Secret Healing of Mental Illness at Chottanikkara Devi Temple, Kerala

This book is a outcome of a study was conducted in Chottanikkara Temple in Kerala, where the purposive sampling technique was used to obtain 14 participants. The target population were people with mental illness and their family members who attended the Chottanikkara temple for healing. The qualitative approach was used to conduct in-depth interviews to achieve the intended study objectives.
The study found that a majority of patients with mental illness strongly believed that their illness was just a possession of evil spirits and had nothing to do with mental issues. With such belief, they concluded that the perfect cure for the disease is through temple healing. A few patients knew of mental health problems. They sought medical assistance, but due to their inability to afford the medical expenses, medication challenges, and slight improvement, they opted for temple healing. The use of different specified rituals in assisting people with mental illness improved the situation of the patients, as explained. However, some reported that they are felling better at the time of staying around the temple; but when they return home, the illness begins.