Spirituality Studies 11-2 Fall 2025 41 Chanchal Surywanshi et al. 2 Methodology 2.1 Study Design and Setting The Trimūrti Dhyāna technique was developed and evaluated as a part of a doctoral research project approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (Ref. SDUAHER/KLR/ CEC/69/2021–22). The development process involved three structured phases: 1. Conceptualization based on a critical textual review of the Dhyānabindu Upaniṣad along with consultative dialogues with seven yoga scholars. 2. Systematic design of a multi-phase meditative practice integrating mantra recitation, breath awareness, and symbolic visualization across 20 meditative steps. 3. Content validation through expert feedback (N = 10) using Lawshe’s method of Content Validity Ratio (CVR), which yielded a mean CVR score of 0.92, indicating strong expert agreement (Surywanshi and Patil 2024, 152). The intervention was carried out at the Department of Integrative Medicine, in association with the Department of Physiology, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Kolar, Karnataka, India. A qualified Ph.D. Research Scholar in Yoga, who conceptualized the technique and holds formal degrees and training in meditative disciplines, facilitated the sessions. Each session lasted 20 minutes, conducted five days a week for six consecutive weeks in a group setting, with live verbal instructions to maintain procedural uniformity. The practice was divided into three symbolic stages aligned with Brahmā (creation), Viṣṇu (preservation), and Śiva (dissolution), incorporating regulated breathing, mantra chanting, and internal visualization. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included both Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters and three Guṇasbased personality profiling using the Vedic Personality Inventory (VPI), thereby combining physiological and psychological measures to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. 2.2 Participants and Recruitment A total of 30 healthy male undergraduate students, aged between 18 and 30 years, were selected through purposive sampling based on well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, aiming to ensure physiological homogeneity and reduce inter-individual variability in HRV and three Guṇas profiles. Participants were recruited from the Department of Integrative Medicine at Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Kolar, via institutional advertisements and informational briefings. Although the sampling was non-probabilistic, randomization into experimental and control groups was strictly maintained using a computer-generated random allocation method (randomizer.org), thereby upholding the integrity of the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design. This hybrid approach allowed for a targeted yet controlled investigation of the effects of Trimūrti Dhyāna in a physiologically homogeneous sample. The gender-homogeneous sampling helped control for sex-based autonomic variability known to affect HRV metrics. All participants provided informed consent and were assured access to the intervention post-study, if allocated to the control group. 2.3 Ethical Approval and Consent Ethical clearance was obtained from the Central Ethical Committee of SDUAHER (Ref. SDUAHER/KLR/ CEC/69/2021–22), and the trial was registered under the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/REF/2022/07/056073). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. 2.4 Randomization and Group Allocation After screening and baseline assessments, participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups using a computer-generated random sequence via Randomizer.org. Allocation concealment was maintained prior to assignment to ensure methodological rigor. The two groups were defined as follows:
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