Mantras are the inevitable, omnipresent and mystical occurrences within the various philosophical and ritualistic oral traditions of the Indian Knowledge Systems, existing as nāda/dhvani or vāc/śabda, though difficult to comprehend as common language. The emergence of the mantra is ciphered in its origins as ‘instrument’ (tra) of thought (man). Thoughts when conveyed through words become instrumental.
From a psychophysiological perspective, a mantra can be understood as a powerful tool that combines elements of psychology and physiology to induce a state of focused attention and relaxation. Psychologically, the repetition of a mantra helps to quiet the mind by redirecting and narrowing the focus of attention. This process can promote a sense of mental clarity, reduce mental chatter, and create a state of mindfulness. By repeating a mantra, individuals can shift their awareness away from distracting thoughts and emotions, allowing them to cultivate a more present and centered state of mind. Physiologically, the practice of repeating a mantra can elicit a relaxation response in the body. The parasympathetic nerve system, which controls the body's rest and digest response, is activated when a mantra is chanted. This activation leads to a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels, promoting a sense of calmness and well-being.
The Maha Mantra “Hare Rām Hare Rām, Rām Rām Hare Hare; Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare” was chosen for this study as a coping strategy among college students and staff in order to analyse the efficacy of this coping approach objectively.
One of the facets of yoga, meditation is the deliberate and intentional control of one's own attention, whether for rest, self-discovery, or personal development. On focusing attention on a specific external, physical, or mental object while rejecting all irrelevant stimuli, or on an unchanging repetitive item, is consistently retained in concentration, such as mantra meditation [55]. Mantra meditation is said to be simple to perform [9]. Galvanic skin response-based OM meditation promotes psycho-physiological calmness [15]. A study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that during OM meditation, limbic brain areas were significantly deactivated [31]. There were no band oscillations recorded after 30 minutes of OM chanting, although theta in the wide band of the EEG increased dramatically as a result of the meditation [38], reporting comparable theta EEG signals. Theta band variations are primarily related to one's level of expertise with meditation [32]. With novice meditators and only 30 minutes of OM mantra practise, the results are therefore quite encouraging.
The psychophysiological effects of a mantra can be further enhanced by focusing on the rhythmic and resonant qualities of the sound or words being repeated. The vibrations created by the vocalization of a mantra can have a soothing effect on the body and mind, promoting a sense of harmony and balance ([28], [13]). Overall, from a psychophysiological perspective, the regular practice of a mantra can have numerous benefits, including stress reduction, improved focus and concentration, enhanced self-awareness, and a deeper sense of relaxation. By integrating both psychological and physiological mechanisms, a mantra serves as a powerful tool for promoting mental and physical well-being ([2]).
Evaluation of various interventions aimed at enhancing the prevention and treatment of mental symptoms and disorders, including meditation techniques, is crucial because mental health is a crucial aspect of people's quality of life and represents a central aspect of national and international action plans on health policies. Meditation is a type of cognitive training that aims to enhance focus and emotional control. The phrase "meditation techniques" refers to a vast and varied variety of exercises that are meant to improve focus and attention. These methods were taken from a number of ancient cultures and ideologies [70]. These strategies, in general, aim to improve self-awareness and deliberate control over mental processes. People can improve their psychological well-being and develop a better grasp of their own mental processes by using these strategies. The ultimate objective is to promote mental and emotional health and foster a deeper sense of self-awareness [70].
There are many different meditation techniques available right now, which makes it more difficult to categorise, separate, and logically define them [58]. The repeating recitation of a word, phrase, or group of syllables, with or without religious or spiritual implications, is the main component of mantra-based meditation (MBM). It is claimed that using a mantra during meditation is an effective way to block out the constant mental chatter, which for many people is the main source of conscious thought. MBM seeks to counteract unfavourable or intrusive automatic thoughts that cause distress and encourage a more calm and concentrated state of mind by directing attention to the mantra. A popular variety of mantra-based meditation (MBM) is Transcendental Meditation (TM). It entails reciting secular mantras with the intention of directing the mind to calmer levels of thought, which will finally result in a silent transcendental consciousness state. With the help of TM, people can learn to calm their minds and enter a profound level of inner quiet . A popular variety of mantra-based meditation (MBM) is Transcendental Meditation (TM). It entails reciting secular mantras with the intention of directing the mind to calmer levels of thought, which will finally result in a silent transcendental consciousness state. With the help of TM, people can learn to calm their minds and enter a profound level of inner quiet.
A mantra's power comes from the fundamental truth of the cosmic and human orders, known as “rta”, and is expressed verbally. These facts are not merely made up; rather, they are profoundly ingrained in human consciousness and go beyond the scope of the mind. Mantras have the power to attain great wisdom and understanding in this space [65].
As a result, instead of directly bringing about human transformation, mantras serve as enlightened tools for the mind. Mantras raise awareness and clarity by harmonising with consciousness, revealing more profound insights, and fostering spiritual growth [64].
The electrical condition of the human brain in different psychological circumstances can be acquired by electroencephalogram (EEG). Any changed in the mindset is expected to be reflected in the EEG signal. EEG is of two types: non-invasive and invasive process [7]). In non- invasive EEG, electrode cap is implanted on the brain scalp. EEG is a useful technique used for widespread academic research in the diagnosis of epileptic seizure, sleep disorders, coma and other mental disorders which involve abundance or lack of neural activity in certain parts of the brain. Studies on meditation and other aspects of the human brain have used the techniques of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Bryant, Maria [8]. EEG recording process is considered as a cheaper process with good time resolution. EEG signals contain valuable information related to brain state, which help to understand physiology and psychology of an individual's human brain. The above mentioned reasons have justified the use of EEG in various research works [39], [52], [71], [6].
It has been found in the studies that meditation can significantly contribute to improving physical and mental health in modern stressful life and any change in the mental well being is expected to reflected in the Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal [27], [28]. The focus of our current research is on the impact of the Mahā Mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa Mantra) on Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signal Rhythms and mental wellbeing.
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