Dr. Arvind D. Mondkar M.Sc; Ph.D (Micro)

Our way of life has intensified the quantum of pollution. No place can be called safe from pollution. What varies is the type of pollutant and the degree of pollution. Pollution is of various types such as gaseous pollution, water pollution, food pollution, radioactive pollution and so on. Of these types microbial pollution is the most important type of pollution for people in the medical or paramedical field.
Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature.

There are mainly two types, namely non-pathogenic or saprophytic (harmless and not causing any disease) and pathogenic (disease producing). There are certain opportunistic pathogens which, given a chance, can produce disease in human beings. Thus the mere presence of these microorganisms in a definite strength in various media can produce contaminants.

Microorganisms like Salmonellae, Shigellae or Vibrios contaminate water, eatables, milk and milk products. When the contaminated eatables are consumed the individual suffers from typhoid, bacillary dysentary or cholera. Similarly, organisms like Staphylococci cause food poisoning by increasing toxins in food.

This microorganism also causes wound infections with pus formation. Streptococci infect the respiratory tract after inhalation of the droplet nuclei on which they are settled.  Hospital infections by Staphylococci and Pseudomones are not uncommon. Recently, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been reported to have entered the space age. This microorganism was isolated from the lining of the fuel tank of a jet engine and was found to be responsible for the corrosion of the tank.
 
It is stated that Agnihotra helps to undo the effects of pollution. In this respect  it was decided to observe the last type of pollutant, i.e., microorganisms and the effect of Agnihotra on them. The present article restricts only to the effect of Agnihotra on microorganisms as observed in a microbiology laboratory.
 
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:
 
- Agnihotra fumes are rich in formaldehyde and other substances which have inhibitory effect on microorganisms.
 
- 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:
 
- Is this effect phenotypic or genotypic?
- Is it necessary to expose the strain for a prolonged time interval or will a short exposure cause a similar effect?
- Will the progeny of these microorganisms behave in a similar manner?
- 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.
 
(Reprinted from Satsang Vol. 9, No. 20, 3/4/82)

Agnihotra Ash and Water Soluble Phosphates

Dr. Tung Ming Lai, Denver, Colorado

I did some lab testing on Agnihotra ash. The results are interesting. 0.10 g. of ash was shaken with 25 mi. of water for forty-eight hours and then the water soluble phosphate content was measured. The same amount of ash was shaken with two different soils (5 g.) from Colorado (also 25 mi. of water) and phosphate content was measured after forty-eight hours of being shaken. The results are as follows. (The values are the average values of duplicates.)

The non-Agnihotra ash was produced with the same ingredients in the same copper vessal as Agnihotra ash. The only difference was the non-Agnihotra ash was not produced at sunrise or sunset, and no mantras were chanted.

(All growing plants need phosphorus; however, regardless of how much phosphorus is added to the soil, only the water soluble portion can be utilized by the plant. On an average, only about five percent of the phosphorus in conventional chemical fertilizers is water soluble.--Ed.) 

Dr. B. G. Bhujbal, Research Officer Maharashtra State Grape Growers' Association, Poona, India (Satsang Vol. 8, No. 17, 1981)

Grapes are a difficult crop to grow under Maharashtra's climatic conditions and also equally difficult to study. I have been associated with research work on grapes while studying for my M.Sc. degree at the University of Poona, India since 1967. Various problems faced by the workers since then were finally put before the research workers at the Agricultural College, Poona.

Hybridization work with grapes had already commenced before my association with this work. I have been observing the results of that work. It was reported that the germination of hybrid grape seeds had been very late and low. When I conducted hundreds of crosses at the Ganeshkhind Fruit Experimental Station, Poona-7 and sowed the seeds after treatment by advanced techniques which included hormones, scarification, stratification etc., the results were discouraging. The germination percentage was very low, i.e. below 20 % and some of the seeds even took 300 days for germination.

Meanwhile I came to learn of Agnihotra and Homa Therapy farming and thought why not have a trial of this therapy in grape research. There was a solar eclipse on 16th of February 1980. I had also read previously that the no-moon day was the best day for seed treatment and sowing. With this background and not to miss the opportunity I coIlected seeds of the Anab-e-shahi, Pandhari Sahebi and Kali Sahebi varieties, local vinifera varieties, as well as some crossed seeds which were collected using the Thompson seedless variety as a male parent to make the cross. In order to conduct the experiment properly, I applied for leave on 20th of February 1980 in time for the treatment to commence on 16th of February, 1980. Some unrooted cuttings of local grape varieties were also collected for additional treatments.

