MYSORE: Sooryaya Swaha. Suryaya Idam Na mama. At the crack of dawn, the "agnihotra" mantra permeates the atmosphere and smoke swirls up, spreading the aroma of clarified ghee that is poured into the "agni kunda."

At sunset too, the mantra propitiating "Agni" (God of Fire) is chanted.

It is not a trip back in time to the Vedic period. And the performer is not an ascetic clad in ochre robes or a priest trained in the Vedas. The "agnihotri" or the performer is none other than a field officer at the Agricultural Research Station in Naganahalli. And the ritual is part of the "homa farming" or "krishi homa" being studied by agricultural scientists.

It is not that the research station employees have been swayed by the mysticism of the Vedas. But the "agnihotra yagna" is conducted in all sincerity to validate the claims made by propounders of "Krishi Homa."

It is being conducted according to the "shastras" at the exact time of sunrise and sunset, the details of which for the entire year have been procured from the Meteorological Department.

"The "agni hotra" ritual has to be tuned to the bio-rhythm of sunrise and sunset and it takes hardly a few minutes," said H.L. Vasanthkumar, senior farm superintendent of UAS Agricultural Research Station, Naganahalli.

New mission

He told The Hindu that the exercise was part of the new mission entrusted to the research station, which recently went fully organic.

Tests would be conducted to scientifically validate the efficacy of various agricultural practices, including "krishi homa" and bio-dynamic farming. This was the first such research station in the State, if not in the entire country, to do so, he said.

"Krishi homa" is an indigenous agricultural practice devoid of any use of chemicals or synthetics. It is preceded by an "agnihotra" ritual lasting a few minutes.

Many practitioners had attributed immense benefits to the subtle energy resulting from the "yagna" or "homa," Mr. Vasanthkumar said.

"We have no prejudice or preconceived notions about the claims of its efficacy. We will carry out the ritual as prescribed in the texts. It has been in practice in Germany and there are practitioners in the Peruvian range of the Amazon Forests in South America, Mr. Vasanthkumar said.

A thatched hut has been constructed in the form of a pyramid and the floor has been cushioned with dry grass. A few bricks have been aligned in perfect proportion to serve as the "agni kunda."

Dry twigs and dried cow dung are used as fuel to set ablaze the fire pit twice a day. In addition to "krishi homa," the research station will take up biodynamic farming too.

"We will also take up natural farming as propounded by Subhash Palekar and observe the yield," he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail