NON-CONVENTIONAL SOLUTIONS TO

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH REFERENCE TO

VEDIC SCIENCE

Ph. D. Thesis by Mrs Mamta Saxena,

From
Dev Sanskriti Vishwa Vidyalaya

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Scope of Study

 In my research work I conducted some

experimental studies to study the
possible application of the Vedic
procedure of Yagya in environmental
purification.

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Solution With Reference to
Vedic Science
 Conducted several experiments to study the effect of
Yagya on the atmospheric air microflora, pollutant
gases and odour, both indoor and out door, in
collaboration with the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB), Delhi.
 Experiments were also conducted to study the effect
of Yagya and also that of Non-Yagya on air
Microflora.
 The study was done to explore the Vedic claim that
‘Yagya’ is an effective measure/process to reduce the
level of Air Pollution.

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 Major Pollutants and Health
Hazards
Carbon Monoxide (from Fatal in case of large dose: aggravates
heart disorders; effects central nervous
gasoline cars, 2-3- system; impairs oxygen carrying
capacity of blood. Main symptoms are
wheelers) poor reflexes, ringing in the ears,
headache, dizziness, nausea, breathing
difficulties, drowsiness and reduced
work capacity.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Irritation of respiratory tract, increased

risk of viral infections, lung irritation,
(from diesel vehicles) airway resistance, chest tightness and
discomfort, eye burning, headache etc

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 Major Pollutants and Health
Hazards Contd.
Respirable Particulate
Matter( RSPM from fuel
combustion, power plants, wood
burning, industrial processes and
diesel powered vehicles )
Sulphur dioxide ( mainly
from fuels like diesel)
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Respiratory illness including chronic
bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary
emphysema, aggravates heart
disease etc.
Aggravates heart and lung
diseases, increases the risk of
respiratory illness( including
chronic bronchitis, asthma,
pulmonary emphysema), cancer
( may not show for decades after
exposure) etc.
5
Biological Pollutants in Indoor Air
and their Health Hazards
 The most common indoor biological
contaminants are bacteria, viruses, house
dust mites, fungi, pathogens, pollens
etc.They are known to cause:
 infections, where pathogens invade human
tissues;
 hypersensitivity diseases, where specific
activation of the immune system causes
disease; and
 toxicoses, where biologically produced
chemical toxins cause direct toxic effects.

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Vedic Management of
Environmental Pollution
 As the ancient science of this country was very rich
and had the solutions to almost all the problems of
humankind, it was felt that we should try to find
solution to today’s environmental problems through
them.
 The science of ‘Yagya’ which was developed in the
early prehistoric period, was further developed in the
Vedic period and was found to be very useful for the
mankind. Cleaning of atmosphere and its purification
through removal of foul odour, lowering of harmful
gas levels, removal of harmful microbes and removal
of insects was one of the co-products.

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Yagya
 Literally speaking Yagya means – selfless sacrifice for
noble purposes.
 In physical terms, Yagya (homam, havan) is a process
aimed at the finest utilization of the subtle energy
existing in matter with the help of the thermal energy
of fire and the sound energy of the mantras.
 There are two basic systems in the physical world:
Heat and Sound. In performing Yagya, these two
energies, namely heat from Yagya’s fire and the sound
of the mantra are combined to achieve the desired
physical, psychological and spiritual benefits.

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Vedic Solution to
Environmental Problems
 In Vedas and Smrities, Environmental Pollution is mentioned (Dr.
(Mrs.) Pravesh Saxena ,2004) because of
i. Air Pollution, ii. Water pollution, iii. Land pollution and iv. Pollution
due to mechanical equipments and machineries.
 In the Vedic times people considered Air, Water, Earth, Trees,
Mountains ,Sun and Space as an integral part of one environment (Dr.
Kapil Dev Dwivedi, 2000) which should be revered and conserved.
 To destroy them meant inviting their wrath in the form of natural
disasters.
 The main components of environment, their contribution in
maintaining the environmental balance and possible solutions to
environmental problems prevalent in Vedic Days have been discussed
in brief in my Thesis.

