Part I: Yajnas, Yagas, Agnihotra and Homas (Fire-Sacrifices)
Part II: Influence of Homa on Growth Media, Distance, Direction and Microbial Bio-Diversity during Yagna
By
Gururaj Pagad

ABSTRACT
Part I: Yajnas, Yagas, Agnihotra and Homas (Fire-Sacrifices)

Background: The current literary study focuses on the literary works available with reference to / homa/ agnihotra and its effects on environment and biodiversity.  The study also covers the classification of Homa, rationale of Yajïas, and their effect on living systems and biodiversity.
The nature and role of Vedic sacrifice in its multiple forms became integrated at the level of the present religious practices in India. It is tenable to say that by the practice of parts Yajïa has acquired a worldwide recognition as a valuable spiritual inheritance. Yajïa also appears to be a promising scientific, cost effective, eco-friendly method to counter the pollution and purification of the environment.

Summary and Conclusions

The present study aims at surveying the existing literature from the ancient scriptures on Yajïas and related practices. To survey relavant ancient scriptures on Yajïas, summarize the concept and details of Yajïas and differentiate between Yajïas, Yagas, Agnihotras and Homas. Our Vedic lore is replete with the philosophy, programmes, principles, procedures and processes related to Yajïas. Among the four Vedas, the Yajurveda contains of the methodology to perform Yajïas. It has the ‘know how’, the Åg, Säma and the Atharva Vedas- also consist relavant hymns to perform Yajïas. There are different kinds of Yajïas, namely, Païca (Five) MahäYajïas - Deva,  Pitå, Nara, Brahma and Bhootha (Pashu) Yajïas; Vedic Yajïas: Study of the Vedas (Vedaddyana), Ritualistic chanting of prayers (passages from the vedas) -Japa - Performance of rituals (Karma Yajna), Meditation (Manasa Yajïas); Twenty one Soma Yajïas; Prakåti and Vikåti Yagas; Nitya(perpetual) Naimitika (accidental, due to some cause) Kamya (optional, performed for some particular object) Eistika (of charitable nature) Pashuka (relating to animals) and Soumika (offering Somajuice to Gods. (This variety includes of Eistika and Pashuka Yajnas). Experts collectively known as Åtwiks, perform the Yajïas. They are classified as, Maharthvijas(Main ritviks), Aradhis (Second in status), Trutheeyees (Third in order), Padis (Fourth in the Status). Yajïas is commenced with Madhuparka and Sabhapüja. At both sunrise and sunset the Agnihotra mantras are chanted along with the fire sacrifice with ghee, rice and cowdung, these sound vibrations along with ash medium is said to be more effective in achieving the aspired goal. From the period of Vedas, Upanishads to the present days, Yajïas evolved to be less ritualistic by a total mental attitude of surrender know as Ätmarpana, the offering of every action to ätma, the Divine. A systematic practical approach to Yajïas became yoga with its many forms and a good methodological approach towards the issue of freedom, the liberation in a spiritual sense
It may be concluded that the nature and role of Vedic sacrifice in its multiple forms became integrated at the level of the present religious practices in India. It is tenable to say that by the practice of parts Yajïashas acquired a worldwide recognition as a valuable spiritual inheritance.
Yajïas also appears to be a promising scientific, cost effective, eco-friendly method to counter the pollution and purification of the environment.

Part II: Influence of Homa on Growth Media, Distance, Direction and Microbial Bio-Diversity during Yagna
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of emissions released during the homa on the growth and behavior of a living system, using microbial techniques, and using representative microorganisms.
The experiment was conducted at the homa site, for “Shree Rama Taraka Maha Yoga, Sri Ramachandra Math, Shimoga, between 14th-23rd April 2006.
Materials and Methods: The experimental layout consisted of the study in four directions around the pradhäna kuëòa [primary glow zone] and 12 upa- kuëòas [secondary glow zones].
The distance of study from the pradhäna kuëòa was 5m, 10mts, and 30mts.and 50mts.
The experimental materials used in the study were 1.Distilled water. 2. Liquid culture media [for fungi/bacteria]. 3 .solid culture medium Petri dishes.[for fungus and bacteria].Bacterial cultures used in the experiment were: Pseudomonas fluorescence, Bacillus megaterium, Azatobacter chrocoocim, Ralstonia solanacearum . The fungal cultures used in the experiments were: Aspergillus Sp., Trichoderma Sp., Penicillium Sp., Phanerochaete Sp.
Aims and Objectives of the study: The study of homa-effect included the study on i. the growth and behavior of the test fungi and bacteria, ii. aerosol microflora and iii. Rose Bengal dye reduction to study the photodynamic effect.
Results and Discussion: Results indicated that “homa emissions” released could reach a distance of 50m [studied distance] and had a potential to interact with various components of the atmosphere. Its effect was studied and presented.
The photodynamic effect of Rose Bengal was indicated in terms of dye reduction, when exposed to emissions.

Summary and Conclusions

This experiment aims to study, the effect of emissions, released during the Yagna which may have high energy radiations that could possibly effect the growth and behavior of the living systems. This phenomenon is studied using microbial cells as test organisms and using Rose Bengal as a photosensitizer.
Results have shown that the strong emissions can reach a distance of 50 m (studied distance) and that these emissions have created an interactive effect on the culture media containing Rose Bengal. The effect is maximum at the farthest distance (50mts) and reduces toward the centre of the glow area.
Effect of the emissions was conclusively observed by the growth differences of the selected bacteria and fungi (4 genera of each type)
The uniqueness of this experiment is to propose a standardized technique for the study of emission effects on living systems. A basic study in nature .The result is conclusive. Evidence, needs a thorough experimental conformation, by repeating the experiments under controlled conditions. The third distance exhibited maximum sporulation compared to the first distance (see photograph)
Atmospheric pollution:
Hydrocarbons, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, oxygen generated in the lower atmosphere.
Singlet oxygen generated by the action of sunlight. Polycyclic aerocarbons, may be involved[106]. This (PAH) is a large class of organic pollutants released into the atmosphere by natural sources and many types of man made sources. PAH absorbs sunlight in the UV region 320-400. In addition to the direct reactions of the singlet oxygen with biological substrates[115, 127], PAH reacts with singlet oxygen to form unstable dioxitanes and endoperoxides which are potential candidates for biological damage(81).
Functional observations
Fungi
Fungal growth in control – all the four fungi have shown very good growth, antagonistic activity of Trychoderma on Phanerochaete and Aspergillus is evident. The dye accumulation was maximum in Penicillium. Direction did not seem to have any significance since the results were similar in all directions. E-1 (T7) (Table.13.) The first distance has shown growth of all the four cultures with Phanerochaete and Trichoderma showing little growth. In the second distance, growth of all the fungi is reduced. Penicillium (3) has shown the accumulation of the dye(63).
North direction in general showed max dye retention [MRBA inoculated fungal plates., Plate.4]Third distance: [30 m.] growth of Aspergillus and trichoderma is comparatively higher, whereas the growth of Penicillium reduced and Phanerochaete improved. In this distance, the antagonistic effect of trichoderma and Aspergillus was evident. Distance four: [50 m] growth of Aspergillus and Phanerochaete was high. Sporulation of trichoderma reduced compared to the third distance, while it was absent in the first and second distance
Direction effect: a similar effect was detected in almost 3 three directions, namely east and west, but in case of south, the effect on the first and second distance was not evident in terms of photooxidation of the dye(Plate.4). Then, in the north, based on the photosensitization there were no changes recorded even on the fourth distance even though there was slightly lower photooxidation of the dye compared to all other directions. The north however, exhibited dye retention at all distances in the north.

Bacteria
The four bacterial cultures were inoculated on nutrient agar. These plates, on subjection to the emissions gave the following results.
The growth patterns of the bacteria were found to be similar in all four directions of study. In the first distance, [10 m], there was normal growth of all four bacteria present similar to the control plates. The growth of bacteria was luxurious and slimy (Plate.5). The pseudomonas florescence also showed growth with the florescence restricted to the colony, whereas in the control plate, a clear diffusible florescent pigment was present. In the second distance, [20 m] the growth of all four bacteria reduced. Only good growth could be seen with less slime production (exopolysaccharides).In the third distance, [30 m], there was further reduction of growth in all the bacterial cultures. The florescent pigment in pseudomonas florescence was scanty without any diffused florescence.
In the fourth distance, the growth was very much limited as evidenced by dry scanty surface growth. This experiment showed that bacterial growth gradually reduced from the first distance to the fourth distance.
The pseudomonas florescence bacterium may be considered a test organism, in establishing the effect, of emission from the Yagna, with reference to the effective distance of the emission, taking into consideration, the diffusibility criteria of the fluorescent pigment.
Conclusion:
Based on the results recorded, the following observations have been made, Yagna has a definite effect on living systems studied with reference to bacteria and fungi. Effect of Yagna on growth of microorganisms decreased with the distance from the centre of the kund (150m, studied distance)
Rose Bengal is used as a photo-sensitizer to study the photodynamic effect of the emissions of the homa. During homa the generation of emissions had less photosensitizing effect at 5m and 10m compared to 30m and 50m which inturn interacted with the living system leading to the chemical, biochemical, physical and biological property changes. There was also interaction effect on water and liquid medium expressed in terms of changes in pH and turbidity. This may be an attempt to describe the ionization effects of the emissions on the substrates exposed during the homa.
Inference
Homa emissions have photosensitizing effect on Rose Bengal at farther distances( 30 and 50m).
Homa emissions increased the growth of microorganisms at 5m and decreased with distance as measured by cell density and microbial spores.
Homa emissions had an ionizing effect on water and liquid medium including the aerosol.

Keywords: Yajnas,yagas,agnihotra,homas,fire sacrifices,growth media,microbial Bio-Diversity.