Agnihotra - Ancient Knowledge Validated By Modern Science

About the Book Dr.lsh Narang has done a wonderful job of writing this book from a scientific perspective. I sincerely applaud his efforts. I hope it will appeal to many people who would like to know scientific explanation for our rituals. I also think that the book will appeal to many western scholars as well as to our young generation who need to understand the urgency of keeping the environment pure so that we can live on this planet for long time. I would earnestly hope that the book will find its way too many homes and libraries in India and other English speaking countries.

About the Author Dr. Isha Narang is a keen Exponent of Agnihotra and an ardent follower of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. He is convener of the Center for Scientific Research on Agnihotra (CSRA), New Delhi and was also the Convener for International Workshop on Agnihotra Research organized during 2018 in Delhi.

Daily performance of Agnihotra has been the tradition of his family since 1930.

By profession a Dairy Technologist, he has a Master's Degree in Vedic Literature, M.A. (Vedas) from Gurukul Kangari University, Haridwar. He represented the Government of India in various international forums and meetings of Codex Alimentations Commission, a joint Commission of the WHO and FA, in USA, New Zealand, Belgium, France, and Uruguay etc.

Preface According to WHO (2016) about 4.2 million deaths occur every year as a result of exposure to ambient (outdoor) air pollution while household exposure to smoke from dirty cook stoves and fuels causes 3.8 million deaths every year. 91% of the world's population lives in places where air quality exceeds WHO guideline limits. Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic as well as acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. The lower the levels of air pollution, the better the cardiovascular and respiratory health of the population will be, in both long- and short-term.

Policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy- efficient homes, power generation, industry and better municipal waste management would reduce key sources of outdoor air pollution. But can the air once polluted be reversed by any modem science technology? Perhaps No!!

Agnihotra, as emancipated by Vedas & Vedic sciences is an ancient and validated technology not only to prevent the air from being polluted but also reverse the process once the environment has been polluted.

Vedas & Vedic sciences have made significant contributions to the world civilization, culture and knowledge in all areas of human pursuits. These contributions, mostly unknown to the wider world, are often un-acknowledged and this wisdom often distorted.

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati heralded the spiritual renascence in modem times. He revived the ancient approach to Vedic concepts. Among other things, he reintroduced five basic duties / Yajnas to be performed by every human being every day.

Agnihotra is one of the five duties / Yajnas (Pancha MahaYagna) to be performed by every householder twice a day. It has been an integral part of the Vedic culture and it is also known by the name: of Deva Yajna, Havana and Homa. All the 16 Sanskara. including marriage ceremony start with Agnihotra.

Agnihotra is not just a spiritual duty or ritual, it is a spirituali enlightening experience. Moreover, it has a great science hidden in it. It is the most ancient science which helps to purify air an environment. But during past several centuries of foreign rule, WI Indians have forgotten and ignored this science. When Maharish Dayanand rekindled the Vedic heritage, people started taken interest in this ancient hidden knowledge. Lot of research has since been conducted and plenty of literature has been brought out on third science in the recent past. There are some good books by eminent scholars like Acharya Vishwa Shravah Vyas, Swami (Dr.) Satyr Prakash and Dr. Ram Prakash on the subject. But this knowledge has not trickled down to the common man and has remained restricted to researchers and scholars. Moreover, many book an out of print and not available. Literature in simple lay-man': language is hard to be found.

Foreword If somebody asks me that given an opportunity to go back to academics what would you like to do. The first answer would be to learn the science of Agnihotra. I can confidently say that the knowledge and science of Agnihotra as propounded in the Vedas and practiced since times immemorial, researched and taught by learned sages of our land over many millennia, touches every aspect of life to the benefit of nature and mankind. It purifies the environment, safeguards against disease, strengthens agriculture, promotes health, stabilizes the climate, serves the community and finally enriches the mind.

It is a wonderful feeling to see a publication on the subject titled "Agnihotra - Ancient Knowledge Validated by Modern Science", authored by Dr. Isha Narang. It is my great pleasure to write a few lines as foreword to the book. It is commendable that a literary work in simple language and presentation has been prepared meticulously with extensive study. The original knowledge exists in Sanskrit language and is best explained in that form.t was desirable that a literary work be prepared in English language which can be easily understood by the younger generation. Dr. Isha Narang has filled this gap. It is a great service indeed to put together the vast knowledge of Agnihotra in a simple scientific form.

This book has been carefully structured for easy reading without losing the essential aspects of the principles and technology of Agnihotra. It is well known that all features of Agnihotra are science based and benefit life and environment. However, as is true for every scientific phenomenon, Agnihotra is also questioned by many quarters for justification and evidence. This book serves the purpose of placing the justification and evidence of Agnihotra for all interested, as it exists in the realm of Vedic science and technology. I would like to go one step further to say that if there is any aspect of Agnihotra which does not appear to justify modem day science; we need to research more on the frontiers of modem day science so that the same can match what has been established in Agnihotra under Vedic knowledge.

I congratulate Dr. Isha Narang for dedicating himself to produce this work and wish him success in this sacred endeavor. The inquisitive mind will also be benefited to receive this knowledge. Agnihotra is a solution to preserve our planet and it is, therefore, important that we understand its scientific background and adopt its practice. Agnihotra is beyond geographies, beyond time and beyond cultures. I am sure this book will serve this purpose very well.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages