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Yagya Therapy

Yagya is a scientific method aimed at the finest utilization of the subtle properties of sacrifised matter with the help of the thermal energy of fire and the sonic vibrations of the mantras. In the process of yagya, herbal and plant medicinal sacrifices are made in the fire of specific type of wood in especially designed fire-pit or brick and clay structure called (yagya) Kunda. Slow combustion, sublimation, and most prominently, the transformation into vapor phase of the sacrifised herbal and plant medicinal and nutritious substances takes place in the yagya-fire.
 
Inhalation therapy and environmental purification are paramount applications of yagya apart from its enormous sublime impact and auspicious spiritual effects cited with reverence in the Shastric Literature.
 
Usually the internal structure of the fire-pit is that of an inverted pyramid, which amounts to controlled variation of temperature and optimal dissipation of energy. The shapes are selected according to the type and purpose of yagya. The size depends upon how many people are supposed to perform yagya simultaneously for how long, and how big an area is to be covered, and for what application, etc?
 
Recent research experiments conducted at Brahmvarchas Research Centre establish scientific validity of this ancient herbal inhalation therapy.

Yagya fumes and vapours (inhalation through respiration and skin pores),

• Direct reach to each part of the body.
• Painless, risk less, harmonious effects
• Excellent remedy for psychosomatic disorders
• Treatment of Neurosis, psychosis, schizophrenia, Depression , Melancholia, Hysteria.

* Oral medicines – Effect only through digestion. But not fully absorbed.

* Negative impact on digestive system.

* Intravenous therapies – Quick effect but risk of reaction and side effects.

The yagyopathy laboratory established at Brahmavarchas Research Instt., Shantkunj, haridwar ( India) is unique lab in which search and development facility are available to study the effect of sublimation of herbs with power of mantra chanted during the course of the ritual of Yagya.

Highlights of PhD Research Work of Dr. (Mrs). Meenakshi Raghuvanshi

Pulmonary Tuberculosis is a major public health problem across the globe.  Every year about eighty thousands new cases are reported in India alone. The high frequency of drug-resistance, complications of sequential updating of multiple drug-regimen and side effects like hepatotoxicity, etc limit the efficacy of its treatment by modern medicines.  Ayurvedic herbal medicines are found to be effective, but oral administration of these is usually slow in desired healing.

Because of repeated rhythmic chanting of mantra and deep breathing, oral and nasal inhalation of medicinal vapors/gases/fumes (released from the processing of the herbal plant medicinal preparation in the yagya-fire) occurs naturally during yagya. Thus, yagyopathy (yagya-therapy) enables pulmonary administration of the herbal medicines and is therefore expected to be a more efficient mode of healing in case of pulmonary diseases in general and pulmonary tuberculosis in particular.

Thorough scientific evaluation of this ancient therapy in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis was the principal objective of this research work.

The yagyopathy (yagya-therapy) experiments in this study were conducted using the fire-pit in the shape of ‘Padma Kunda’ which is constructed in the center of the Yagyopathy Lab of the Brahmvarchas research centre, Shantikunj, Hardwar. The size of this kunda is approximately 6 to7 times (in cross sectional area of the successive layers from top to bottom) that of the agnihotra kunda. The lab is surrounded by glass walls with appropriate facilities of controlled ventilation and exhaust through the roof which can be connected (at the terrace of the lab) to desired instruments for collection and analysis of  the released medicinal fumes/gases/vapors etc. The lab is maintained in clinically necessary clean conditions. It is surrounded by green plants with a pollution-free and calm environment.

Dry powder prepared using the anti-tubercular preparations recommended in Ayurvedic scriptures were used as havan samagri for sacrifice in the yagya-fire. The botanical and chemical properties and the antitubercular activity, antibacterial activity and immunomodulatory activities published in modern scientific literature were thoroughly reviewed. Due care was taken to assure best type and quality of the herbs.

Detailed chemical analysis of the thermal transformation and slow-combustion process of yagya was studied together with the possible reactions and release of important phytochemicals and their anti-bacterial (including anti myco-bacterial), immunomodulatory and other important activities and synergistic and antagonistic effects of total herbs.

The Impact of Yagya on Microflora

To study the impact of Yagya on air microflora, several experiments were conducted both indoor and outdoor, some experiments were also conducted simultaneously to compare the effect of Yagya and that of non-Yagya i.e. by just burning plain wood and also the effect of burning plain herbs without any rituals and mantras was studied. The effect was studied on the air microflora bacteria, fungi and pathogens by exposing the pretreated petri-dishes to the atmosphere before the Yagya, during the Yagya and till three days after Yagya.

