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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 3  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 15-19

Investigation of random event generator changes in Agnistoma Somayaga rituals: An exploratory study


1 Division of Yoga Spirituality, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
2 Chancellor, SVYASA Yoga University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
3 Department of CAM, HCG Enterprise Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Date of Web Publication25-Feb-2016

Correspondence Address:
Divya Bangalore Raghavendra Prasad
Division of Yoga Spirituality, Bangalore, Karnataka
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2394-2010.177490

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  Abstract 

Background: The use of Soma has proved to be medically beneficial in the field of Ayurveda. The Soma ritual has been proved to cleanse environmental pollution. It links the consciousness and the processes of creation. It's ceremonies with specific herbal mixtures act medicinally on the body and psychoactively on the mind, directly affecting the ontological status of a person. Performing a Somayaga benefits in balancing the seasons and in the occurrence of timely rainfall. Aims and Objective: To explore and evaluate the possible influences of Agnistoma Somayaga on the random event generator (REG) and to quantify the changes occurring due to the synchronous directed attention evoked from the performance of Agnistoma Somayaga. Materials and Methods: The field REG data was collected for 6 days of the Agnistoma Somayaga in Panauti, Nepal using Psyleron field REG. The recording of random data was continuous from the start to the end of each day's performance of the yaga. Results: Significant anomalous deviations were observed in REG on several occasions on all days. Particularly significant changes with P > 0.05 occurred during Yagnasankalpa, Prayaneshti, Prathama Pravargya, Vedic chanting, Gharmodvaasanam, Subramanya, Soma aahuti, and Somarasa taken by the priest, high fire in Mahavedi during Pratah Savanam, Madhayana Savanam, and Tritiya Savanam, and in Avabhrita Snana. REG trend in Madhyana Savanam (P = 0.06), Soma Pressing (P = 0.05) and High fire of Mahavedi(P = 0.09). Conclusion: Spiritual rituals and Vedic yagas affect and influence the way of people's life, which spreads harmony and peace. This study suggests that Agnistoma Somayaga has the capacity to influence the REG.

Keywords: Agnistoma Somayaga, consciousness field, environment, pravargya, random event generator, Soma, Soma pressing, synchronized directed attention, Vedic chanting, yagna


How to cite this article:
Prasad DR, Hongasandra NR, Ram A. Investigation of random event generator changes in Agnistoma Somayaga rituals: An exploratory study. J Health Res Rev 2016;3:15-9

How to cite this URL:
Prasad DR, Hongasandra NR, Ram A. Investigation of random event generator changes in Agnistoma Somayaga rituals: An exploratory study. J Health Res Rev [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 28];3:15-9. Available from: https://www.jhrr.org/text.asp?2016/3/1/15/177490


  Introduction Top


Soma is a creeping plant, almost bereft of leaves and with small, white fragrant flowers collected around the extremities of the branch. It is a representative of the mind altering powerful plants having nervine qualities. Today, most scholars agree that the plant as described in both the Rig Veda and Avesta is ephedra.[1]

The juice/rasa from the Soma is not an intoxicating or a hallucinogenic product but a restorative or elevator of mental stature as the aphrodisiac property of Soma creates a feeling of euphoria that ephedrine may produce.[2] The medicinal efficacy of the Somarasa creates alertness in its consumer, increases the oxygen intake, and acts as mild anesthetic agent. It helps in the dilation of the pupil and contractions of the uterus. Its ephedrine nature causes nervousness, insomnia, headache, vertigo, swelling, nausea, and vomiting when excessively consumed [1],[3],[4] The Intense Care Unit of the Soma Drinker (ICUSD) explains systematically the methodology of the use of Soma and its effects on the user [4]

The Soma plant with its high medicinal properties has extensively contributed in the Rasayana chikithsa for the rejuvenation of the body. The drug is used in heart diseases and psychosomatic disorders. Strength, stamina, and virility are retained, along with treating the body for detoxification and reversal of complete metabolic activities of the body.[5]

