Use in drug-dependency and alcoholism
How could Agnihotra help the subject to get cured of his drug dependence? Dr. Golechha thinks that it is not the fragrance of the fumes or the chemical effects of burning ghee, rice and cow-dung but the vibrations generated during the practice of the ritual at sunrise and sunset which need to be investigated for assessing the beneficial effects. These ‘vibrations’ to a physicist can mean the various electro-magnetic waves and radiations that might be produced in the copper-pot during Agnihotra. Some of these electro-magnetic waves might be in synchronisation with the cosmic radiations at sunrise and sunset and may influence the mind and health of a subject.
When Dr. Golechha first presented his paper on the beneficial effects of Agnihotra in heroin addiction, this reviewer(4) had ventured to suggest that as ‘chasing’ heroin resembled a ritualistic act, was it being effectively replaced by another ritual (Agnihotra)! In fact, ‘chasing’ heroin is a delicate task where each step has to be done carefully and correctly, such as: scraping off the carbon deposit after the white tissue paper adherent to one side of a foil(available in a cigarette packet) is burnt out, then placing a minute quantity of heroin on the foil without spilling and carefully heating it from below by a lighter, match-stick or candle and finally chasing the undulating coil of white fumes that resemble a dragon's tail (hence the name ‘chasing’) to inhale through makeshift straws made from polythene tubes or rolled foils or new currency notes, all the while concentrating to avoid any wastage. It takes time to master this intricate act with precision. Perhaps this ritualistic component of ‘chasing’ heroin may have some appeal for addicts and Agnihotra, being itself a ritual might be beneficial by substituting one ritualistic behaviour for another. Performing rituals is a type of cultural obsession. Alcoholism itself has culture-specific ritualistic paradigms that have survived through ages. It is interesting to note that when Agnihotra was used on alcoholics by Golechha et al., the subjects developed a sort of obsessive compliance to voluntarily perform and repeat performing Agnihotra(3). The appeal of ritualistic behaviour to the mind needs to be studied to assess the beneficial effects of Agnihotra and might be as important as the theory of electromagnetic waves and radiation produced in the Agnihotra pot which are thought to enhance the tranquillity of mind.
Ecology and Agnihotra
These experiments need to be replicated by different researchers in different situations. It would be interesting to watch the progress of positive, goal-directed and well-documented research on the application of Agnihotra in the fields of mental and ecological health.