In one experiment the effect was studied till 7 days after Yagya, which was an indoor experiment. The results were very encouraging. In all the indoor experiments there was a significant reduction in the microbes especially the pathogens . The decrease on the day 3 in the four experiments has been recorded as 100%, 67%, 87% and 93% respectively in pathogens, which is impressive. These results are supportive of the fact that Yagya renders the atmosphere bacteriostatic and it kills the harmful microbes in the atmosphere.

Bacterial Counts after Experiments

One experiment was continued till 7 days after Yagya and it was seen that even on the day7, there was an impressive reduction of 93%, in bacteria, 88% in fungi and 93% in pathogen,  as compared to their respective  backgrounds . This is a very significant result as it shows that the effect of Yagya is long lasting and it continues till long after the physical process has been completed.
 

Pathogen Counts after Experiments

It is the general belief that any type of fumes help in the reduction of air microbes. In the experiments of comparison of Yagya with that of non- Yagya,   proper Yagya was performed at one place and plain wood was burnt at another place. In both the places     care was taken to keep the variability factors like temperature, humidity, number of persons, air flow etc., as constant and   samples of air were taken before Yagya, during Yagya and till two days after Yagya. The results were very surprising. In the case of Yagya where there was a reduction of 79%, 68% ,  69% and 33 % respectively as compared to the background in the bacteria, fungi, TMF and the pathogens    till two days after the Yagya there was an increase of 111%, 257%, 104% and 100% respectively as compared to the background, one day after the Non-Yagya experiment. The same experiment was repeated again after one year and the results of this experiment were again similar. From the above results it can be concluded that any type of smoke/ fumigation does not reduce the air microbes in the environment. In fact the fumigation of simple wood has led to an increase in the counts in most of the cases. Whereas on the other hand the smoke/ gases produced as a result of Yagya led to an overall decrease in the Air microflora in the atmosphere.  
 

TMF Counts After Experiments:-

Another study was conducted in the open air at a place called Karawal Nagar in East Delhi where a large scale Yagya of 108 Kunds was performed. The sampling was done in the same way as in the case of indoor experiments and a comparison of the microbe colony counts  during and after Yagya was made with the background . The experiment continued from 12th to 16th of Yagya and the sampling was continued till two days after the Yagya. The results show that in comparison with the background counts, there was a reduction of  55% in bacteria, 15% in  fungi, and 79% in the pathogens on the next day after the Yagya was over. The reduction in pathogens was 79% even on the second day after Yagya. The total microflora had reduced by 49% on the 2nd day after Yagya.

Harmful Gas Levels Before and After Yagya

Similarly in the second open air experiment the NO2 reduced by23% on the day of experiment and was25% reduced on the next day after Yagya. SO2 was 33% below the background level on thwe day of Yagya and was 41% reduced on the 2nd day after Yagya. In both the above experiments there has been perceptible change in the quantum of NO2 and SO2, as compared to the background.
In one experiment   the effect was studied till 7 days after Yagya, which was an indoor experiment. The results were very encouraging. In all the indoor experiments there was a significant reduction in the microbes especially the pathogens .  The decrease on the day 3 in the four experiments has been recorded as 100%, 67%, 87% and 93% respectively in pathogens, which is impressive. These results are supportive of the fact that  Yagya  renders the atmosphere bacteriostatic and it kills the harmful microbes in the atmosphere.
In order to study the effect of Yagya on the gaseous pollutants, two experiments  were performed in the open air.  Samples of air were collected by CPCB in one case and by Envirotech in the second case and analyzed for gaseous pollutants SO2 and NO2  . The two experiments were performed at M.S. Apartments, K.G. Marg, New Delhi, in the open air in January 2004 and February 2005, respectively.  In both the experiments the objective was to see if there was any effect of performing Yagya in the open air on the gaseous pollutants. The results in both the cases were encouraging. In the first experiment there was a reduction of 47% in NO2 on the day of Yagya and 60% on the next day. In case of SO2, the reduction was 86% on the day of experiment and almost 100% on the next day as the SO2 was below detection level.
 

Outdoor Studies during Yagya in Delhi

All the above findings  are indicative of the fact  that the process of Yagya is effective in the reduction of air pollution both gaseous and microbial and also removes the bad odour, if any, at the place. It is also seen that the effect of Yagya remains in the atmosphere for days after it has actually been performed.  Hence we see that ‘Yagya’  is probably the only possible solution for today’s environmental pollution problems.
The importance of this Yagya was known to our ancestors who recommended that Yagya should be performed by every person and in every home on daily basis. Today we have forgotten this science and it is time that we should revive this ritual and adopt it for the betterment of ourselves and our future generations.
 

List of Publications

Saxena M., Sengupta B., Pandya (2007): The Air-Pollution Index. Ind. J. Air Pollut. Control., VI (2), pp. 29-42

Saxena M., Sengupta B., Pandya P.(2007): A Study of  the Impact of Yagya on Indoor Microbial Environments. Ind. J. Air Pollut. Control., VII (1), pp. 6-15

Saxena M., Sengupta B., Pandya (2007): Comparative Studies of Yagya vs Non-Yagya in Microbial Environments. Ind. J. Air Pollut. Control., VII (1), pp. 16-24

Saxena M., Sengupta B., Pandya (2007): Forecastign of NO2 Concentration Baed on Time Series Models. Ind. J. Air Pollut. Control., VII (1), pp. 57-66

Amidst the fascinating achievements of the modern era of science and technology in improving our comfort levels, stress and pollution have posed the major challenge for man. The world is beginning to realize that the comforts provided to us by modern science and technology do not necessarily always make life easier. In fact, apart from greater stress and tension, more unknown diseases, untold anxiety and fear is caused by the highly polluted environment and ecological imbalance. This has raised alarming call for rethinking and guiding the common life style. Yagya appears to be a boon of the ancient Indian sciences for achieving this purpose.

In a physical laboratory, it might not be possible to demonstrate the spiritual effects of Yagya, but the physical and mental effects of Yagyas can be certainly tested, and the claims to cure physical and mental diseases through Yagya can be verified. The Brahmavarchas Shodha Sansthan (a scientific research centre in Hardwar, India) has taken up research on this aspect of Yagya.

It is to be noted here that the traditional systems of treatment of physical diseases employ medicines which are mostly administered orally. They, therefore, produce effects only after they have been digested and absorbed into the system. Most part of the medicine taken orally neither is nor utilized by the digestive system. Such medicines may also upset digestion seriously. The same is more or less true medicines directly injected into the blood. They produce results quicker,but their adverse side effects are often more pronounced. White corpuscles of the blood resent intrusion of any foreign bodies into the blood, and sometimes the reaction of the system to the sudden, massive and direct intrusion of foreign matter into the blood through injection proves most serious, and even fatal. In a Yagya, medicines and herbs are vaporized by offering them into the sacrificial fire, and they enter the human body in a gaseous form through the nose, lungs and the pores of the skin. This might be proved to be easiest, least taxing, least risky and most effective method of administering a medicine so as to reach every single cell of the body.

The possibilities of curing mental diseases by Yagya are even more alluring.Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders is still in its infancy in the modern systems of treatment. There are neither well established diagnostic aids, nor any recognized system of treatment of diseases like Neurosis, Psychosis,Schizophrenia, Depression, Tension, Melancholia, Mania, Hysteria etc. On the
other hand, psychosomatic diseases are even more rampant than physical diseases and they wreck the man more than the latter.

Manifestation of psychosomatic diseases except in extreme and advanced cases is not so apparent, and that may explain why enough attention has not been paid to them. The stress and strain of modern life, degradation of social behavior and fall in moral values all around are contributing to an alarming increase in psychosomatic diseases. Yagya might offer a solution to this serious problem as well.

The technique of Yagya for the treatment of physical and mental diseases does not comprise mere vaporization of the constituents or herbs to be employed, but various Samidhas are offered into the sacrificial fire of Yagya to create the desired effects. Research on all these aspects of Yagya is being conducted in the laboratory of Brahmvarchas. It might well lead to the development of a scientifically established in yagnopathy, which may find not only an honored but a leading place in other therapies of the world like Allopathy, Homeopathy, Chromopathy, Naturopathy, etc. Looking to the high intellectual caliber and attainments of those who are engaged in research, Yagnopathy may come into being sooner than expected, and it may rank a unique achievement of the modern age.

Apart from the significant physical and medical applications like purification of the environment, curing bodily ailments and augmenting vitality and physical potentials, yagyopathy is also found to be of immense use in treatment of psychosomatic disorders and psychological and psychiatric problems. The domain of mental ailments, though invisible is much wider and intense than those of the varieties of bodily diseases. Almost the entire human society is suffering from these in one form or the other. The roots of over 90% of the somatic diseases too lie in the hidden folds of the patient’s mind. Confusion, illusion, fear, suspicion, fury, excitement, whimsical attitude, etc are common mental deficiencies that are often found in most of us to some extent. If left unchecked, their persistence and silent growth turn an otherwise normal fellow into a sort of cranky or ‘halfmad’ one. Depression, insomnia, and varieties of puzzling psychiatric cases and insanity are more painful than the bodily sufferings. Accidie, aboulia, amnesia, dullness, inefficiency, etc are offshoots of mental illness of some other kinds that lead to sufferings like poverty, backwardness, insult, negligence, scorn etc.   
 
