ARADHANA 2007

Author: Dr. Prahlad,

Distinguished Scientist & Chief Controller Research & Development,
DRDO HQrs, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi

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I am a scientist, that too an aeronautical scientist. Naturally, I have been looking at life, surroundings, nature, people, culture, habits, rituals, procedures, life style etc. through the eyes of science. Unfortunately, in our country, whatever knowledge we have in science, its education, literature, exhibits, talk everything is created or influenced by the West. Though India had, since three thousand years, a lot of science in medicine, metallurgy, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, aeronautics, etc., most of it is lost. It is also said that the invaders from the Northwest and through the seas have looted our ancient knowledge of science, literature, scriptures etc. and transformed their own civilization and country, leaving India in darkness.

Original Scientist Philosophers
But thanks to our faith and beliefs and some great thinkers and religious leaders, some of the knowledge of science has been captured in some form or the other and has been propagated into our daily lives. Of course over centuries and through generations these would have undergone changes, distortions and transformations and may be interpreted differently or incorrectly now. Many a times it has become just a ritual having no knowledge of the original scientific basis of these nuggets of wisdom either in scripts or hymns or in chantings or in rituals as conceived by the original thinkers who were actually scientist philosophers in their own way.

Smart Generation
In good old days children and youngsters were rather innocent and not smart enough to question their elders or gurus regarding anything that is told or shown or taught. They were highly obedient also. So when the so called elders did not really know the scientific basis of all our mantras and rituals, they did not have to explain. They would browbeat youngsters and simply order them to follow. It was done.

But today’s youth is different. They question, they try to analyze and understand. If the explanation, if at all given, is not fitting their logic and understanding they reject it outright.

Fast World
It is also to be understood that while our ancient wisdom and practices were implemented for common people, the world was rather slow. There was no hurry and so all the rituals would last hours and sometimes days (eg. Weddings, Yagnas). Sometime medical treatments would be in months. Where is the time today? Everything is needed fast if not instantaneously. Someone has to make shorter capsules without losing the core science behind the original thought process. How is this possible when the original process itself is not fully understood? So we see many things being followed, which are baffling to modern youth.

Sandhy`avandana
We M`adhwas are supposed to follow Sandhy`avandana very religiously and sincerely. If one watches and sees a Brahmana doing it, it appears only movements as a routine. He appears to be mechanically following something, chanting some mantras subconsciously and his mind itself wandering about office, children, politics etc. How can it inspire the young and the bright? How can one derive the benefits of Sandhy`avandana as originally conceived and evolved by our ancestors? Was there a scientific background to this ritual? If it was there, why have we not popularized it in a language understood by current generation.

Yoga interpretations
Many people have attempted to do such interpretations to our ancient Yoga to reasonable degree of success. Such an exercise needs to be done to all our K`aryas and Vidhis.

Science and Sandhy`avandana
Look at Sandhy`avandana. All our body activities are highly influenced by the flow of blood to all its parts. It may be eyes, ears, nose, skin, stomach, heart, brain, reproductive systems, muscles, nervous system, circulation system, whatever it is. The blood with correct ingredients taken out of our food, water and air should reach every organ to revitalize that organ, nourish it, repair if required and sustain it.

Though as a normal routine, the blood circulation system keeps doing this exercise automatically, our ancestors discovered that it can be made more effective by a disciplined way of treating the body. So they evolved Sandhy`avandana.

Actually all the steps of Sandhy`avandana are attempts to synergize mind, physical body using hand and fingers and oxygen through breathing, part by part, with full concentration. You energize say eyes or brain or lever or heart or muscles or nose one by one for short intervals so that part of the body gets intensely focused and gets the most attention. It gets maximum blood flow, oxygen, nutrients, electrical energy through nervous systems, muscular energy and focused spiritual synergy to fully activate it. Well, the results would be dramatic if followed correctly and regularly. So our wise ancestors would have devised Sandhy`avandana not just like a ritual but with serious scientific background adding spiritual and religious fervour to it as it was the only way to make ignorant ordinary man to follow and derive the benefits of deeper science.

Patenting Sandhy`avandana
Well, while we are still trying to understand and debate, somebody in USA or Switzerland may be doing the real scientific analysis and eventually patent our Sandhy`avandana under a different title, say, “integrated health spirit” and charge the whole world.

We cannot at that time complain saying that it is our original idea!