| Abstract:
Concentration
is the measure of accuracy of work. Receiving power is the measure
of understanding. Memory is a measure of ability to reproduce
the knowledge that is known. The concentration, memory and the
level of fatigue can be measured from the psychology based tests.
Omkar recitation is an important yogic practice. The vibration
due to Omkar meditaiton increases the efficiency of cells and
the organs.
Introduction:
Omkar
recitation is an important yogic practice. The
vibrations due to Omkar recitation increases the efficiency of
cells and the concerned organs.
In the Omkar recitation, the first pronunciation A creates the
vibrations, which affect on the spinal cord to increase it's efficiency.The
second pronunciation U creates the vibrations in the throat and
affects the Thyroid Glands, while the last pronunciation M, brings
the vibrations to the brain, thereby activating the brain centres,
as a result of which, the efficiency of a brain increases. Therefore
the effect of Omkar chanting increases the concentration, memory,
receiving power of brain and ultimately decreases the level of
fatigue.
Concentration
is a measure of accuracy of work and receiving power is a measure
of understanding while memory is a measure of ability to reproduce
the knowledge / known things. Offcourse there are different opinions
for the measurement of concentration, memory & receiving power.
However, the concentration, memory & level of fatigue can
be measured / understood from the Psychology based tests. Based
on this hypothesis, the tests, were conducted and the results
are discussed.
Materials
And Methods -- Studies were conducted on 24 female sadhaks
in the age group of 20 to 50 years and 13 male sadhak in the age
group of 40 to 55 years. They were taught the Omkar chanting.
One Omkar in one exhalation of breath in 10 seconds.
Before
starting the Omkar Chanting class the Psychology based tests for
measurement of concentration, memory and level of fatigue were
conducted.
The
Omkar chanting class was conducted from 2/4/99 to 3/5/99 everyday
in the morning between 6:00 AM to 6:45 AM. The following practices
were performed everyday.
1) Relaxation 5 Min.
2) Pranayama (Deep breathing) 5 Min.
3) Omkar Chanting 30 Min.
4) Prayer 5 Min.
The
tests for concentration, memory and level of fatigue were conducted
after completing the Omkar chanting class for one month. These
tests can be described as follows.
-
Test for concentration -- In this test, the sadhakas
were asked to solve some multiplication (four digits by single
figure) in 5 minutes. After completing the assignment, the multiplications
were corrected. Results were tabulated as total attempted, correct
problems & wrong problems. (Table No. 1)
This test was conducted before Omkar chanting class and after
completing the Omkar chanting class.
- Memory
Test -- In this test, the different 25 items were kept on
the table. All sadhaks were asked to observe for 1 minute. After
this observation, they were asked to write the names of items
within 5 minutes. The observations were tabulated as the number
of items written and correct items written. (Table Number 2)
- Test
for level of fatigue (Cancel action Test)
-- In this test, a paper containing the English alphabets randomly
printed was given to the sadhaks. The sadhaks were asked to
cancel the 'Y' 'S' & 'G' letters within
5 minutes. They were asked to put vertical line after every
minutes to know the number of words canceled in every minute.
RESULT
AND DISCUSSION
I ) From
the concentration test it is observed that the minimum number
of problems solved before Omkar chanting class were only three,
out of which two were correct. But after the class, the minimum
number of problems solved were nine, out of which 8 were correct.
While the maximum number of problems solved before Omkar chanting
class were 41, all were correct. But after the class, the maximum
number of problems solved were 42 and all were correct.
The
average number of problems solved before class were 20, out of
which 17 were 20, out of which 17 were correct. But after the
Omkar chanting class, the average number of problems solved were
24, out of which 21 were correct.
Before
Omkar chanting Class, the average minimum 5 problems were solved
by 2 sadhaks, but after the Omkar chanting class, the average
minimum 10 problems were solved by 3 sadhaks. Similarly before
Omkar chanting class, the average maximum number of problems solved
were 20 by 11 sadhaks but after Omkar Chanting class, this average
maximum number of problems solved were 25 by 16 sadhaks.
The
improvement in ability / accuracy of solving the problems after
Omkar chanting class, indicates the increase in concentration.
From
the observations, it can be seen that the concentration of 70%
sadhaks has increased significantly.
The
mean values for the problems attempted, correct problems solved,
wrong problems and not attempted problems are given in Table No.
