Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati in the third chapter(Samullas) of Satyarth Prakash answers about scientific nature of havan .”Those who know about matter know it for sure that matter never dies. Matter under the fire doesn’t get destroyed. It transforms from one state to another state. Fire enhances the character of matter. Only scent has not the disintegrating power to rid the house of its impure air , and replace it by the fresh pure air. It is fire alone which possesses that power, whereby it breaks up the impurities of the air , and reduces them to their component parts, which, getting lighter, are expelled from the house and replaced by fresh air from outside.”
He further says” In the ‘Golden Days’ of India ,saint and seers , princes and princesses, king and queens, and other people used to spend a large amount of time and money in performing and helping others to perform Homa ; and so long as this system lasted, India was free from disease and its people were happy. It can become again, if the same system were revised.”
Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. The lower the levels of air pollution, the better the cardiovascular and respiratory health of the population will be, both long- and short-term. Outdoor air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in developed and developing countries alike.
WHO estimates that some 80% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to ischemic heart disease and strokes, while 14% of deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or acute lower respiratory infections; and 6% of deaths were due to lung cancer. Ambient (outdoor air pollution) in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2012; this mortality is due to exposure to small particulate matter of 10 microns or less in diameter (PM10), which cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers.
In addition to outdoor air pollution, indoor smoke is a serious health risk for some 3 billion people who cook and heat their homes with biomass fuels and coal. Some 4.3 million premature deaths were attributable to household air pollution in 2012. Almost all of that burden was in low-middle-income countries as well.
Six Common Air Pollutants, known as “criteria pollutants” are particulate matter, ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides.
Summary of Health Effects of Basic Air Pollutants:
Carbon Monoxide-Poor reflexes, Ringing in the ears, Headache, Dizziness, Nausea, Breathing Difficulties, Drowsiness, Reduced work capacity, Comatose state (can lead to death)
Lead (Pb)-Kidney Damage, Reproductive system damage, Nervous system damage (including brain dysfunction and altered neurophysical
behaviours)
Oxides of Nitrogen(NOX)- Increased risk of viral infections, Lung irritation (including pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema),Higher respiratory illness rates, Airway resistance, Chest tightness and discomfort, Eye burning, Headache
Ozone (O3)-Respiratory system damage (lung damage from free radicals),Reduces mental activity, Damage to cell lining (especially in nasal
passage),Reduces effectiveness of the immune system, Headache ,Eye irritation, Chest discomfort, Breathing difficulties, Chronic lung diseases ( including asthma and emphysema),Nausea
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)-Aggravates heart and lung diseases, Increases the risk for respiratory illness (including chronic bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary emphysema),Cancer ( may not show for decades after exposure)
Respirable Particulate Matter(PM10) -Respiratory illness (including chronic bronchitis, increased asthma attacks, pulmonary emphysema),Aggravates heart disease
Results of Some Recent Experiments on Havan:
EXPERIMENT -1
Prof.Pushpendra K.Sharma, S.Ayub, C.N.Tripathi, S.Ajnavi, S. K.Dubey (Professors ,Civil & Env.Engineering,HCST,Mathura & AMU, Aligarh,UP, INDIA) conducted yajyan, in laboratory and artificially generated pollution conditions. After taking 5-10 readings and studying all the different methodologies, using almost 324 Ahuties yajyan with clarified cow butter (ghee),Pipal wood (Ficusr eligiosa),Havan samagri (kapurkachari, gugal, nagarmotha, balchhaar or jatamansi, narkachura,sugandhbela, illayachi, jayphal, cloves and dalchini etc.),they came across a conclusion that the air pollution of criteria pollutants can be effectively reduced opting column method using locally available materials and without adding any chemicals. Under the natural lab conditions and after creating local and artificial indoor air pollution it was noticed that Sox, Nox were considerably reduced by almost 51%, 60%respectively more by yajyan when compared without yajyan and both RSPM & SPM were also found to be reduced by 9% & 65% respectively more as compared to the condition without yajyan. Although the RSPM & SPM concentrations were still there but not to the extent of unhygienic conditions. The odor and smell of the Havan hall was not at all objectionable.
