Agnihotra – The Vedic Solution for Present-Day Problems (A Rare Book)

While preparing the draft of the present monograph, the class of readers kept before my mind has been ‘men of wisdom ’. The draft was, therefore, circulated amongst authorities in different disciplines for their comments, suggestions and also for expressing doubts if any, about the multi- sided claims made therin about ‘Agnihotra ’. The present shape is the outcome of the cooperation extended by them all. This method was adopted to know the reactions, and if possible, to re-present the subject in such a way as to create a receptive approach amongst the readers. I am grateful to all of them.

History, as is well known, has recorded that many revolutionary discoveries or inventions have their origin either in an intuition that the scientific genius had at some subtle moment or in some accidental happening. Unfortunately the established scientific world has very rarely accepted such revolutionary inventions at their first sight. Leaving aside for a moment, the mental torture which some scientists of exceptional talent had to bear beacause of the negative attitude of the relatively orthodox contemporary scientific circles, one Ends that the world was deprived of the benefits of such inventions because of that attitude for a number of years. Though some scientific theories, which were universally accepted as unrefutable, have since then been exploded, the desired change in an average scientist’s attitude is not as fast as it should have been. How then can there be a change in the attitude of a common man ? Acupuncture, which is now being practised by licensed physicians, has roused interest all over the world. It was simply taboo to mention even the word in medical circles a few decades back.

I would, therefore, urge upon the reader to explore, with an open mind, whether this monograph would act as a turning point in building a ‘new humanistic life-style ’. Perhaps the reader will have to transgress rigid barriers artificially created not only by the established world religions, but also by isolationism seen amongst different branches of science. Then alone man will be able to enter a zone, where the highest level of happiness and fulfilment prevails.

Vedas, the most ancient wisdom revealed to man, have recommended Agnihotra so that man can build up a fundamental attitude towards his life from body, mind and soul angle. Innumerable persons, by performing Agnihotra regularly have, in recent years, experienced this basic change in their way of thinking towards the ever mounting problems of life. If the analytical talent will go through the following pages with a receptive mind and will think of further investigation on the findings, noted therein, it will realise that a new horizon has been re-opened.

The hints given or comments and doubts expressed by a number of experts on my draft were of much use to me in giving final shape to this monograph. The readers will, however, End that Agnihotra is a multi-disciplinary science. An attempt has, therefore, been made to project Agnihotra from as many angles as possible. From a chemical Stand-point, both bactericidal and vermifugal effects can be called as curative effects. Agnihotra, however, acts as an enhancer of the environment from a preventive angle.

Its para.—psychological impact on the present day world, dominated by economic considerations, is of prime importance. Agnihotra is, therefore, worship, a prayer or a meditation, accompanied by what looks like a ritual or a physical act, performed much more as a scientific experiment in a particular sequence. The scriptures call it a supreme act Sresthatama Karma not only because it is selfless action but also because of its multidimensional effects. The ancient Vedic seers have given in the hands of man, Agnihotra as a replica of cosmic working and have thus opened before him the way to Vedic cosmology. It is a revealed wisdom and not wisdom for mundane attainment. Looking to the ever increasing problems, which man is creating and his inability to tackle them effectively, a situation has arisen when he has to rely on the guidance given by the ‘Supreme Wisdom ’.

Amongst the Christian Churches, ecumenical movement has made some progress in reducing differences and in revitalizing Christianity. Whatever success it will achieve, it will be limited to followers of that religion only. Techno- logical growth has made the world small and has brought people nearer physically. A movement which will establish a dialogue amongst different faiths and religions, ideologies and isms is a need of the day. Such an attempt alone is going to reduce differences the bent of mind developed by following ‘Five Fold Path’ in general and Agnihotra in particular contributes in re-framing individual faith in such a way that differences are reduced.

There are innumerable people who are performing Agnihotra regularly and they are living all over the world. As this number will increase, and it is increasing at an unimaginable speed, the ecumenical movement will acquire its real broader shape and solve the problems which are vexing people all over the planet. Belief in a particular faith or ism will not prove to be a deterrent factor in that process. Vedas have handed over to humanity, a simple ritual of Agnihotra by which biological reactions and mental attunements have just to be experienced. Only with an inter—related effort, the different disciplines will be able to appreciate this. IV hat had been established and experienced centuries ago, has simply been re-worded to suit the present day aptitude. A suitable change in such an aptitude alone will help man to tackle the unsurmountable problems he is facing.

This monograph, to be frank, does not claim to be a scientific treatise. Its only purpose is to stimulate interest in deeper exploration of interrelated multi-disciplinary principles underlying ‘Agnihotra’ or for that matter underlying the working of the Cosmic Energy.

I am grateful to Dr. T. N. Dharmadhikari of Vaidika Samshodhana Mandala, Pune, for offering, on his own, the cooperation for publishing this monograph as a joint publication of the Mandala and the Panca Sadhana Pracara Kendra I am thankful to all those who have helped me in completing this work as perfectly as possible.