The document discusses how the fire and mantras used in yagna ceremonies combine to provide physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits. It explains that the inverted pyramid shape of the fire pit allows for controlled generation and dispersion of unusual energy fields. Various woods, herbs, and other ingredients used in havan samagri are described. The document also discusses how yagna purifies the environment through processes like combustion, distillation, and photochemical reactions, removing foul odors, bacteria, and insects.

1. monikamehan@gmail.com

7. The two basic energy systems in the living world
HEAT SOUND
Heat from Yajna’s Fire Sound of the mantras
Combined to achieve desired physical, psychological
and spiritual benefits

8. The Gayatri Mantra
The Gayatri Mantra has been chronicled in the Rig Veda,
which was written in Sanskrit about 2500 to 3500 years ago,
and the mantra may have been chanted for many centuries
before that. 1 8

9. OM VISHWANI DEVA
SAVIT DURTANI PARASUVA
YADBHADRAM TANNAASUVA

12. -----------------4 X---------------
------X-----
gou dq.M dk ladh.kZ ry vikj ÅtkZ dk Lkzksr
gS ftlls ÅtkZ pkjksa rjQ QSyrh gSA

13. :
• (Combustion)
• , (Fumigation)
• (Sublimation)
• (Volatilisation)

14. Inverted Pyramid Shaped Yagna Kunda:
• ‘Pyramid’ means ‘the fire in the middle’.
• inexplicable energies emanating from its center and shape.
• The pyramid shape is widely known to generate and store a special
energy field, which possesses bacteriostatic properties.
• The inverted pyramid shape of the agni kunda allows controlled
generation and multidirectional dissipation of energy.
• It acts as a generator of unusual energy fields and spreads them in
its surrounding atmosphere.

15. Apart from the pyramid shape, some other special symmetric
geometrical designs are also used according to the kind of energy
fields and the cosmic currents one wishes to generate by the yagna.
Specific types of kundas are recommended for different kinds of
yagnas..

16. These are the main purposes of Havan Yajna:
• Lighting a fire and offering wood, ghee and herbs is a
symbolic act of giving and teaches one not to be selfish.
• Recitation of prayers in a group teaches one to live happily
by sharing with others.
• It represents the protection of the environment we all have
to live in.

17. At the start of a Yajna, water is sipped three times: first for the
water received from the sky (rain), second for underground
Sipping of water water (wells) and third for surface water (lakes and rivers).
(Achman) This signifies that God gives shelter from above and provides
the ground (base) to stand on.
Prayer for These mantras recognize the five senses and the parts of the
body, which are needed to carry out work. Different parts of
physical health the body are touched with water to pray for physical health and
(Ang Saparsh) strength.
Communion God's powers and qualities are remembered in these mantras.
Eight mantras selected from the Vedas are recited; they state
prayer that God created everything and that he controls everything
(Ishwar Upasana) through the physical laws he made.
Benedictory These mantras mention various branches of science, which can
be of benefit to mankind. These Vedic prayers refer to the
prayer combination of different materials to make new materials
(Swasti Vachan) (chemistry) and the making of machines (technology) and pray
that they should be of benefit to society.

18. Prayer for peace In these mantras the prayer is for the forces of nature to be
peaceful.
(Shanti Prakarna)
Lighting the fire As the sacred fire is lit, the prayer reminds us that we cannot
live without consuming the things offered by nature. In this
(Agnya Dhan) mantra the role of nature is acknowledged for giving things to
sustain all life.
Placing the By placing the wood, the fire is started. It signifies that work
has to be done to achieve one's goal. Without work one
firewood cannot meet one's objectives.
(Samidha Dhan)
Offering of ghee The main thought behind this offering is that just as fuel
(ghee) is needed to keep the fire going, so God is needed to
(Ghrit Ahuti) keep us alive and working. It also conveys the message that
one should work for God, not for oneself.
Sprinkling of water Water is sprinkled for obtaining unbeatable strength,
tolerance and intelligence. The importance of strength with
(Jal Sinchan) tolerance and intelligence with a sweet tongue is the
message given by this ritual.

19. Special prayers for These mantras teach selflessness. Offerings are made to the
air, sun and fire. These are gifts from God without which no
both morning and one can live. Worshippers are reminded not to misuse and
evening plunder the resources of nature.
Offering without Several offerings to the fire are made with the words "It is not
for me" (Id na mum). Here Hindus pray for protection from
selfishness anger, and ask for more light and less darkness.
(Ajyahuti)
Final offering The final mantra says, "God is perfect. God is infinite." The
Vedas say that God is infinite and perfect because he will
(Poornahuti) never run out of energy.