Yagna, the heart of the Vedas is the symbol of the life process governed by the proper combination of Agni and Soma.[6] Every activity of ours in thoughts, speech, and actions representing our Iccha Shakti, Jnana Shakti, and Kriya Shakti are conceived as Yagna. The Vedas prescribe a variety of Vedic rituals with the respective mantras to attain different standards and goals. The procedures involved in performing a Yagna aims at the attainment of good health, peace, progress, and prosperity at the microlevel and at macrolevel attainment of the highest status in the world.[7]

The seven Soma yagnas as described in the Kalpa Sūtra are agnistoma (for the atmosphere), atyagnistoma (for water), uktya (for food), shodasi (for health), vajapeya (for peace of mind), athiraatra (longevity of life), and apthoryama (for the well-being and prosperity of the whole society).[8]

The extraction utility and consumption of Soma in a yagna is called a Soma Yagna. The rasa from Soma is a divine drink offered to the gods. The juice gathered by the priests from pounding the plant with stones is filtered through lamb's wool and is the chief offering in Soma Yagnas. The ShivaShakti principle is displayed by the Agni and Soma where Soma is absorbed by the rays of the sun to ascend into the atmospheric region where it copulates with Agni resulting in the formation of water-embryo (apam-garbah), which makes a nucleus developing into the womb of clouds, leading to the delivery of water in the form of rains. Soma and Agni, along with Vayu, make the tridosa of Ayurveda and hence, control the fertilization and reproduction of all the biological phenomena.[9]

Researchers from the field of microbiology have stated that the fumes emanating from Agnihotra are bacteriolethal in nature. The CO2 cycle strengthened by the Samidhas and Havishya burnt in Yagna poses no threat to the environment.[10],[11]

The use of Soma establishes a link between consciousness and the processes of creation and its ceremonies with specific herbal mixtures act medicinally on the body and psychoactively on the mind, directly affecting the ontological status of a person [12] and a measurable decrease in the fungus, bacteria, and other pathogens in the immediate vicinity of the Yagnashala.[13]

Performing these rituals ensures timely and adequate rainfall, which in turn ensures the availability of food and thriving of animal and plant life, leading to human prosperity.[14],[15]Athirathram, conducted in Kerala, has shown accelerated growth in seed germination and the atmosphere of the Yagnashala was observed with low count of microbe colonies

in water, air, and zero microbe contamination in soil.

[16] For the past 6 years, a series of Maha Somayaga conducted on the banks of the river Narmada in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India has reported that there is qualitative and quantitative improvements in the psyche as the atmosphere becomes medicinal, nutritious, and disease-free.[17]

Many random event generator (REG) studies have proved that the mind has an ability to bring about collapse of the randomness of the physical system.[18] The synchronized attention of the group changes the randomness of the events. The ability of an individual to influence a physical system is usually termed as psychokinesis.[19] Performing yagnas and chantings, and emotional responses have shown a similar ability to bring about a collapse in the randomness of field REG.[20],[21]

Synchronous directed attention influencing REG was observed in Vedic chanting, Agni Prasthapana, Soma kriya, Pravargya, Subramanya ahwana, Garuda chayana, in the performance of Apthoryama Somayaga.[22] The spiritual significance of yagna is to raise the general level of human consciousness. People attended yagnas for spiritual reasons, and felt that their lives very much improved.[23]

The present study has tried to look at a similar effect on the possible influences of Agnistoma Somayaga on the REG, hypothesizing that the performance of the priests and the rituals involved as a part of the yagna would create synchronized directed attention leading to an anomalous change in the field REG.


  Materials and Methods Top


The field REG data was collected for 6 days of the Agnistoma Soma Yagna in Panauti, Nepal. Recording of random data was continuous from the start to the end of each day's performance of the yagna and was aimed at evaluating whether during the event, the field REG would show any deviations from random behavior.

