Uttar Pradesh: Kaushambi district jail inmates chant mantras for peace, officials claim change in behaviour

PRAYAGRAJ: In a unique initiative, over 600 inmates of the Kaushambi district jail have started reciting Gayatri mantra and Mahamrityunjay jaap and have made it part of their daily routine. The inmates have started the practice to control their anger and keep away negative emotions like jealousy, greed as well as to promote longevity.
The superintendent of Kaushambi district jail Rakesh Singh told TOI, “After the counting early morning, as many as 650 out of the 850 inmates assemble on the ground inside the jail and participate in the chanting of Gayatri mantra and Mahamrityunjay mantra for five to 10 minutes each.”
This chanting was started on April 6 and initially there were not many inmates but gradually the numbers increased and now 650 inmates take part in chanting mantras regularly, he added.
It is believed that chanting calms the mind and soul, releases positive energy and curbs negative thoughts. Even some scientific studies have found that chanting decreases anxiety and depressive symptoms, besides increasing self-awareness and compassion.
The inmates who started the exercise initially said they found chanting of the two mantras calmed their minds, curbed fear and reduced their stress levels, said jail staffers.
These mantras are said to bestow longevity, ward off mishaps and misfortune, and prevent untimely death, they added.
“The inmates also started showing interest in other meditation exercises and now recite bhajans in the morning or evening,” said Singh.
The jail authorities also claimed that they have noticed palpable changes in the behaviour of inmates who have started meditation and chanting of Gayatri and Mahamrityunjay mantras in the past fortnight.
Most inmates, particularly the convicted ones, claimed that meditation and chanting have developed patience in them and have eased mental tension.
“When these inmates get released from jail after completing their sentence term, they will hopefully engage in good activities and won’t resort to crime again,” said a jail official.
This exercise was started after some inmates evinced interest and inmates particularly about the benefits of Gayatri and Mahamrityunjay mantras, he added.
The jail authorities have also formed a special team which holds bhajan recitals and other religious activities on the jail campus.