EFFECT OF 5- DAY GAYATRI MANTRA SADHANA ON DASS-21 SCORE- OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Psychological distress, specifically symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DAS), is a widespread global health concern. Traditional practices such as the Gayatri Mantra (GM) are hypothesized to offer therapeutic potential through physiological and cognitive modulation. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the impact of a short-duration GM practice on these psychological parameters using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21).

Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre-post design was employed using a convenience sample of 28 healthy individuals at a Sadhana center in Rishikesh. Participants underwent a 5-day structured Gayatri Mantra chanting intervention. Psychological well-being was measured using the DASS-21 both immediately before and immediately after the intervention period. Data were analyzed using a paired t-test to determine the statistical significance of changes in mean DASS scores.

Results: Statistical analysis yielded a highly significant reduction in overall DASS scores. The mean DASS score dropped substantially from 12.46 ± 8.40 (Pre-intervention) to 4.00 ± 3.96 (Post-intervention). The calculated t statistic (t = 6.303895, df = 27) significantly exceeded the critical value, and the P-value was substantially below the alpha=0.05 threshold. Therefore null hypothesis is rejected.

Conclusion: The findings provide strong empirical evidence that a 5-day regimen of Gayatri Mantra chanting serves as an effective, rapid, and non-pharmacological intervention for significantly reducing self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in healthy individuals. While statistically robust for the studied population, the results warrant further confirmation through rigorous randomized controlled trials to better isolate the specific effects of the practice.