Pravargya Ritual is the introductory part of Somayagam
(Agnishtomam). It is believed that the 'Pravargya' rituals help cleanse nature.
Scholars from Harvard University will be documenting all the rituals associated
with Pravargya and its impact on nature.
Times of India reports
The scholars, Michael Witzel, department of south-Asian studies in Harvard University, Finnian Moore Gerety, department of Sanskrit, Harvard University and T P Mahadevan, professor of Indology at Howard University, Washington DC, will document all the rituals related to 'Pravargya' and conduct a detailed study on the positive and negative impacts of the rituals on the atmosphere with the support of scientists.
Various studies have been conducted in the past on the effect of the Yaga rituals on the atmosphere. And scientists from Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) had found that the 'Yaga' had had a positive impact on soil, air and the atmosphere in general. However, they have not, so far, been able to explain the reason for this. It is for the first time that a study is going to be conducted on the 'Pravargya' rituals alone.
In the three-to-six day-long rituals, ghee is poured into a special pot and boiled. The pot is made by mixing well soil, iron powder and goat's hair with milk. When the pot turns red, goat's milk is poured into it. This produces a huge ball of fire, which cleanses the atmosphere.
All the rituals are performed during day time, and they are preceded and followed by 'Saanthijapam' (chanting for peace and tranquility). Professor T P Mahadevan, who had recently come to Naras Mana in Edappal in connection with the study, told TOI that the new study, which would deal with all aspects of 'Pravargya' and its impact on nature, would also be a comparison between the philosophical and the practical side of the introductory rituals of the 'Yagas'.
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