Father of scientific hypnotism
Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Tuesday, 15 March 2016 AT 08:57 PM IST
If you are in Panaji, Goa, you cannot miss a man with raised arms attempting to cast a spell on a woman. The 10-ft bronze statue raises curiosity in the minds of passersby, mostly because of its unique posture. The statue near Adilshah Palace or the Old Secretariat is of Abbe de Faria, a Goan who won acclaim in Europe in late 18th century. He is known as the father of scientific hypnotism.It is very interesting to know how this boy born at Candolim in Bardez taluka of Goa became a famous Catholic priest in Europe called Abbe de Faria or Abade Faria, or Fr Faria. ‘Abbe’ incidentally is the French word for abbot, the lowest ranking Catholic clergy or priest.
Abbe de Faria was born as Jose Custodio Faria on May 31, 1756. His father, Caetano Vitorino de Faria, was studying to become a priest but left the seminary before being ordained. He got married to Rosa Maria de Souza. But their marriage lasted only six years as both of them separated and secured the church’s dispensation in order to pursue religious vocations. Thus, Caetano became a priest and Rosa became a nun. Caetano, along with his son, left for Portugal in 1771. Jose Custodio later joined the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1780.
Here is an interesting incident which is said to have shaped Abbe Faria’s entire life. The Queen of Portugal invited the young priest to preach in her chapel. After climbing the pulpit, Abbe Faria was too scared to speak. His father, who was near the pulpit, whispered to him in their mother tongue Konkani: ‘Puta, Hi sogli bhaji; cator re bhaji (Son, they are all vegetables, cut these vegetables).’ Immediately, the son lost his fears and he preached well.
Young Abbe Faria later wondered how a single sentence could transform his fears into confidence. This sowed the seeds of his deep research on the subject of hypnosis.
In France, he won fame as he demonstrated the art of hypnosis. As a Catholic priest, he faced tremendous opposition from the church authorities about his views and practice of hypnotism which was considered as power of the devil. He, however, maintained that hypnosis was not contradictory to the doctrines of the Catholic Church.
Abbe Faria died on September 20, 1819 after his book explaining the principles of hypnosis was published. It was, however, only a century later that he got recognition as the father of hypnotism.
The statue of Abbe Faria in Panaji was sculpted by veteran sculptor and also a Goan, Ramachandra Pandurang Kamat and unveiled on September 20, 1945. Portugal commemorated the 250th birth anniversary of Abbe Faria’s birth anniversary in May 2006 by releasing a postcard of this statue in Panaji.
His grave is said to be somewhere in Montmartre neighbourhood of Paris. Montmartre is a favourite place of artists and those interested in classical and modern art. During my recent tour to Europe, I stayed at Montmartre. While walking there, I often wondered where would be the final resting place of the veteran Goan, Abbe de Faria. The tomb of this great Goan may never be found but his contribution and legacy in the field of hypnosis will always be remembered.