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Yagya : the Basic
Experiment
 Objective: is to find a solution to the
problem of atmospheric pollution through
Yagya. I conducted several experiments to
test the validity of the statement that Yagya
purifies the atmosphere by carrying out the
action in three folds:
 By removing the foul odour
 By absorbing and thereby lowering the level of polluting
gases as NO2, SO2 etc.
 And by killing the harmful germs/ microbes in the
atmosphere

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Types of Experiments
Conducted
 Indoor Yagya: to study the effect of
Yagya on atmospheric pollution
 Indoor Yagya vs. Non-Yagya to study
the effect of proper Yagya vis a vis a
non Yagya where only plain wood was
burnt under other similar conditions.
 Out door Yagya to study the effect of
Yagya in the outer atmosphere.
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Parameters studied
 All the experiments were conducted by me and the
samples were taken and analysed by the Central
Pollution Control Board( CPCB), Delhi. The sampling
devices and petridishes were also provided by the
CPCB. The following parameters were studied in the
experiments:
 Odour
 Air Microflora viz. Bacteria, Fungi, Pathogens, Total
Microflora
 NO2 , SO2 and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

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Impact of Yagya on Indoor Microbial
Environment – A case Study
 Four Indoor experiments, were
conducted in June 04, Jan 05, Feb. 05
and April 05 respectively.
 The ambient air was sampled by using
the ‘Gravity Settle Method’.
 Four samples were taken in a day so as
to have a picture of the variability
during the day.

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Indoor Yagya- Methodology
 In each of the experiment, a day before the
experiment, the background was sampled,
then on the day of experiment, which was
performed early in the morning, samples
were taken and after Yagya till three days the
sampling was continued to see the effect.

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Aggregate Bacterial
Counts – Indoor Study
BackG
During
day1
day2
day3

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Aggregate Fungi Counts-
Indoor Study

Fungi Counts

BackG
During
day1
day2
day3

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Aggregate TMF Counts-
Indoor Study

Total Microflora Counts

BackG
During
day1
day2
day3

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Aggregate Pathogen Counts-
Indoor Study

Pathogen Counts

BackG
During
day1
day2
day3

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Duration of Effect
 In order to study the duration of effect of
Yagya on atmospheric microbes, the 4th
experiment was conducted till 7 days after
Yagya.
 It is seen that there is 92%, 88%, 87%
and79% decrease in counts of Bacteria,
Fungi, TMF & Pathogens respectively with
respect to the background even 7 days after
the experiment. This shows that the effect of
Yagya continues even till 7 days after Yayga
has been conducted.

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Yagya Vs. Non- Yagya – A case Study
on the Indoor Microbial Environment

 April 2003 -Two indoor experiments were

performed simultaneously one Yagya- with
proper rituals, Mantras, Havan Samigri etc. and
another one Non-Yagya performed without
rituals, Mantras and Havan Samigri etc.
 April 2004 – Similar experiments were
repeated at the same venue after one year.

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 Bacteria Counts – Yagya Vs.
Non-Yagya
Bacteria Counts - Yagya vs. Non-Yagya

Colony Counts

25

20

15
11
10 Yagya Bacteria
9 9
5 7 Non-yagya Bacteria

0 Non-yagya Bacteria
17.4.04 18.4.04 Yagya Bacteria
19.4.04
20.4.04
Days

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Fungi Counts – Yagya vs.
Non-Yagya
Fungi Counts - Yagya Vs. Non-Yagya

Colony Counts

10
9
8
7
6
5
4 Yagya Fungi
3
Non-Yagya Fungi
2
1
0 Non-Yagya Fungi
17.4.04 Yagya Fungi
18.4.04
19.4.04
20.4.04
Days

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TMF Counts – Yagya vs. Non-
Yagya

Total Microflora Counts -Yagya vs. Non-Yagya

Colony Counts

25

20

15

10 Yagya TMF
Non-Yagya TMF
5

0 Non-Yagya TMF
17.4.04 Yagya TMF
18.4.04
19.4.04
20.4.04
Days

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 Pathogen Counts – Yagya vs.
Non-Yagya
Pathogen Counts - Yagya vs. Non-Yagya

Colony Counts

12
10
8
6
4
Yagya Pathogens
2
Non-Yagya Pathogens
0 Non-Yagya Pathogens
Yagya Pathogens
17.4.04

18.4.04

19.4.04

20.4.04

Days

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Results
 The general trend of microbes is to decrease over the
period of two days after Yagya and increase over the
period of two days after non-Yagya.
 The Yagya environment atmosphere microbes
decreased significantly over the period of one year.
 In the year 2003, the Bacteria, Fungi and TMF counts
(mean) had decreased by 79%, 68% and 70%
respectively as compared to the background and the
pathogens decreased by 38 % till two days after the
Yagya.

