- Swami Chinmayananda

These results promise a solution to microbial pollution by the performance
of Agnihotra and ingestion of Agnihotra ash medicines.
 
(Reprinted from Satsang Vol. 9, No. 20, 3/4/82)
Fivefold Path, Rt. 8, Box 369, Madison VA 22727.
Ph. 540-948-5463  Fax 540-948-5214

The non-Agnihotra ash was produced with the same ingredients in the same copper vessal as Agnihotra ash. The only difference was the non-Agnihotra ash was not produced at sunrise or sunset, and no mantras were chanted.
(All growing plants need phosphorus; however, regardless of how much
phosphorus is added to the soil, only the water soluble portion can be utilized by
the plant. On an average, only about five percent of the phosphorus in
conventional chemical fertilizers is water soluble.--Ed.) 

Dr. B. G. Bhujbal, Research Officer Maharashtra State Grape Growers' Association, Poona, India (Satsang Vol. 8, No. 17, 1981)

Grapes are a difficult crop to grow under Maharashtra's climatic conditions and also equally difficult to study. I have been associated with research work on grapes while studying for my M.Sc. degree at the University of Poona, India since 1967. Various problems faced by the workers since then were finally put before the research workers at the Agricultural College, Poona.

Hybridization work with grapes had already commenced before my association with this work. I have been observing the results of that work. It was reported that the germination of hybrid grape seeds had been very late and low. When I conducted hundreds of crosses at the Ganeshkhind Fruit Experimental Station, Poona-7 and sowed the seeds after treatment by advanced techniques which included hormones, scarification, stratification etc., the results were discouraging. The germination percentage was very low, i.e. below 20 % and some of the seeds even took 300 days for germination.

Meanwhile I came to learn of AGNIHOTRA and HOMA THERAPY FARMING and thought why not have a trial of this therapy in grape research. There was a solar eclipse on 16th of February 1980. I had also read previously that the no-moon day was the best day for seed treatment and sowing. With this background and not to miss the opportunity I coIlected seeds of the Anab-e-shahi, Pandhari Sahebi and Kali Sahebi varieties, local vinifera varieties, as well as some crossed seeds which were collected using the Thompson seedless variety as a male parent to make the cross. In order to conduct the experiment properly, I applied for leave on 20th of February 1980 in time for the treatment to commence on 16th of February, 1980. Some unrooted cuttings of local grape varieties were also collected for additional treatments.

Experimental Plot

All the seeds and the unrooted cuttings were kept in an environment open to Agnihotra fumes. As far as mantras were concerned, I began with the "Tryambakam" Mantra and Homa continued for 2 hours, after which the samples were treated with Agnihotra ash and then put into pots ready for planting. An untreated lot of samples served as a control.

Observations

It was indeed a surprise not only to me and my wife but also to friends who had been laughing at my expenments to observe the first seedlings sprouting on the 21st day of sowing. Some of the recorded observations are given in a table below. The second experiment concerned making raisins. At present, raisin-making is not carried out in Maharashtra except on an experimental basis using the dehydration and sun-drying methods. I collected a few bunches of grapes from growers and hung them in the environment where I was performing Agnihotra. Similar clusters were kept with the growers for making raisins using their own method of sun-drying. After 21 days the drying was almost complete, and after 35 days I collected the clusters and tested them. The raisins were very good in appearance and taste. Special interest rallied around the evidence that the raisins prepared from the Anabe-shahi variety and having low TSS contact were also good. Equally good results were obtained by the Thompson seedless variecy growing in the Agnihotra environment as compared to those varieties generally available in the market.

Another experiment was performed in a grower's field. Mr. Pundlik Khode, a small farmer from the village of Pimpalgaon-Baswant, Nasik District had been much worried about his crop and was doubtful regarding repayment of his bank loan obtained for the vineyard. Agnihotra was done regularly and Agnihotra ash was applied to his vines. The observations which were recorded at harvest time proved very good. The grower, Mr. Khode, had never believed in such a possibility until he saw the actual results. The individual berry as well as the cluster was superior in colour, taste, sweetness and weight. About 150 observers said that the crop was the best in that locality.
 

Effect of Agnihotra on Grapes

The above experiment was conducted in the vineyard of Mr. Pundlik Khode on Thompson seedless grapes at Pimpalgaon Baswant, Nasik, during the year 1979-80.

