Vedic Microbiology

Unit 1
Dr. Nishant S. Junnarkar
https:nsjunnarkar.in
Introduction to Vedas
• Vedas are the largest text of human
civilization in the world.
• In Sanskrit ‘Veda’ means ‘Knowledge or
‘knowing’.
• No one has authored Vedas and it is not
of human origin.
• Vedas are the ‘Revealed Truth’ or ‘Divine
Knowledge’
• Vedas have two forms:
• Sabdarupa Vedas = verbal form
• Arthrupa Vedas = object form.
• Earlier when there were no scripts, Vedas were in
verbal form and were narrated by Sages and their
disciples.
• Vedas in verbal form contains hymns (Mantras).
• But in object form, ie. Artharupa, they represent
whole Universe.
• This means that the Vedas represent the entire
Universe
• Vedas are the vast repository of
knowledge of cosmology, science,
astrology, medicine, mathematics,
astronomy and nature.
• It also teaches the way of leading a
Healthy life.
• Vedas came in written form only after
the development of the Devnagari script
approximately 6500-7500 BCE.
Origin of Vedas
• The Supreme Father = creator of Vedas
• He imparted knowledge in form of Vedas
to four Rishis:
• Agni
• Vayu
• Aditya
• Angira
4 vedas
• Rigveda has 1,05,890 hymns and describes the
geographical location of the earth and the call of the
Gods as well as duties of cow guarding, king’s duty,
relationship between father and son, husband and wife,
nations and different subjects, etc.
• Yajurveda has 1975 hymns describing the astrological
knowledge and Yajna.
• Samaveda has 185 hymns describing the music and
worship of the nature.
• Atharvaveda has 5,987 hymns which focuses on the
betterment of human health by using medicinal plants.
• Each Veda has its own Brahmn, Aranyakas, Upanisad
and sub-Veda.
Vedic Microbiology
• Descriptions of microorganisms and the
infections caused by them have been
described in several hymns of
Atharvaveda.
Father of Microbiology
• Rishi Kanva is regarded as the father of
microbiology for describing germs as
‘Kirmis’, Pisaca, Yatudhana (all
pathogenic microorganisms) and
mentioning a variety of methods of
treatment for the various types of Kirmis
in Vedas and the diseases they cause.
• Knowledge of Kirmis (visible and
invisible) has been discussed by Rishi
Kanva in Atharvaveda.
• He has also mentioned the names of
other three Rishis: Atri, Yamadagni
and Agastya (Atharvaveda 2.32.3), who
were also skilled for such research work.
• This indicates the team work behind
research on microbial infections.
• Atrvaddhah krmayo hanmi
kanvavajjamadagnivat.Agastasya brahmana
sam pinaSmyaham krmin.(Atharvaveda 2.32.3)[
• O germs! (krmayo), I destroy you (hanmi) like
Atri (Atrvat), Kanva (Kanvavat) and Jamadagni
(Jamadagnivat). I (aham) fully crush (sam
pinasmi) the germs (kymin) with the
knowledge of (brahmana) Agastya (Agastasya)}
• Scientific Explanation:
• The four Rishis namely Atri, Kanva, Jamadagni and
Agastya who bore excellent qualities for destroying
the germs have been mentioned in this hymn.
• These Rsis have been exemplified because of
bearing different quality.
• Atri (‘A’ means ‘without’, and “tri”means ‘three’)
meaning the Rsi devoid of the three gates of hail,
i.e. sexual desire or carnality(kama), anger
(krodha) and greed (lobha) is unaffected by the
germs.
• Kanva means who, in spite_ of being intellectual,
destroys the evil spirits and becomes
uninfluenced by the germs.
• Jamadagni means whose digestive fire is very
strong and he is not affected by the germs.
• Agastya means the persons who
destroys crookedness is also
unaffected by the pathogenic germs.
• These Rsis were very strong in health
and immunity;
• thence they have been exemplified to
destroy and crush the germs like them,
i.e. they were unaffected by any type of
infectious diseases because of the very
strong health, immunity, will power and
knowledge of the medicinal herbs.
• In brief, Kanva Rsi has described the
Krmis of different colours and structures
with varying decaying capacity
(Atharvaveda 5.23.4,5,9),
• their movement in the eyes, nose and in
between the crevices of teeth (Atharvaveda
5.23.3),
• fast moving Krmis causing quick infection and
pain (Atharvaveda 5.23.7),
• visible and invisible Krmis, moving on the soil
and killing them with ‘Vaca’ plant
(Atharvaveda 2.31.2-4),
• Krmis found everywhere (Atharvaveda
2.31.5), killing them with their surviving
structures (Atharvaveda 2.32.4,5),
• Krmis posing poisonous
effects(Atharvayeda 2.32.6), and
• killing of Krmis by sun rays (Atharvaveda
5.23.6).;
• Antony Van Leeuwenhoek is regarded
as the first observer of microorganisms.
• But, the discovery by Rishi Kanva has
been overlooked by the western
philosophers and scientists because of
lack of their known of Sanskirt script.
• Therefore, the knowledge of Vedic
microbiology remained locked within the
Vedic texts.
• Whose fault is this, Rşi Kanva or the
western and modern microbiologists?
• It is left to the readers to realise the
facts of the discovery of invisible
organisms (Krmis) by Rşi Kanva during
Vedic time, evaluate the facts based on
Vedic texts, and regard him as the
'Father of Microbiology' for the first
description of invisible organisms
causing diseases in humans and
their eradication methods.
MICROBIAL DISEASE DESCRIBED
DURING VEDIC PERIOD
• Most of the Vedic texts (Vedas, Purāņas, Caraka Samhita
and Suśruta Samhita, etc.) have mentioned the names of
many diseases:
• Takma (fever),
• Yakṣmā (tuberculosis),
• Kas (Kapha),
• Harimā (jaundice),
• Killāsā or Siddhamā (skin diseases),
• mania or Amāti (psychosis),
• Asu (impotence),
• Cleba (impotence),
• Amīva (primitive diseases and germs) and
• demons, Yātudhān,
• Arāti (contagious disease caused by invisible microbes that
infect/ contaminate grain, beverages, food materials, and
outside or inside of human body).
• In this context, an attempt has been made to highlight the
origin of the universe, nomenclature of
microorganisms/germs, their prevalence and presence,
human health and germs, precautions (prophylaxis),
destruction of germs and the science of Agnihotra (fire
worship) with scientific explanation.
• Sun rays have the ability to get rid of many diseases.
• Not taking sun rays or taking in reduced amount there
results in vitamin-D3 deficiency in the body.
• The Vedas have desired for the happy life of all, the
disease-free life of all, the welfare of all and the sadness
of none.
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah surve santu nirāmayā.
Sarve bhadrāņi paśyantu mā kascit dukhabhagbhavet.