Vedic Microbiology
A Scientific Approach

Prologue

It is universally accepted that the oldest books of the world i.e. Vedas are of non-human in origin and the Revealed Truth (Apauruşeya) to the sages. After deep meditation in the Himalayan caves by our sages and Rişi, the Divine Truth was perceived in the form of the hymns and verses (Rich). Then this subtle Divine knowledge spread to the whole world for the benefit of humanity.

The Vedic knowledge is not merely contributed by a single sage or Rişi but it is a huge collection of the Devine knowledge of the sages down the ages, which have been compiled in the form of many thousands of verses, in due course of time after the development of Devanagari script in Sanskrit language. Those verses have immense wealth of diverse knowledge such as astrology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, Ayurveda (the knowledge of health). medicine, science, agronomy, microbiology, geography, astronomy, etc.

The oldest library of our Takşaśilā and Nälandă Universities became extinct due to the cruelty of foreign invaders and looters hundreds of times. Due to the forced entry of foreign robbers, the Western culture and the change of mind through the temptation of money, the modern materialistic society moved away from millennia-old our ancient culture, knowledge and traditions for thousands of years. Gradually, many of us of new generation became alienated from Indian traditions, abandoned reading of the Veda and accepted only Karmakänd during the rituals.

But any nation can survive as long as its culture survives, because the culture of any nation is its ‘Live Soul’ After independence from the struggle of hundreds of years, this country was stuck in other controversies including linguistic, racial and religious disputes. We kept fighting amongst ourselves and the indigenous and foreign enemies kept plotting to divide our country.

This sequence is still going on. Since the independence, the Indian education system became based on Macaulay’s education system and not on Indian culture. As a result, the youth classes have become unknown and untouched by Indian culture and traditioris. In contrast, foreigners are now coming to India to learn Indian religion, philosophy, culture, yoga, Sanskrt grammar, etc.

The contribution of many great personalities like Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Śraddhānand, Swami Vivekananda, Mahrşi Arvido and many more can never be forgotten. I was also overwhelmed during my stay at this sacred place of Swami Sraddhānand, Gurukula Kangri Deemed University that based on the foundation of ancient Indian culture and tradition. I made up my mind for coming out of the periphery of microbiological science. I thought, if I put some splash of sacred water of Vedicism on me, it would probably be worthwhile to come to this holy place.

But the biggest obstacle with me is that I have neither been a student of Sanskrit nor Veda, but I have a deep attachment and eternal love to my thousands year-old culture. It may be my audacity to embark on this inaccessible journey. My courage increased when I thought that “if God is pleased and if ‘Mükarh karoti vācālam parigu laighayate girim is true, then why my dream can’t be true? Thinking this, I started the journey for making true the dream of ‘Vedic Microbiology- A Scientific Approach’.

In the book, Vedic Microbiology- A Scientific Approach, the main topics of discussion that have been covered are- a brief introduction of Vedas, Vedic period and Aryans, cosmogony (the origin of the universe), the distribution and classification of microorganisms, human health and disease-causing Krmis (germs, microorganisms), prophylaxis (precautionary measures), the destruction of diseases produced by the Krmis, and the science of Agnihotra. Some selected Vedic verses have been scientifically explained scientifically and some through the pictures and line diagrams so that the readers can grasp the subjects matter easily.

Just as students put questions to their teachers, and teachers satisfy the students with their answers, similarly in this book, scientific explanations of Vedic hymns (Mantras) have been done through questions and answers as well as major headings and sub-headings. Among Indian education institutions/ universities, the Department of Botany and Microbiology of Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, is the only department where Vedic microbiology has been incorporated into the curriculum as a unit/paper at the undergraduate/postgraduate level. I hope that this small effort of mine will create an interest in the readers and they will be able to acquire the Vedic knowledge given by sages on Vedic microbiology.

The views of other researchers have also been mentioned and cited in the reference. There has been continuous support from my colleagues of the university during the course of writing of the book. I am thankful to my colleagues Dr. Ved Prakāśa Šästri, Dr. D.K. Mäheshwari, Dr. Navneet and senior technician Mr. Chandra Prakāśa Arya for multifarious support during the course of writing of this book. I thank Dr. Manudev Bandhu and Dr. Dinesh Chandra Šästri (Department of Veda) who have corrected many errors in the original manuscript. I am especially grateful to Professor Roop Kishor Šästri, Vice Chancellor, Gurukula Kängri (Deemed to be University), who has extended his continuous encouragement and supports during writing the book.

I am especially grateful to Late Püjyä Mä Bhārti, all my teachers and my elder brothers, namely Mr. L.C. Dubey and Dr. H.C. Dubey, who have always had their helping-hands on me with constant blessings and encouragement. I am heartily grateful to Upendra Kumar Tripathi (Director, Ved Vjñān Centre, Banaras Hindu University), Dr. D.S. Tripathi (Banaras Hindu University) for their special support for making the book informative.

I extend my thanks to my wife Mrs. Mälti Dubey and my lonely son Sujän Dubey for their endurance during the writing of the book. In the last but not the least, I thank Mr. J.P. Jain, Messer Motilal Banarasidas International (Delhi), who has published this book in a fascinating and attractive form.

R.C. Dubey