KOCHI: In an attempt to give a scientific explanation to the traditional system of conducting a yagam, the Varthathe Trust, organisers of the Panjal Athirathram 2011, released the preliminary findings of the scientific committee which conducted studies in the area while the ritual was on.V P N Nampoori, Professor Emeritus at Cochin University of Science and Technology who headed the studies, told reporters that the researchers found accelerated growth in seed germination and low microbial presence in water and soil.He said that Bengal gram seeds were sown on the four sides of the yagasala and also at a distance of one and a half kilometres."It was found that three types of seeds (cowpea, green gram and Bengal gram) that were sown on the western side of the yagasala germinated several times faster than those on the other sides. The effect was very evident in the case of Bengal gram with a growth about 2,000 times faster than on other sides."Some bio-amplifier generated in the atmosphere because of the ritual may have selective effects in the case. Further studies are on," he said. The team intended to publish its finding in the CSIR's Indian Journal of Traditional Medicine.The ritual also had a positive impact on the atmosphere and microbial studies conducted at three locations in and around the yagasala yielded empirical results which showed that the ritual could help reduce the presence of microbes.These resemble the 'smart microbes' which have strong antimicrobial qualities. Further investigations are on as a large number of microbes have been collected from the yagasala premises, 500 m and 1.5 km from the venue.Microbial analyses were also made before the commencement of the yaga as well as during the ritual and the studies continued till four days after the ritual."It was observed that the air in the vicinity of the yagasala was pure and had very low count of microbe colonies. The study also found that microbial activities in soil and water around the yagasala were very less compared to normal conditions.He said analysis was conducted on the dimensions of temperature from the flames of the Pravagyam by Prof Saxena of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. It found that the fire ball had a particular wavelength with unusually high intenstity similar to what is observed in typical laser beams at about 3,870 degree centigrade.The other members of the study team included Rajalakshmy Subrahmanian (Cusat), Parvathi Menon (MG College, Thiruvananthapuram), Maya R Nair (Pattambi Government College), Prof Saxena (IIA, Bangalore) and Prof Rao (Andhra University).Among others who spoke at the press conference included Varthathe Trust members Sivakaran Namboodiri and Madhu Kuttat.
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