by

Abhang Pranay,  D. Pathade Girish
Teaching Associate, Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, India1
Principal, H. V. Desai College, Pune 411002, Maharashtra, India 2
Email – pranayabhang@yahoo.co.in, Email – girishpathade@yahoo.co.in

INTRODUCTION 

Agnihotra Yadnya, Shrisukta Yadnya, Somyag Yadnya are rituals of offerings of ghee, dried twigs of various plants that are religiously mentioned in the Vedic literature and have medicinal potential, as well accompanied by chanting of Vedic mantras derived from the practice in Vedic times. These Yadnyas are performed by using the method mentioned in the Vedic literature.

In the air as a part of pollution, various pollutants are found especially Sox and NOx. There are claims that Yadnya fumes and procedures reduce air pollutions. Hence attempts were made to test scientifically the effect of Yadnya fumes and procedure on the levels of Sox and NOx.

METHOD

Air samples were collected by using respective absorbing reagents for SOx and NOx with the help of Handy sampler. (Spectralab, HDS -8)

A. Estimation of SOx 

SO_x was estimated by improved West and Gaeke method (1956), in short, SO₂ from the surrounding airstream was absorbed in a sodium tetra-chloromercurate solution, it forms a stable dichloro sulpho mercurate (HgCl₂SO₃)^2-  complex, which then behaves effectively as fixed SO₃^-2 in solution. The amount of SO₂ was then estimated by the color produced when p-rosailine-hydrochloride and formaldehyde were added in solution, which can be measured on a spectrophotometer at 560 nm. Calibration curve of standard sodium meta-bi sulphate was used for SOx estimation by using the following formula

B.  Estimation of NOx 

NO_x was estimated by modified Jacobs – Hochheiser method (1972), in short, NO2 in air was collected by scrubbing a known volume of air through an alkaline solution of arsenite. The nitrite ions thus formed was reacted with sulfanilamide and N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine (NEDA) in phosphoric acid to form the colored azo dye, which can be measured on spectrophotometer at 540 nm. The method was standardized statistically by using NaNO₂ standards. Standardization is based upon the empirical observation that 0.74 mole of NaNO₂ produces same color as 1 mole of NO₂. SO₂ can be removed using H₂O₂. 

RESULTS 

1. Agnihotra yadnya performed at Biotechnology department of Fergusson College, Pune

Table 1 – Effect of Agnihotra yadnya (Fergusson College) on SOx and NOx levels.

SO₂ level in atmosphere reduces from 1.44 ppm to 0.56 ppm (about 43%) due to Agnihotra fumes (performed at sunset). NO₂ level in the surrounding atmosphere was increased from 0.0086 ppm to 0.0094 ppm due to Agnihotra fumes (performed at sunset).  

2. Agnihotra yadnya performed at Ramanbaug High-school, Pune

Table 2 – Effect of Agnihotra yadnya (Ramanbaug High-school) on SOx and NOx levels.

SO_x in the surrounding environment reduces up to 10 times (4.4729 ppm to 0.4758 ppm) due to Agnihotra fumes. The effect of fumes remains after Agnihotra also, SO_x shows 10 times reduction (Performed at sunrise). NO_x in the surrounding environment increases up to 0.001 ppm due to Agnihotra fumes. But at the end of the Agnihotra NO_x level become normal as before Agnihotra.

3. Shree-sukta Yadnya performed at Biotechnology department of Fergusson College, Pune

Table 3 – Effect of shreesukta Yadnya on SOx and NOx levels.

As per results, SO₂ in the surrounding environment decreases 10 times (6.29 ppm to 0.65 ppm) due to the fumes of yadnya, NO₂ level in environment increases (from 0.0034 ppm to

0.0046 ppm) but there is no any drastic change in NO₂ level.

4. Somyag yadnya performed at Beed

Table 4 – Effect of somyag Yadnya (Beed) on SOx and NOx levels.

SO₂ level in atmosphere reduces from 0.175 ppm to 0.0175 ppm (10 times) due to Mahasomyag fumes. There is no significant effect of Mahasomyag fumes on NO₂ concentration. There is slight increase (0.0008 ppm) in NOx levels i.e. from 0.00094 ppm to 0.00173 ppm.

5. Somyag yadnya performed at Uruli (Devachi), Pune

Table 5 – Effect of somyag Yadnya (Pune) on SOx and NOx levels

SO_x level decreases during and after yadnya up to 10 times that of initial (Reduces from 0.43 ppm to 0.048 ppm). SO_x level remains decreased after the yadnya (at least up to 2 days) was finished. SO_x pollution in the air can be reduce up to 90% by performing yadnya.

NOx level increases during yadnya up to 0.05 ppm, but also decreases to normal level (0.01 ppm) after yadnya (on day 24 and 25).

NOx level increases up to 20% as compare to initial (day -1 and 0) NOx levels. Standard NO_x

(mostly NO₂) level provided by ‘National Ambient Air Quality Standards’ (NAAQS) as well as ‘Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’ is 0.053 ppm (annual average per hour).  Maximum value recorded was 0.052 ppm (during day 19 to 23) which is less as compare to standard levels.

REFERENCES 

19. W. West and G. C. Gaeke. “Fixation of Sulfur Dioxide as Disulfitomercurate (II) and Subsequent Colorimetric Estimation”. Anal. Chem., 1956, 28 (12), pp 1816 – 19.

J.H. Blacker and R.S. Brief. “Evaluation of the Jacobs-Hochheiser method for determining ambient nitrogen dioxide concentrations”. Chemosphere, volume 1, issue 1, January 1972, pp 43 – 6.

Pathade G. and Abhang Pranay. “Scientific study of Vedic knowledge – Agnihotra”, Bharatiya Bouddhik Sampada, quarterly Science Journal of Vijnana Bharati, Issue No. 43 – 44, Feb – June 2014, pp 18 – 27.