The REG device was located very proximal (approximately 10 ft) to the Yagyashala where all the priests and his teammates were performing. The REG was placed near the main rituals as each of the rituals was unique and offered epochs of sustained synchronous awareness (chanting of hymns, oblations, flames of the rituals), which might influence the REG differently.

Psyleron Field REG-1 (Psyleron, Inc.211 N. Harrison St. Suite CPrinceton, NJ) was used to generate random data. This device produces 1s and 0s that are representations of quantum events, generated by electron tunneling within two field effect transistors. The quantum tunneling forces with varying voltage levels result in digital data through a gated sampling procedure, which allows for regularly spaced bit sequences. The output of both transistors is internally compared through an alternating (0, 1) XOR masking process in order to reduce any potential influence of physical artifacts or other external environmental variables. The device itself is further protected from static electromagnetic factors by an aluminum outer shielding and a permalloy mu-metal inner shield. Furthermore, the device was rigorously calibrated prior to shipment in order to ensure output conformed to statistical expectations. This ensured that the hardware random number generator produced a truly unpredictable output that could be subjected to experimental tests. The device generates 200 random binary numbers (0 and 1) each second (200 bits/event).[24]

The intervention consisted of a 6-day Agnistoma Soma Yagna. The data were recorded for each day and comprised different activities of the yagna from the commencement to completion of each day rituals.

All the data were collected with the Psyleron software, and the data were examined according to overall experiments and by time-stamped epochs following human events in proximity to the test environment. All statistical procedures were conducted using Microsoft Excel.

The Agnistoma Soma Yagna experiment provided an interesting opportunity to explore the effect of a different group activity type on the randomness of truly random events. A value for each individual REG event refers to the number of 1's out of 200 bits with binary probabilities, represented by a value of 0-200. The theoretical (chance) mean for each event is 100 with a standard deviation of √50. REG data from each event within each epoch were analyzed independent of either the previous or subsequent values; relevant statistics and figures were produced accordingly. Individual event scores were standardized according to 0.5 chance expectations where x is the trial value of each event. Combined overall Z-scores (Zc) for each overall experiment and each individual epoch were computed using Stouffer's method where Z = individual event z-scores and N = the number of events in the epoch. Effect sizes were calculated as, which is equivalent to the mean event z-score. Two-tailed probabilities of deviations have been reported of REG output. Measurement uncertainty for each segment (σμ) was computed according to, where σ = √50 and N = number of REG events. A probability of less than 0.05 was considered significant and since this was an exploratory study, a probability value between 0.1 and 0.05 was reported as a trend.

The time-stamped epochs, their respective trial counts, and statistics are presented in the below tables. Relevant statistics were computed for each individual day of testing as well as for each segment. The tables represent schedule of activities in Agnistoma Soma Yagna and REG event data for each yagna segment during each day where N = number of REG events, zc = combined z-score, es = effect size (zc/√N; equal to mean REG z), P = probability (2T) of zc, σμ= measurement uncertainty (σ/√2N, where σ= √50); *significant at P < .05 (2T), trend at P < 0.1 (2T).


  Results Top


In the Day 1 [Table 1] Significant deviations observed during the periods of Yagnasankalpa (P = 0.02) Devotional songs, Preparations, lunch break (P = 0.03), and crowd coming back (P = 0.04).
Table 1: Schedule of day 1 activities in Agnistoma Somayaga and REG event data for each yagna segment

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Day 2 [Table 2] Significant deviations observed during the periods of Break (P = 0.00), Prayaneshti (P = 0.01), Prathama Pravargya (P = 0.02), Preparations, Aathiyeshti (P = 0.03), Vedic chanting (P = 0.04).
Table 2: Schedule of day 2 activities in Agnistoma Somayaga and REG event data for each yagna segment

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Day3 [Table 3] Significant deviations observed during the periods of Vedi Puja (P = 0.02), Vedic chanting, aahavneeyam, Lunch break (P = 0.05) of Pravargya vidhi, aahavneeyam, Subramanya, (P = 0.03) 4thPravargya, Subramanya and Madhuparkam (P = 0.04).
Table 3: Schedule of day 3 activities in Agnistoma Somayaga and REG event data for each yagna segment