20. Role of Fire:
Fire is a scientific method of subtilisation of matter into energy and
expanding its potential and positive effects into the surrounding
atmosphere.

23. Wood (Samidha):
Fire is a scientific method of subtilisation of matter into energy and
expanding its potential and positive effects into the surrounding
atmosphere.

24. Wood obtained from the following sources may be used:
Santalum album (sandalwood), Aquilana malaccensis and Valeriana wallchii
(borax wood or agar and tagar), Cedrys libani (cedar or deodar), Mangifera
Indica (mango)
Sandalwood Aquilana malaccensis Valeriana wallchii Cedrys libani Mango

25. Butea frondosa (flame of the forest or palásha), Aegle marmelos (bengal quince
or bilva), Ficus religiosa (the holy fig or pipal), Ficus bengalensis (banyan or
bargad)
Butea frondosa Aegle marmelos Ficus religiosa Ficus bengalensis

26. Proposis spicigera (sponge tree or Shami), Ficus glomerata (wild
fig or gular)
Proposis spicigera Ficus glomerata

27. Other woods suggested are: Eucalyptus, Wood of Oak, Almond,
Lavender.
Eucalyptus Oak Almond Lavender

28. The four vedas signify the complimentary role of gayatri
mantra and yajna in divine creation.
• Rig Veda mentions the powers of Yajna. It lessens the negative energies of
one's karma to bring peace, harmony and prosperity in his life.
• Atharvaveda deals with sound therapy aspects of mantra for the treatment of
ailing human system at physical, psychological and spiritual levels.
• Samaveda focuses on the musical chanting patterns of the mantras and the
omnipresent subtle energy of sound.
• Yajurveda contains the knowledge of principles and methods of performing
yajnas as spiritual and scientific expertiments for global welfare.
• Yajurveda and Rigveda describe it as the ‘navel (nucleus) of the whole world.’

29. Hawan Samagri is made of mainly
four types of ingredients:
1. Keetanu Nasak ( Anti Bacterial )
2. Sugandhit ( Full of Fragrance )
3. Swasthya Vardhak ( Medicinal
action Property)
4. Paushtik ( Healthy Nature )

30. The havisya or havan sámagri should be prepared with a
proper combination of the following.
• Odoriferous Substances: These are usually saffron, musk,
agar, tagar, sandalwood powder, cardamom, nutmeg, javitri
and camphor;
• Substances with Healing properties: clarified butter (ghee),
milk, fruits, lin seeds, and cereals like wheat, rice, barley,
various millet, gram, peas, etc;
• Sweet Substances: sugar, dried dates, resin, honey, etc;
• Medicinal Herbs:

31. •Medicinal Herbs: These are used as per the specific
requirements. Some commonly used herbs are Tinospora
cordifolia (tinospora/guduchi or giloya), Bacopa monieri
(bacopa or bráhmi), Convolvulus pluricaulis (shankh
pushpi), Mesua ferrea (cobra’s saffron or nágkesar),
Glycyrrhiza glabra Bois (liquoric root or mulhati), Red
Sandalwood, Terminalia bellirica (beddanut or bahedá),
Dry Ginger, and Terminalia chebula (chebulic myrobalans
or harada).
Different combinations of these and/or other special herbs are
used for the treatment of specific diseases through yagna-
therapy.

32. Ingredients of Havan Samagri
Baheda, Anwala, Harr, Bawachi, Nagarmotha, Guggal, Talish Patra, Indra Jou,
Nag Keshar, Deodar, Lal Chandan Wood, Jata Masi { Balchhad }, Agar Wood,
Tagar Wood, Cloves, Nutmeg, Cardomom Green, Kapoor Kachari, Jara Kush,
Sugandh Mantri, Sugandh Bala, Sugandh Kokila, Howber, Tomad Beej, Tej Bal
Wood, Sandal Wood, Bach, Bay Leaves, Dry Eucalyptus leaves, Daru Haldi,
Dhawai Phool, Copra, Chharila, Guruch, Kamal Gatta etc. are main
ingredients of Hawan Samagri . In addition to above material Sweet material
{ Sugar/ Gur/ Mishri }, Cow Ghee, dry fruits { Chhohara(Dry Dates), Kishmish,
Chiroungi, Makhana, Gari Gola } , Rice, Jou( Barley), Kala Til are to be added
before use. In order to make it more compatible & effective some quantity of
Cloves, Nutmeg & Mace is also recommended.

34. The temperature attained by the kunda varies between 250 C and
600 C, while in the actual flames it can rise as high as 1200 C to
1300 C. At their boiling points, the volatile constituents vaporize and
their gaseous forms get diffused.
Distillation of Wood:
Besides the complete combustion of the cellulose material of wood, it
is also subjected to distillation. This happens due to the way
samidhás are arranged in the kunda (also called yagna kunda or
havan kunda) and the levels of temperature and air supply which
prevail in it.