The gamut of psychological and psychiatric ailments appears to have grown many-fold in the recent times. In spite of advancement of medical sciences and technologies, there is no effective remedy for any kind of mental problem or deficiency. Pain-killers, tranquilizers, steroids are tried frequently for somehow giving some kind of ‘relief’. Soon their ‘magical’ effect is lost and puts the patient in greater mental (and also physical) suffering. The current practice of giving carbon dioxide based therapy and electrical shocks in case of psychiatric disorder are also far from being effective and scientifically perfect. Here again the side-effects owe high risk.  The treasure of scriptural knowledge and the results of experimental studies on yagyopathy offer it as a light of hope with great potentials for mental treatment and enlightenment.  
 
The sublimated vital elements and herbal medicines inhaled in Yagya first reach the brain and then to the lungs and other parts – the gross as well as the subtle components, of the body. Thus, it has a direct healing effect on brain-born diseases and complexities. The body absorbs the heat of its sacrificial fire and inhales – through the skin-pores and respiration – the vapors of sublimated herbs. This elevates the level of free radicals – antioxidants, and negative ions and thus upon reaching the brain and the nerves eliminates the major cause of mental tensions. The specific energy currents educed by yagyagni and mantra sakti have significant remedial effect on the disorders and diseases ranging from headache, migraine, cold to mental dullness, intellectual deficiencies, depressions, insomnia, intemperance, epilepsy, psezophrania and varieties of manias.     
 
The unique impact of mantra sakti in yagyopathy is of paramount importance. The configurations of special syllables in mantra and the vedic patterns of chanting them during Yagya are derived from absolute research (by the rishis) on the deeper sciences of – gross and subliminal sonic vibrations, music and consciousness. The collective chanting of mantras in adept rhythm in front of yagyagni magnifies the mantra-sakti exponentially and expands the mantra-vibrations to unlimited heights in all dimensions.  The superimposition of sound waves generates immense power in ordinary case too; there are many familiar examples that illustrate this fact in day-to-day life. The soldiers are advised to disrupt their march-fast while walking over a bridge; else, the vibrations produced by their joint footsteps would shake and might even break the bridge.  The synchronized tunes of sound can break a glass cup; at greater intensities it can even quiver and crack the mountains. The explosive sound of dynamite often creates a tremor like vibrations in distant areas too. Such loud sounds in the nearby places are also found to cause abortions and sudden heart failures. The shrilling sound of a bugle kills the microorganisms on its way. The special tune of siren sparks new courage and enthusiasm in the hearts of warriors.  The magical effects of music in increasing one’s potentials and creative talents and its therapeutic applications are also well known.    
 
The power of sound in mantras is far more refined, intense and deep. Apart from the gross impact of the specific patterns of sonic waves generated by mantras, the mantra-sakti is also endowed with the limitless subliminal force of the spiritually enlightened consciousness of the sadhakas and yajakas.  This spiritual effect is intensified by the purity of the mind and heart, devout determination and sraddha of the latter.  The esoteric science of mantras was so advanced in the times of yore that mantras were used as weapons and missiles; in transmutation of a sick and dying body into a youthful, strong one. Mantras used to effectuate timely materialization of the curses and boons of the rishis and great sadhakas who had attained mastery in this supernatural science.     
The Yagya-energy induces unique force in expanding the effect of mantra-sakti almost instantaneously. The modern science affirms three basic streams of energy indwelling in Nature – sound, heat and light. Of these, the velocity of heat and light is unimaginably greater than that of sound. In the process of Yagya, the natural conjugation of the enormous heat and Yagya-energy with mantra-sakti and the collision of the superimposed sonic waves of collective mantra chanting with the quivering flames of the yagyagni induce infinite speed and amplification of the mantra-sakti and help it expand up to cosmic domains in feasible time.      
  
Soft voice of a person is amplified and made audible to thousands of people around and at distant places with the help of loudspeakers via the power of electrical energy. The electromagnetic power enables the voice of a person reach every corner of the globe through the wireless radio signals. Television enables such transmission of photographs and three-dimensional images too. Similarly, the energy of yagyagni works like the ‘amplifier’ and ‘transmitter’ for the sonic waves of mantra.  The mantra sakti expressed by the spiritually purified voice of the sadhakas (yajakas) thus works like a Sabdabhedi Baña and induces intense impact deep inside the minds of people participating in the Yagya. Its divine vibrations spun a sublime aura of spiritual and sonic energy in the distant surroundings too and generate a unique ambience of blissful enlightenment and peace.   
 