EXPERIMENT -2
A group of scientists led by Dr. Manoj Garg, Director, Environmental and Technical Consultants and the Uttar Pradesh pollution control board conducted experiments during the Yajyan at Gorakhpur, U.P. These experiments were set up at about 20 meters east from the Yajyanshala. The samples of 100 ml each of water and air collected from the surroundings were
analyzed using high volume Envirotech APM-45 and other sensitive instruments. :
In Air Samples (unit mg per average sample)
| Instant | Level of Sulphur dioxide | Level of Nitrous Oxide |
| Before Yajyan | 3.36 | 1.16 |
| During Yajyan | 2.82 | 1.14 |
| After Yajyan | 0.80 | 1.02 |
Bacteria Count in Average Water Samples
| Before Yajyan | 4500 |
| During Yajyan | 2470
|
| After Yajyan | 1250
|
Minerals in the Ash (Bhasm) of Yajyan
Phosphorous 4076 mg per kg. Potassium 3407 mg per kg. Calcium 7822 mg per kg. Magnesium 6424 mg per kg. Nitrogen 32 mg per kg. Quispar 2% W/W These results clearly support the claims made about the role of Yagna in control of air pollution. The Deputy Director, Agriculture had submitted a technical report based on such results, recommending the use of Yagna’s ash as an effective fertilizer.
EXPERIMENT- 3
A study of Agnihotra yajyan effect on environment and plants was performed in New English School, Ramanbaug by Pranay Abhang (Teaching Associate, Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology,Savitribai Phule Pune University,Pune) and Manasi Patil under the guidence of Dr.Pramod Moghe (Rtd.Sr.Scientist NCL,Pune) and Dr.G.R.Pathade(Principal,H.V.Desai College, Pune) with the support of Dr.R.G.Pardeshi, Mr.Purandare and Mr.Pathak.
To study the effect of Agnihotra on environment and plants, Agnihotra was performed in the School daily for the period of 8 days and experiments were carried out. The change in light intensity was measured before and after Agnihotra with help of lux meter. Agnihotra has tremendous effect on the environment. To observe the effect of Agnihotra fumes on microbial count in surrounding environment, the colony count was taken before and after Agnihotra. The result showed significant decrease in colony count after Agnihotra, which means Agnihotra reduces microbial load in the air. School is located on one of the busiest roads of Pune. Heavy traffic moves around the school. It was seen that SOx levels dropped significantly after performing Agnihotra while NOx levels remain the same clearly stating that it can keep the pollutants in the surrounding air under check. Water released from houses, factories etc. contain many pathogens which lead to diseases ,When Agnihotra ash was added to this water it was found that the biological oxygen demand was decreased and the microbial count reduced considerably. It was also observed Agnihotra ash when used for plants,there was increase in plant growth. With minimum expenditure on the yajyan one can relish enormous benefits.For the more details of this research visit to the given link below
http://www.agnihotra.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Scientific-study-of-Vedic-Knowledge-Agnihotra.pdf
Dr.Satyaprakash, DSC has written a book in English entitled “AGNIHOTRA OR AN ANCIENT ANTI-POLLUTION PROCESS” giving the scientific point of view. Dr.Satyaprakash was the Head of the Department of Chemistry in Allahabad University. He later on became a monk and was known as Swami Satyaprakashanand. It is humbly suggested to readers to study above mentioned book to understand more scientific aspects of Agnihotra/Havan.
(Acharya Ashish Arya , Darshanacharya,Vaidic Sadhan Ashram,Tapovan,Nalapani,Dehradun,India,email-ashish.tapovan@yahoo.co.in)
REFERENCES
AGNIHOTRA OR AN ANCIENT ANTI-POLLUTION PROCESS(A STUDY FROM THE CHEMICAL STANDPOINT)BY DR. SATYAPRAKASH,DSC
SATYARTH PRAKASH BY SWAMI DAYANAND SARASWATI
http://ijirse.in/docs/Apr14/IJIRSE140407.pdf
http://www.agnihotra.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Scientific-study-of-Vedic-Knowledge-Agnihotra.pdf
http://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/
http://www.sanskritimagazine.com/vedic_science/experimental-study-of-agnihotra-homan/
http://kosh.s3.amazonaws.com/Literature/Integrated_Science_Of_Yagya.pdf