35. When cellulose and other carbohydrates undergo combustion, steam is
formed in copious quantities by the combination of the hydrogen of the
decomposed organic molecules with the oxygen. This is how the
substances like thymol, eugenol, pinene, terpinol etc., are dispersed to in
the surroundings and the aroma of a yagna can be smelt at a
considerable distance.
In addition to steam, smoke is emitted in large quantities and solid
particles existing in a decomposed state offer sufficient scope for its
diffusion. Thus smoke also functions as a colloidal vehicle for the
spreading of volatile aromatic substances. This process depends on the
inside and surrounding temperature and on the direction of the wind.

36. Combustion of Fatty Substances:
The fatty substances used in yagna are mainly ghee and other fatty
substances of vegetable origin. Ghee helps in rapid combustion of
cellulose of wood and keeps the fire alight. All fatty substances used
are combinations of fatty acids, which volatilize easily. The combustion
of glycerol portion gives acetone bodies, pyruvic aldehyde and glyoxal
etc. The hydrocarbons produced in the reactions again undergo slow
combustion and as a result methyl and ethyl alcohols, formaldehyde,
acetaldehyde, formic acid and acetic acids are formed.

37. Photochemical Process:
The vaporized products diffused in the atmosphere are also subjected
to photochemical reactions in the sunlight. They undergo
photochemical decomposition, oxidation and reduction reactions. To
some extent even CO2 is also reduced to formaldehyde as follows:
CO2 + H2O + 112,000 cal = HCHO + O2
From an environmental angle, the reduction of CO2 caused by yagna
as explained above and the liberation of oxygen cannot be
overemphasized. Similar kinds of other useful reactions take place in
the presence of specific radiations from the sunrays. This may be
perhaps the reason it has been recommended that yagna should be
performed during sunlight.

38. Purification of Environment by Yagna:
Experimental studies show that the incidences of physical ailments,
sickness and/or diseases become less in the houses where the yagna
or agnihotra is regularly performed because it creates a pure, hygienic,
nutritional and healing atmosphere. It renews the brain cells, revitalizes
the skin, purifies the blood and prevents growth of pathogenic bacteria.
Agnihotra is basically a healing process.
"Heal the atmosphere and the healed atmosphere will heal you",
says Dr. Madhukar Gaikwad

39. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
The medicinal fumes emanating from the process of agnihotra have
been observed by researchers in the field of microbiology to be clearly
bacteriostatic in nature, which eradicate bacteria and micro-organisms,
the root causes of illness and diseases. This must be the reason why
the incidence of physical ailments, sickness and diseases becomes
less in the households where agnihotra is regularly performed.

40. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
Purification of environment through the constituent electrically charged particles of
the substances fumigated in yagna is an obvious byproduct of this process. The
observations of some distinguished scientists are noteworthy in this regard.
According to Dr. Hafkine, the smoke produced by burning the mixture of ghee and
sugar kills the germs of certain diseases; inhaling it from some distance induces
secretion from certain glands related to the windpipe that fill our heart and mind
with relaxation. "Burning sugar and its smoke has a significant effect in purifying the
atmosphere. It kills the germs of T.B., measles, smallpox and cow-pox" – remarks
Prof. Tilward. A Russian Scientist named Dr. Shirowich mentions that – "if cow’s
ghee is put into the fire, its smoke will lessen the effect of atomic radiation to a
great extent". He also related this process to yagna.

41. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
Removal of Foul Odors:
As already stated, under steam volatilization, the various volatile oils get
diffused in the surrounding atmosphere along with steam and smoke. Since
these oils have distinctly good smells, the foul odors are automatically
neutralized. This aroma can be effortlessly smelt in the surroundings when
yagna is performed. It is due to the diffusion of substances like thynol,
eugenol, piene, terpinol and oils of sandalwood, camphor and clove.

42. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
Removal of Bacteria:
As stated under products of combustion, the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons
and decomposition of complex organic substances produce formaldehyde,
which is a powerful antiseptic. It is also interesting to note that the germicidal
action of formaldehyde is effective only in the presence of water vapor, which
is also produced in large quantities in yagna. The use of formaldehyde sprays
for disinfecting of walls, ceilings etc., is common and such an effect is
automatically produced when yagna is performed. The oxidation of
hydrocarbons produces formic acid and acetic acid, both of which are good
disinfectants. Use of formic acid for preservation of fruits and that of acetic
acid in preserving vinegar is a common practice.

43. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
The antiseptic and antibiotic effects of the smoke of yagna have also been
examined by conducting laboratory experiments on rabbits and mice and it
has been established that smoke emitted in yagna is a powerful antibiotic.
Agnihotra ash is also found to purify and cleanse the water, making it fit for
drinking.
Agnihotra ash is also found to be an effective fertilizer.

44. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
Removal of Insects:
There are non-bacterial parasites like flies, ringworm, dice fleas etc.,
which are normally difficult to deal with since bacteriocides which can
be used against them are also harmful to other living organisms. Such
insects are generally immune to ordinary reagents. However they either
get killed or are driven away when they come in contact with volatile oils
like camphor, which are diffused in the environment during the
performance of yagna.

45. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
Effects on Plants and Vegetation:
The disinfection of air is not only useful to animal life but it also helps plant
life. The aromatic substances, which get diffused in the air through Agnihotra
offer protection to plant life against harmful organisms. This ensures a healthy
plant growth. Agnihotra’s atmosphere and ash can be used as adjuvants in the
natural farming methods – also known as the agnihotra farming methods. It is
a holistic concept of growing plants in pure and healthy atmosphere and
balancing the ecological cycles by performing agnihotra (yagna) in the middle
of the farm and using the yagna-ash as a fertilizer. Several experiments have
been conducted in the East European countries on the use of yagna ash in soil
treatment. These, too, have shown positive effects and potential applications
in Agriculture

46. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
Role of CO2 Generated in Yagna:
The wood and fossil burning in atmosphere is always controversial because of
the generation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and a consequent
increase in the ‘green house’ effect. On this basis it can be argued that yagna
also produces CO and CO2. It should be noted here that the way in which the
samidhás are burnt in yagna is a process of slow combustion. It is not
comparable to the burning of coal in the factories or household fire or running
of steam engines etc, where oxygen is sucked in large quantities and CO2 is
emitted likewise. In the slow combustion process that takes place in yagna, a
small quantity of O2 is utilized and CO2 is emitted in a quantity that poses no
threat to the environment. In fact whatever CO2 is generated is readily
absorbed by the surrounding plant life and vegetation and thus the CO2 cycle
is strengthened

47. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):
Another important fact to be noted is that CO2 produced in yagna is not free
CO2. It is mixed with the vapors of other aromatic oils and antiseptic
products. It acts as a vehicle in transporting such products to the
surroundings.
The use of CO2 as a cerebral stimulant to assist patients suffering from lack
of ventilation is a common practice in the medical field. Its use in controlling
and curing many mental disorders is also known to medical science. Small
amounts of CO2 inhaled by the persons performing yagna act as a stimulant
for inhaling more and more aromatic fumes which helps in curing mental
disorders.

48. Purification of Environment by Yagna (continued):

49. A summary of their results as reported in Akhand Jyoti, Sept. ’97
p.22, (ref no. [1]), showed an average reduction by 75% in the level
of Sulphur Dioxide and about 10% in Nitrous Oxide; and Over 70%
reduction in bacteria in water samples in the surrounding area.
Several medicinal minerals were present in the ash (bhasma) of
yagna. The average level of carbon monoxide was found reduced
from 117 p.p.m. to 0 in some of the experiments conducted on
domestic yagnas at IIT Bombay; There are some more ongoing
experiments on recording different gas levels and respirable particles
are currently ongoing, being conducted by some visiting scientists at
Research Center, Shantikunj, Hardwar.

61. Are we doing enough research on the following issues:
• Effect of Yajnas on Educational institutions (Students, Teachers,
Environment, Plants, animals)
• Can Yajnas be used as an alternative to counseling and medicines for
depression?
• What is the effect of yajnas on various organ systems of the body?
• Which energy is released besides heat and light, when combustion takes
place in the havan kunda?
• How are yajnas instrumental in decreasing the pollution levels?
• Can we increase the productivity of plants through yagnas?
• Why can’t yagnas be performed on large scale when the monsoons are
delayed?

62. Bibliography:
• http://www.shuklayajurveda.org/gayatri.html
• http://www.akhandjyoti.org/?Akhand-Jyoti/2003/Mar-Apr/GayatriMantraJapa/
• http://literature.awgp.org/magazine/Akhand-Jyoti-english/2003/Mar-
Apr/ScientificAspectsofYajna/
• http://www.vedpradip.com/articlecontent.php?aid=151&linkid=1&catid=10&su
bcatid=4
• http://www.shriramsharma.com/new_page_2.htm
• http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Introducing_Gayatri_Yajna_Science.html
• http://www.vedmandir.com/node/94
• http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2007/bfeb07/vedic.shtml
• http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/medicinal-holy-fire