doubt)
- Pramada (carelessness and impulsiveness)
- Alasya (lethargy)
- Avirati (intemperance)
- Bhrantidarsana (distorted self-esteem)
- Alabdhabhumikatva (failure to attain a yogic state)
- Anavasthitatvani (failure to maintain a yogic state once attained)
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.