Can Vedic fire rituals bring rain? Madhya Pradesh scientists explore Som Yagya effects

Clouds

A team of scientists from leading Indian institutions have launched a research initiative to examine whether ancient Vedic fire rituals, specifically the Som Yagya, can lead to cloud formation and eventually bring rainfall. The project, currently underway in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is investigating the environmental impact of ritual smoke through modern atmospheric science.

The team, comprising around 15 scientists, consists of researchers from the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (MPCST), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore.

The study is grounded in the premise that smoke generated from havans (sacred fire offerings) acts as an aerosol. Aerosols are known to play a key role in cloud formation, as they serve as condensation nuclei for water vapour, which is necessary for rainfall.

The team is currently in Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple from April 24 to 29, where seers perform the Som Yagya. The ritual involves offering the juice of Samovalli (Sarcostemma brevistigma), a medicinal plant, into the fire. Using sophisticated instruments, the researchers recorded various environmental parameters before, during, and after the yagya.

“This is a unique project which started on April 24 and will go on for the next few years. In this project, we are measuring various things by using at least 13 instruments. The two main instruments are Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter (CCN counter) and a Tethersonde (an instrument that measures atmospheric parameters). CCN measures the concentration of aerosol particles in air to build blocks of cloud droplets. Tethersonde, a balloon with a sensor, measures pressure, temperature and humidity in the area where the Yagya is being performed, Rajesh Mali , a scientist who retired from the India Meteorological Department and who is part of the effort, was quoted by Hindustan Times.

Dr Yang Lian of IITM added that data is being collected four times daily, including during and outside of ritual timings. “This comparative analysis will help determine the environmental impact of the Yagya, if any,” he said.

The initiative is being facilitated by Akshay Krishi Pariwar, an NGO working to integrate traditional agricultural practices with scientific research. “Our motive is not to question the efficacy of Yagyas and its effect mentioned in the Vedas. Our effort is to provide supportive scientific evidence so that these traditional methods can be used by the scientists to deal with problems such as global warming and drought,” said Gajanand Dange, the NGO’s convener.

Anil Kothari, director of MPCST, emphasised the broader vision of the study: “This study will work as a bridge between science and ancient practices of India. It will offer new insights in the field of environment and science.”