Purification of ambient air by performing Somyag Yajnya

Abstract

Yajnya is the ritual performed for the purification of the atmosphere through the agency of fire according to the Vedas (Vedic literature). Somyag Yajnya is one of the types of Yajnya, which is a ritual of chanting of mantras derived from the practice in Vedic times accompanied by various offerings. Fumes created by performing Somyag Yajnya, positively affect environmental elements; hence its effects on major air pollutants i.e. oxides of sulphur and nitrogen were studied. Microbial count was also considered during Yajnya. Surrounding air samples were collected from cities in Maharashtra (India) i.e. Beed, Pune and Ratnagiri by using handy air sampler and the effects of Somyag Yajnya were studied by estimating and comparing SOx and NOx levels before Yajnya, during Yajnya and after Yajnya. For microbial count active as well as passive air collection methods were used. As per our results, microbial count significantly reduces up to 95% due to Somyag fumes and SOx levels decreases almost up to 40–90% that of initial levels due to Somyag Yajnya however, the NOx levels increase at the beginning to10-20% that of initial levels but at the end of Yajnya NOx level also found reduced as compared to initial. Hence it seems that by performing Somyag Yajnya air pollution due to SOx, NOx and microbes can be controlled and ambient air can be purified.