1. Agnihotra was performed by Dr. B. G, Bhujbal, Asst. Horticulturist, M, Phule Agricultural University. 2. Other Homas were performed by Mr. Ranade, Manager, State Bank of India. 3. Regular operations were carried out by Mr. Pundlik Khode, owner of the vineyard. Mr. Khode was very happy with the Agnihotra results.

Agnihotra was also performed for raisin-making. This was done in March 1980. Clusters were hung from the roof, and under the clusters Agnihotra was performed regularly, twice daily. In 21 days the grapes dried under room conditions and the quality of the grape raisins was excellent. The variety used was Thompson seedless. 

Nature is a silent performer and I was anxious to see her work.  Since hundreds of farmers are closely observing our Homa Therapy work at Sutagatti, I was slightly under tension.  Our faith and devotion has started working in this after three months of regular Homa.

The single infected banana plant has gotten the first healthy leaf.  The shoot appears disease-free.  I will soon send the earlier and later photograph.

I am also very happy to inform that the first vanilla produce for the year 1999-2000 is of excellent quality.  The vanilla bean curing process (three months) was started along with Homa Therapy.  The cured vanilla beans were tested at Spice Board testing laboratory in Cochin.  The following are the results:
 

The above results have given immense joy to all of us, including our fellow organic farmers who had participated in our Homa Therapy.
Now a person with deep knowledge about farm seeds has approached us.  He is ready to offer voluntary services in developing a seed bank, seed plots and demonstration plots for fellow farmers in our area.

In this month we had three heavy rains at Sutagatti.  First occasion was when I was performing Om Tryambakam Homa.  The other two rains came during evening Agnihotra.  However, the first occasion was special.  It rained only over Parashanatti and Sutagatti.  This rain was very essential to us because the electricity transmission transformer was burnt and we had no power for fifteen days.  Our mud barrage built across River Ghataprabha remains now full; otherwise, it dried up by middle of May.  Availability of abundant water for farming during summer has happened, after many, many years.

My workers, their children and neighbors are very much influenced by Homa Therapy.  Two of my workers who were alcoholic and non-vegetarians have stopped consuming since last two months.  One of them is doing regular Om Tryambakam Homa and Agnihotra during our absence.

All these positive things are due to Yajnya.
Abhay Mutalikdesai
Karnatak, India
 

Harischandra and Buddha

If you decide that a particular activity is good and sacred, you should not postpone it. You should immediately implement it and see to it that this good action is successfully carried out. This was the royal path laid down for all by the Buddha. Once Gautama Buddha realized that the body was impermanent, that none of the worldly things were going to last, he resolved to seek out and discover the unchanging truth. He gave up his family and his kingdom and went into the forest to realize the ultimate reality.

There was another great ruler who had an intense sense of sacrifice and detachment. His name was Harischandra. Although he was an emperor, through a series of unfortunate circumstances he lost everything he had in the world, his kingdom, his wife and family, and spent his days as caretaker of a cremation ground.

One day, when Harischandra first started performing his duties in the cremation ground, the corpse of a rich man was brought there by a large number of friends. They brought the body, set it on fire and immediately went back to their homes. Usually when a body is set on fire, a little weight is put on it. Otherwise, as soon as the heat comes, the body bends as if it was getting up, and then lies down again. Only Harischandra remained in the burning ground that day. No friends or relatives of the dead man stayed behind to keep a watch on the body. Harischandra went to get a little more fuel to put on the fire. Suddenly he saw the body lift itself up. He was surprised and went near it to have a closer look.

As Harischandra approached the pyre, he noticed that the body had by itself returned to a prone position. For an instant he thought that it was still alive as if sitting up to look for its relatives and friends, but then he realized that the whole episode was just a momentary illusion of a corpse appearing alive, caused by the heat of the fire. Harischandra thought to himself, "In the same way that I mistook this corpse to be alive, I thought this world to be real. But it is unreal, it gives only an illusion of reality."

Harischandra lamented that such a wealthy man whose corpse was brought there had no relatives or friends to stay with his body until the end. He thought, whatever may be the position and the riches of a person, not even his wife or children retain any attachment to him after his death. As a result of this experience, Harischandra developed an intense detachment towards the objects and forms of the world.