Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) signals reduced from Gayatri Mantra fire oblations during Yagya

Abstract

Galvanik skin response (GSR) is the measurement of the autonomic activation of sweat glands in the skin for depicting stress, emotional arousal and relaxation pattern. Yagya is a vedic ritual composed of various rhythmic chanting of mantra. Since Vedic times, it is widely and traditionally performed for various purposes including peace, happiness and mental and physical wellbeing. Hence, the present study attempted to explore the GSR pattern during Yagya ritual. The study measured GSR pattern in the 12 participants during Yagya ritual and evaluated changes in GSR signal during chanting of different mantra of the Yagya ritual. The result indicated GSR signal during Yagya ritual followed a defined pattern. Median GSR signals was decreased after fire ritual i.e. later-half of the Yagya compared to first-half of the Yagya (median fold change decrease 1.38; n=12; p=0.0010). Interestingly, this decrease in GSR achieved significantly during Gayatri Mantra fire sacrifice (median fold change decrease 1.35; n=12; p=0.0024), and remained low compared to that of in starting phase of Yagya ritual, indicating significance of Gayatri mantra in Yagya ritual to achieve relaxation state. Overall, the study indicated that vedic traditional ritual of Yagya potentially have a positive effect on our emotions for achieving relaxation.