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Results Contd.
 In the case of Non-Yagya, in 2003, the Bacteria, Fungi, TMF
and Pathogens had increased by 111%, 270%, 106% and
129% respectively as compared to the background, one day
after the Non-Yagya experiment.
 In the year 2004, in the Yagya environment, the reduction after
two days in Bacteria and Fungi, was 33%, 6%. However there
was nominal increase in TMF & Pathogen counts by 3% and
25% respectively as compared to the background. In contrast in
the year 2004, there was increase of 37%, 17%, 33% and
147% in the counts of Bacteria, Fungi, TMF and Pathogens in
the Non-Yagya experiment .

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YAGYA, A VEDIC MEANS OF
ENVIRONMENT PURIFICATION- AN OUT
DOOR STUDY
 An open air large scale experiment of Yagya
was performed at Karawal Nagar, Delhi
during the period between 12th to 16th of
May, 2003.
 The gathering of people, who participated in
the Yagya on various days ranged from 6,000
to 16,000.
 The intensity of winds, for the purpose of
calculations, has been taken on a scale 1 to 5
with 5 being most severe, three being
moderate and 1 being no wind.
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 Number of Persons Attending
Yagya
Number of Participants

Number of Persons Attending Yagya

20000
16,000
15000
12,000 12,000
10,000
10000
6,000
5000
10 10 3
0
3

3
3

3
.0

.0

.0

.0

.0

.0
.0

.0
.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5
1

8
1

1
Days Number of Persons

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 Comparative Growth of
Various Microflora
Comparative Growthof Various Microflora
200

160

120
Average CFUs

80 Bacteria

Fungi
40
TMF

0 Pathogen
11.05.03 13.05.03 15.05.03 17.05.03
12.05.03 14.05.03 16.05.03 18.05.03

Date

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 Increase and Decrease of
Microflora before and after
Yagya
Dates Bacte % Fungi % Pathoge % Total %
ria chang changen change M.F. change
e
11.5.03 43.3 6.7 9.7 64.3

17.5.03 19.7 -54.5 5.7 -14.9 2.0 -79.4 19.7 -69.4

18.5.03 27.0 -37.6 10.7 59.7 2.0 -79.4 32.7 -49.1

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Step-Wise Regression Analysis
 The relationship of independent
variables (Days, Number of Persons,
Wind) on Bacteria, Fungi, Pathogen and
TMF was studied using the forward
stepwise regression analysis. The
significance of Model was tested by F-
Test and the significance of individual
variable was tested by t-Test.
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Results
 The bacteria count was significantly related
with the number of persons attended Yagya
and also the correlation between the two was
positive. It means that the changes in
bacteria counts on the days of experiment
was directly dependent upon the number of
persons attended the Yagya activity.
 Wind was found significantly related to the
pathogens in all the three steps of regression.
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Effect of Yagya on the
Gaseous Pollutants
 An experiment of Yagya was conducted
in 2004 at M.S. Apartments, K.G. Marg,
near India Gate in the open air .
 One high volume sampler was placed in
the down wind direction.
 The samples were collected 8 hourly

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Gaseous Experiment results
in 2004

NO2% Change SO2 % Change w.r.t

w.r.t Back Back Gr.
Gr.

31.1.04 56 11.0

1.02.04 29.5 -47.3 1.5 -86.4

2.02.04 22.5 -59.8 0.0 -100.0

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Open Air Experiment -
2004
60

50

40
NO2
30
SO2
20

10

0
31.1.04 1.02.04 2.02.04

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Open Air Experiment 2004
 A similar experiment was conducted an
year after and almost similar results
were found in this case also.

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Conclusion – Open Air Yagya
 From the above two experiments it can
be concluded that the open air Yagya
when performed at large scale are, to
some extent, effective in the reduction
of SO2 and NO2.

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Conclusion of Research
 ‘Yagya’ is the most effective way of atmospheric
purification.
 Indoor experiments conducted by the researcher
confirmed that Yagya is effective in reducing the
indoor and outdoor air microbes which are largely
harmful to human beings, animals and plants.

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Conclusion of Research
 Yagya results in the reduction of air
microflora whereas non-yagya results in
random growth of microflora i.e. it is not
effective in controlling the growth of harmful
air microbes.
 To some extent the open air experiments
showed that the Yagya was effective in
reducing the harmful gases SO2 and NO2.

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The End

Thank You

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