Forty-one days of Sri Swami Ayyappaswami Deeksha: A healthy lifestyle to improve the psychological and cognitive parameters, sleep quality, and quality of life-A pilot study

Background: Ayyappa Deeksha is regarded as one of the toughest Deekshas in Indian tradition. It includes following a healthy lifestyle with strict brahmacharya for at least 41 days. However, there is absolutely no study in the PubMed literature regarding the scientific importance of the Ayyappaswami Deeksha. On this basis, the present research was carried out. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Ayyappaswami Mandala Deeksha on psychological and cognitive parameters, sleep quality, and quality of life. Materials and Methods: Participants who are participating in Ayyappa Swami Mandala Deeksha for the first time are recruited for the study. All of them followed Deeksha Niyamas. All the parameters, such as anxiety, sleep quality, spatial and verbal memory, and also quality of life, were assessed before and after the Deeksha period, that is, baseline and after 41 days of Deeksha, and compared. Results: The median of spatial memory, anxiety, and sleep quality before and after the activities were found to be statistically significant (P<0.001). The median of physical and psychological domains, social relations, and the environmental domain activities before and after the activities were statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: The study showed significant improvement in psychological and cognitive parameters, sleep quality, and quality of life after Ayyappa Mandal religious activities. Further studies should be conducted for the translation of the current knowledge into the application of mental health in the community.