THE INTEGRATED SCIENCE OF YAGNA Part 2 by Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

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2. Scientific Aspects Of Yagna

* There are two basic energy systems in the physical world: Heat and Sound.

In performing *Yagna*, these two energies, namely, the heat from *Yagna*'s

fire and the sound of the *Gayatri *and other *Mantras*, are combined to

achieve the desired physical, psychological and spiritual benefits.

 

The fumigation of specific substances in the *Yagna *--- fire is a

scientific method of subtulisation of matter into energy and expanding its

potential and positive effects in the surrounding atmosphere. The

electromagnetic waves generated thereby help in transmitting, at cosmic

level, the desired sonic signals 'stored' in the *Mantras*, which are

chanted during the process of sacrificing the special materials in the fire.

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2.1. Fumigating Substances Used in Yagna:

* In order to get an idea of the various chemical changes which take place,

it is essential to know the various substances offered in *Yagna*. They are

principally as described below (c.f. [2]):

 

(A) Wood: Wood has to be dry and free from dust, insects and worms. The wood

is cut into small sticks of varying lengths called *Samidhas *according to

the size of the altar or *Agnikunda*. The principal types of wood used are

the following:

 

I. Sandal-wood (Santalum Album)

 

II. Agar and Tagar wood (Aquilana Malaccensis and Valeriana Wallchii)

 

III. Deodar (Cedrys Libani)

 

IV. Mango (Mangifera Indica)

 

V. Dhak or Palash (Butea Frondosa)

 

VI. Bilva (Aegle Marmelos)

 

VII. Pipal (Ficus Religiosa)

 

VIII. Bargad (Ficus Bengalensis)

 

IX. Shami (Proposis Spicigera)

 

X. Gular (Ficus Glomerata)

 

In addition to wood, various *Havishya *or *Havan samagri *are offered in *

Yagna

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can be divided into the following four groups:

 

(B) Odoriferous Substances:

 

These are --- saffron, musk, agar, tagar, *chandan, illaychi, jayphal,

javitri *andcamphor.

 

© Substances with Healthy Constituents: These are clarified butter (*ghee*),

milk, fruits and cereals like wheat, rice, barley, *til, kangu, munga,

chana, arhar, masur or peas*.

 

(D) Sweet Substances: These usually are --- sugar, dried grapes, honey or *

chhuhara*.

(E) Medicinal Herbs: These are used as per specific requirement. Some common

herbs are *Somalata or Giloya, Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, Nagkesar, Mulhati, Red

Chandan, Baheda, Sonth and Harad*. Now-a-days *Havan samagri *is readily

available in the market consisting of the following substances in a crude

powder form:

Saw dust of sandal-wood and pine wood, the agar and tagar wood chips,

*kapurkachari,

gugal, nagarmotha, balchhaar or jatamansi, narkachura, sugandhbala,

illayachi, jayphal, cloves and dalchini*

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