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Day 4 [Table 4] Significant deviations observed during the periods of Subramanya (P = 0.02). Vedic chanting, chayana vidhi, Subramanya (P = 0.03). Agni Pranayaneeyam, Agnishomiya Yagna and Oudhambhari puja, Gharmodvaasanam, (P = 0.04).
Table 4: Schedule of day 4 activities in Agnistoma Somayaga and REG event data for each Yagna segment

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Day 5 [Table 5] During Pratah Savanam significant deviations were observed during High fire in Mahavedi, Soma aahuti and Somarasa taken by the priest (P = 0.02), During Madhyana Savanam Preparations (P = 0.03), Soma aahuti and Somarasa taken by the priest (P = 0.02) Vedic chanting (P = 0.02) (P = 0.03). REG trend observed during Madhyana Savanam (P = 0.06). During Tritiya Savanam, Significant deviations observed during the periods of Soma aahuti and Somarasa taken by the priest shows significant deviations (P = 0.05). REG trend observed during the periods of Soma Pressing (P = 0.05), High fire in Mahavedi (P = 0.09).
Table 5: Schedule of day 5 activities in Agnistoma Somayaga and REG event data for each Yagna segment

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Day 6 [Table 6] show Significant deviations observed during the periods of Avabhruta Snana (P = 0.05)
Table 6: Schedule of day 6 activities in Agnistoma Somayagna and REG event data for each Yagna segment

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  Discussions Top


During the Somayaga, important rituals such as Aathiyeshti, Prayaneshti, Subramnaya Agnishomiya Yagna, Oudhambhari puja, Avabhrta snana has been significantly deviated, devotional songs played during day 1 and 2 was found to be significant. Interestingly Vedic chanting performed during all the days has shown significant deviations, Researches in the Vedic sciences and the field of Consciousness have shown the soothing stimulating effect created on human beings and animals due to the vibrations produced from chanting of mantras.

The soothing effect is felt on the human mind, plant life, and animal life when the life-sustaining energies emanate from the cosmic energy center when mantras are chanted which vibrates and spreads energy waves in surrounding atmosphere while the oblations are offered.[25] Studies has shown that REG deviates significantly during Bhajans and GayatriMantraJapa.[20],[21] Significant deviations observed during Vedic chanting, Fire involved rituals like Pravargya, Soma offering rituals, aahutis and Subramanya is similar to a study done on Apthoryama Yagna.[22]

Significant deviations were observed on the 5th day and during high flames from the Mahavedi due to the high vibrations of the different rituals of Soma pressing and its offerings to Agni and consumption of Somarasa involved in Prathaha Savanam, Madhayana Savanam, and Tritiya Savanam[26] and this may have been due to the effect of Somarasa, a psychoactive drug, creating a feeling of euphoria [2] when taken orally. The status of Soma Drinkers is elevated in comparison with the drinkers of Suraa[27] makes the consumer awakened, alert, stimulates the nervous system as a restorative and mild anesthestic agent. Soma is a mind altering transformative substances that brain itself can produce.[2],[28] The Soma culture influences the day to day life with the chant ”Oum Somapaah Pitara Strupyantaam”(meaning: Let all the Soma drinkers' ancestors be contented) an offering, Tarpana to the Pitru (Manis). Preparations, Break time with significant deviations reveals that resting periods can also influence the Collective Consciousness Fields as seen in the earlier studies.[29] Hence this could have brought different emotional changes due to which collective consciousness field of this activity was able to influence the REG. As reported in the previous studies the completion of this Yagna also resulted in rainfall, which had continued almost for a week.[9] REG deviations observed in the procedures of the Spiritual rituals involving chanting of mantras, offerings in the fire can affect the general level of human consciousness in the people who attend the yagna. Hence we can conclude that Agnistoma Somayaga has shown the possibility of influencing REG.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

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  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5], [Table 6]



 

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