1.
| Table
1 : Effect Of Pranav Jap on " Concentration" (Multiplication
test) |
| Treatment |
Attempted |
Correct |
Wrong |
Not
attempted |
| BEFORE |
| Males |
21.5 |
17.5 |
2.5 |
20.5 |
| Females |
19.9 |
17.5 |
4.0 |
22.1 |
| Total |
20.5 |
17.5 |
3.0 |
21.5 |
| AFTER |
| Males |
22.9 |
20.8 |
2.5 |
19.1 |
| Females |
25.5 |
20.9 |
4.6 |
16.5 |
| Total |
24 |
20.9 |
3.1 |
18.0 |
The
histograms obtained from these values are as shown in Graph No.1.
Treatment
: Pranav Jap ( Concentration Test )
From
the above histograms, it is observed that after Omkar chanting
the score for the respective tests increased significantly.
II
) From the memory test, it is observed that, before Omkar
chanting class, the average number of items remembered were 15,
while after Omkar chanting class, the number increased up to 19.
The minimum number of items remembered before and after Omkar
chanting class was 8. But the maximum number of items remembered
before Omkar chanting class was 21. While after Omkar chanting
class, this number has increased to 24. Before Omkar chanting
class the maximum number of item 20 and 21 were remembered by
only one sadhak each. But after Omkar chanting class, the maximum
number of item (i.e. 24) were remembered by 4 sadhaks. The 20
items were remembered by 11 sadhaks and 18 items were remembered
by 8 sadhaks. Before Omkar chanting class, only 4 sadhaks have
remembered maximum number of items, but after Omkar chanting class
17 sadhaks have remembered the maximum number of items. Here,
we assume that, the 4 sadhaks have remembered maximum number of
items before Omkar chanting class, they are having good memory.
So excluding these 4 sadhaks, for remaining 23 sadhaks, the memory
has increased significantly. This means, the ability to reproduce
the known things i.e. memory has increased significantly. This
means, the ability to reproduce the known things i.e. memory has
increased. It is concluded that, the memory has increased to 16%
for 66% of sadhaks after the Omkar chanting class.
The
mean value for items written and correct items for memory test
and simply a score for cancellation test is given in Table Number
2.
| Table
2 : Effect Of Pranav Jap on Memory And
Level of Fatigue |
| Treatment |
Items
Written |
Correct
Items |
Score
(Cancellation) |
| BEFORE |
| Males |
14.6 |
13.5 |
9.7 |
| Females |
15.4 |
14.6 |
15.4 |
| Total |
15.1 |
14.2 |
13.5 |
| AFTER |
| Males |
16.7 |
15.5 |
15.1 |
| Females |
19.1 |
18.5 |
22.0 |
| Total |
18.2 |
17.2 |
19.5 |
The
histograms obtained from these values is as shown in Graph No.
2.
Treatment
: Pranav Jap ( Memory & Cancellation Test )
From
the above histograms it is observed that after Omkar chanting
the score for the respective tests increases significantly.
III
) The average number of marks (words canceled) before Omkar
Chanting class were 13, but after Omkar chanting class the marks
increased upto 20. The maximum number of marks before Omkar chanting
class were 25, but after the Omkar chanting class, the maximum
number of marks was 32. From this, it can be concluded that, after
Omkar chanting class the marks in cancellation test increased,
indicating the decrease in level of fatigue. The effect of Omkar
chanting class was same in all age groups except the old age group.
From memory and concentration test, it is seen that, the average
and maximum number of marks obtained by female sadhaks is greater
than that of male sadhaks. It means that, the effect of Omkar
chanting class, on female sadhaks was found to be better that
that of male sadhaks. The mean value and histogram is as shown
in Table Number 2 and Graph 2.
The
standard statistical test recommended, to test whether the Omkar
chanting changes the concentration, memory or level of fatigue
in case of sadhaks is a paired t-test. It was applied for concentration
test, memory test and cancellation test. In this case, null hypothesis
to be tested is that there is no difference before and after the
Omkar chanting against the alternative that Omkar chanting is
effective. The results are as
| Test |
n |
Mean
Difference |
t-value |
| Concentration |
37 |
2.87 |
6.37
** |
| Memory |
37 |
2.91 |
5.68
** |
| Cancellation |
37 |
6.61 |
8.54
** |
**
: Highly significant.
The
differences are statistically significant. So the hypothesis,
that the Omkar chanting affects the concentration, memory and
level of fatigue is accepted. The analysis was carried out by
using software CST.
Acknowledgment:
Authors are thankful to Shri. M.B.Kulkarni for his cooperation
in the statistical calculations. The authors are also thankful
to Mrs. Pournima Mandlik for conducting the class for Omkar Chanting.
Reference:
Common Statistical Tests
by, M.B.Kulkarni, S.B.Gatpande & S.D.Gore.
Satyajeet Prakashan.
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