Experimental Plot

All the seeds and the unrooted cuttings were kept in an environment open to Agnihotra fumes. As far as mantras were concerned, I began with the "Tryambakam" Mantra and Homa continued for 2 hours, after which the samples were treated with Agnihotra ash and then put into pots ready for planting. An untreated lot of samples served as a control.

Observations

It was indeed a surprise not only to me and my wife but also to friends who had been laughing at my expenments to observe the first seedlings sprouting on the 21st day of sowing. Some of the recorded observations are given in a table below. The second experiment concerned making raisins. At present, raisin-making is not carried out in Maharashtra except on an experimental basis using the dehydration and sun-drying methods. I collected a few bunches of grapes from growers and hung them in the environment where I was performing Agnihotra. Similar clusters were kept with the growers for making raisins using their own method of sun-drying. After 21 days the drying was almost complete, and after 35 days I collected the clusters and tested them. The raisins were very good in appearance and taste. Special interest rallied around the evidence that the raisins prepared from the Anabe-shahi variety and having low TSS contact were also good. Equally good results were obtained by the Thompson seedless variecy growing in the Agnihotra environment as compared to those varieties generally available in the market.

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	REGULAR FERTIZING PRACTICE	ONLY AGNIHOTRA	REGULAR PRACTICE AND AGNIHOTRA
Seed germination	More than 6 months required for germination	21 to 28 days 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

Effect of Agnihotra on Grapes

The above experiment was conducted in the vineyard of Mr. Pundlik Khode on Thompson seedless grapes at Pimpalgaon Baswant, Nasik, during the year 1979-80.

1. Agnihotra was performed by Dr. B. G, Bhujbal, Asst. Horticulturist, M, Phule Agricultural University. 2. Other Homas were performed by Mr. Ranade, Manager, State Bank of India.
3. Regular operations were carried out by Mr. Pundlik Khode, owner of the vineyard. Mr. Khode was very happy with the Agnihotra results.

Agnihotra was also performed for raisin-making. This was done in March 1980. Clusters were hung from the roof, and under the clusters Agnihotra was performed regularly, twice daily. In 21 days the grapes dried under room conditions and the quality of the grape raisins was excellent. The variety used was Thompson seedless.

Nature is a silent performer and I was anxious to see her work.  Since hundreds of farmers are closely observing our Homa Therapy work at Sutagatti, I was slightly under tension.  Our faith and devotion has started working in this after three months of regular Homa.

The single infected banana plant has gotten the first healthy leaf.  The shoot appears disease-free.  I will soon send the earlier and later photograph.

I am also very happy to inform that the first vanilla produce for the year 1999-2000 is of excellent quality.  The vanilla bean curing process (three months) was started along with Homa Therapy.  The cured vanilla beans were tested at Spice Board testing laboratory in Cochin.  The following are the results:

Year	Place	Vanillin% by weight
1998	ernanakulam (kerala)	2.56
1999	myladumpara (kerala)	2.71
2000	sutagatti (karnatak)	2.91

The above results have given immense joy to all of us, including our fellow organic farmers who had participated in our Homa Therapy.
Now a person with deep knowledge about farm seeds has approached us.  He is ready to offer voluntary services in developing a seed bank, seed plots and demonstration plots for fellow farmers in our area.

In this month we had three heavy rains at Sutagatti.  First occasion was when I was performing Om Tryambakam Homa.  The other two rains came during evening Agnihotra.  However, the first occasion was special.  It rained only over Parashanatti and Sutagatti.  This rain was very essential to us because the electricity transmission transformer was burnt and we had no power for fifteen days.  Our mud barrage built across River Ghataprabha remains now full; otherwise, it dried up by middle of May.  Availability of abundant water for farming during summer has happened, after many, many years.

My workers, their children and neighbors are very much influenced by Homa Therapy.  Two of my workers who were alcoholic and non-vegetarians have stopped consuming since last two months.  One of them is doing regular Om Tryambakam Homa and Agnihotra during our absence.

All these positive things are due to Yajnya.
Abhay Mutalikdesai
Karnatak, India