SCIENTIFIC
EXPERIMENTS WITH AGNIHOTRA
Agnihotra
and Microbes, A Laboratory Experience
Dr. Arvind D. Mondkar M.Sc; Ph.D
(Micro)
Agnihotra Effect on Bacterial Population
A preliminary experiment was carried out to study the effect of
Agnihotra on the bacterial population in a room where Agnihotra
was performed. For this study, two rooms of equal dimensions (13¼’
x 8’ x 11’) were selected. In both rooms fire was
prepared from dried cowdung cakes in copper pyramids and the basal
reading of number of microorganisms in both the rooms was taken
by exposing blood agar plates at four corners of the room for
10 minutes. This was done exactly half an hour before Agnihotra
time. Agnihotra was performed exactly at sunset in one of the
rooms. Bacterial counts were taken again in both the rooms in
a similar manner at half hour intervals. Thus readings were taken
in both the rooms up to two hours after performance of Agnihotra.
It was quite interesting to note that microbial counts in the
room where Agnihotra was performed were reduced by 91.4% whereas
the room where only fire was generated did not show appreciable
changes in the microbial counts. This leads one to think that
it was the process of Agnihotra which was responsible for the
reduction of bacterial counts and not the mere presence of fire.
Two other similar experiments revealed similar findings. The phenomenon
could be explained by giving two reasons :
No. |
Reasons |
1. |
Agnihotra
fumes are rich in formaldehyde and other substances
which have inhibitory effect on microorganisms. |
2. |
A
phenomenon like smog formation and its diffusion
in the upper strata might be a likely postulation.
|
|
In
the regions of North and South poles, many times, carbon particles
accumulate to form a layer called “smog”. When fire
is lit the hot currents push the smog into the upper strata and
it is diffused in such a way that the carbon particles are no longer
harmful in the residual concentration. In the present study perhaps
Agnihotra fumes might have dissociated the microorganisms in such
a way that the residual population was no more harmful and was well
within tolerable limit to human beings.
Agnihotra Effects on Bioenergetic Systems of Individual
Microorganisms :
This kindled our interest and it was decided to study the effect
of Agnihotra on the bioenergetic systems of individual microorganisms.
A strain of Staphylococci pyogenes isolated from a pus sample was
selected for the study. The strain showed all the characteristics
of a pathogen. It was isolated from a lesion, produced beta haemolyses
on blood agar, showed a positive coagulase test and fermented mannitol
with the production of acid. The strain was innoculated on a pair
of blood agar plates, one of which was kept away from the Agnihotra
atmosphere (control plate). The other one was exposed to Agnihotra
fumes for five minutes and was allowed to remain in that atmosphere
till next Agnihotra was performed (approximately 12 hours).
Agnihotra is to be performed on the biorhythm of sunrise/sunset.
Surprisingly, it was observed that the plate exposed to Agnihotra
(test plate) showed a tremendous reduction in the zone of haemolysis
as against a wide zone of haemolysis in the control plate.
Organisms from both the plates were then subjected to coagulase
test. The organisms from the test plate showed a negative coagulase
test demonstrating their inability to produce coagulase. Finally,
the organisms from both the plates were emulsified in one ml. of
normal saline separately to give suspensions of equal strength.
This was achieved by use of Brown’s opacity tube no. 3. The
suspensions were then injected intradermally into the thighs of
an albino mouse. The mouse was kept under observation for five days.
It was very interesting to note that the suspension from the test
plate failed to produce any lesion in the mouse wheras the suspension
from the control plate produced typical abscess. These results suggest
that Agnihotra played a pivotal role in controlling the metabolic
activities of this microorganism. In this case, a pathogenic strain
of Staphylococcus pyogenes showed characteristics of a nonpathogenic
strain ofter exposure to Agnihotra atmosphere.
This was just an observation and triggered quite a number
of questions in the mind :
No. |
Questions |
1. |
Is
this effect phenotypic or genotypic? |
2. |
Is
it necessary to expose the strain for a prolonged
time interval or will a short exposure cause a similar
effect? |
3. |
Will
the progeny of these microorganisms behave in a
similar manner? |
4. |
Does
the small or microdose of substances released from
Agnihotra process Boost the immunity mechanism of
the patient to get rid of the infection or does
the infecting agent lose its virulence? Perhaps
both the effects go hand in hand. |
|
Answers
to these questions are still beyond sight and show a need for further
experimentation in this field.
Therapeutic Effect of Agnihotra Ash :
An attempt was then made to study the therapeutic use of Agnihotra
ash against scabies in rabbits. Rabbits are quite often infected
with scabies marked by snow white crust formations on their nose,
ear margins and skin. The infection then becomes systemic and the
animal dies. Normally this sort of scabies is cured by daily application
of benzyl benzoate and salicylic acid for about 6 to 8 days, depending
upon the severity of the infection.
In one study, Agnihotra ash was homogenized with an equal volume
of cow’s ghee (clarified unsalted butter) and applied over
the infected area above the nostrils of a rabbit. Agnihotra ash
worked extremely well and the crust was detached on the third day
of application and that too with a single application.
With benzyl benzoate and salicylic acid, it took five days for the
crust to detach itself from the control rabbit. Another notable
advantage of this was that the preparation was not irritating like
benzyl bezoate or salicylic acid. The rabbits always lick that application
because of irritation and the young ones die of poisoning. This
risk could be avoided with Agnihotra ash. These results promise
a solution to microbial pollution by the performance of Agnihotra
and ingestion of Agnihotra ash medicines.
Agnihotra and Grapes
Dr. B. G. Bhujbal, Research Officer Maharashtra State Grape
Growers' Association, Pune, India (Satsang Vol. 8, No. 17, 1981)
Another experiment was performed in a grower's field. Mr. Pundlik
Khode, a small farmer from the village of Pimpalgaon-Baswant, Nasik
District had been much worried about his crop and was doubtful regarding
repayment of his bank loan obtained for the vineyard. Agnihotra
was done regularly and Agnihotra ash was applied to his vines. The
observations which were recorded at harvest time proved very good.
The grower, Mr. Khode, had never believed in such a possibility
until he saw the actual results. The individual berry as well as
the cluster was superior in colour, taste, sweetness and weight.
About 150 observers said that the crop was the best in that locality.
Effects of regular fertilizing practice, only Agnihotra
regular practice and Agnihotra :
Effects |
Regular
Fertilizing Practice |
Only
Agnihotra |
Regular
Practice and Agnihotra |
Seed |
More
than 6 months required |
21
to 28 days |
*** |
Germination |
for
germination |
required |
*** |
Rooting
of cutting |
80
% rooting |
100
% rooting |
100
% rooting |
Bunch
development |
Av.
bunch wt. 0.45 Kg. |
Av.
bunch wt. 0.45 Kg. |
Av.
bunch wt. 0.525 Kg. |
Disease |
More
disease |
No
disease |
Less
disease |
Colour |
Green
yellow |
Golden
yellow |
Pale
yellow |
Quality |
TSS
22 % |
TSS
24 % |
TSS
23 % |
Loss
of harvest |
About
30 % loss |
No
loss |
10
% loss |
|