The splendid compounding of mantra sakti, Yagya-energy and intrinsic determination of the awakened inner self of the yajakas during the process of Yagya erects a sublime furnace… that melts and evaporates the vices of the participants. It burns out their insidious instincts, evil tendencies, other mental weaknesses and aberrations including – erogenous passions, excitements, anger, jealous, hatred, fear, anxiety, whims, tensions, etc and refines and calms down their minds. Simultaneous with this refinement, there is a compensating energizing, elevation and molding of their mental body that enable enlightened development of their personality and arousal of their hidden talents and brilliance. Yagyopathy offered by accomplished sadhakas and experienced yatis thus appears to be offering the elixir for total health.  
The herbal medicines in yagyopathy work on the principle of magnified potency by subtlization and sublimation.  It is a well-known fact the oral medicines consumed in gross form (e.g. tablets or syrup) have lesser effect as compared to those infused in the blood stream directly by injections. If inhaled through breath and the skin pores in vaporized or gaseous form, the same medicine would have many-old positive effects. Subtlization and sublimation increase their potency exponentially.   
 
It’s a simple fact; known to most of us that subtlization increases the potency of material substances. For example soaked and abraded almond has greater effect as tonic than the solid one. Its semi-liquid form obtained by scrubbing is even more effective than the paste prepared by grinding.  Half-chewed, somehow gulped morsel of bread would not give that benefit as the properly chewed one. If one is forced to eat even a tiny piece of gold or silver coin, it would create serious problems for him. However, the same metal when powdered processed into fire and converted into a bhasm (medicinal ash) would become a part of a medicine or tonic.
   
The plant and herbal medicines of Ayurveda work on the aforesaid principle that finer grinding, patting, pounding and stirring result in greater extraction and concentration of the healing effects. Similar is the case of the homeopathic drugs. Here the potency of the drugs is increased by subtlization. Allopathic treatments by intravenous injections also work faster and more effectively as compared to giving the same medicines orally in grosser forms.  In case of Yagya-based therapy, the coarse havan-samagri sacrifised in the yagyagni is subtlized, sublimated and transformed into gaseous or vapor form. How its potency and healing effects magnify in this process could be understood by the familiar case of red chilly.  When a red chilly is kept in its solid one-piece form no one would experience or notice its existence. It might irritate and cause burning sensation in the hands of the one who grinds it. But if the same tiny piece is ignited in fire, we would find everyone around coughing, sneezing and pouring tears…; the irritation in throat, nose, breathing pipe and burning in the eyes would be unbearable in the large surrounding area wherever, its smoke is spread.  The scientific process of Yagya makes maximum use of the marvelous effect of subtlization and sublimation in the carefully designed (for controlled gradual temperature variation) Yagya-kuñdas. 
 
When one takes an oral medicine (e.g. a tablet), it first reaches the stomach from where only a fraction of it goes to the blood after metabolism. The rest gets drained out with urine and faces. Thus the effect of the drug materializes only partly; this is further reduced if the patient’s digestive system is weak. The same drug if infused directly in to the blood stream by intra-venous injection, certainly shows rapid and better effect. However, here too its significant effect could be lessened by the deficiencies (of specific chemicals for instance) in the blood, problems of blood flow etc. The risks of counter-reactions are more in this case as the entire dose reaches the blood almost instantaneously. Moreover, it is not certain, whether the drug reaches the subtle components of the body in the desired form?  The healing offered by Yagya is free from all such limitations. The sublimated drug (healing substances) reaches each and every component of the body through the skin pore and breathing. 
  
Respiratory system is most efficient and prominent among all the inlets (for energy and healthy substances) and outlets (for waste and harmful substances) of the body. We intake water and food through the mouth and expel the rejected and rotten portions through the urinary tube and rectum and through perspiration.… The most important source of our survival is given to us by our respiratory system.  We all know the necessity of oxygen, which is inhaled by us through breathing. We might sustain our life for several days without food, could even continue to breathe without water for few days, but can’t prolong it beyond few minutes in the absence of oxygen. The non-stop work done by the respiratory system alone in carrying the vital energy source to every particle of the body, is more crucial and heavier than that of the digestive system and accessory components and organs in maintaining the living body.  The respiratory system and the galaxy of skin pores play the key role in enabling the absorption of the praña, the energy and the healing currents (including the herbal drug effects) of Yagya in the blood, organs and the cellular, molecular and subtler units of our body.   
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