Jaganmohanlal Pandita Sadhuwad Granth

Author(s): Sudarshanlal Jain
Publisher: Jaganmohanlal Shastri Sadhuwad Samiti Jabalpur

Page 334

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Scientific Studies in Yoga qay
Scientific Research in Yoga
In 1920s Swami Kuvalayananda made first attempt to study scientifically some selected yogic practices like Uddiyana and Nauli with the help of manometers and X-rays in the laboratory. He showed that yogic practices could be interpreted on the scientific principles. Uddiyana Bandha and Nauli have been shown to produce sub-atmospheric pressure of considerable magnitude in the various cavities. The sub-atmospheric pressure first noted by Swami in a series of experiments were given the name "Madhavadas Vaccum" by him and have been confirmed later by other studies at Kaivalyadhama Laboratory.
All great movements have humble beginning. The early investigations of Swami Kuvalayanada set a new era of scientific research in Yoga. However, we do not see many persons or agencies involved in Yogic research until 1950 except the Swami and his collea gues at Kaivalyadhama, Lonavla. A few exceptions are some stray attempts to investigate changes in the heart by Laubry and T. Brosse. If we take a survey of available material on yogic researcn, we find that the number of scientific research publications does not exceed 1,000. Out of these 50% of papers have been contributed by Indian research workers and remaining 50% by the foreign research workers. Out of these 25% research contributions come from the Kaivalyadhama research workers. The results of the physiological, biochemical, electro-physiological and psychological investigations done in Kaivalyadhama have been published in the book of "Abstracts and Bibliography of Articles on Yoga".
After 1950s, occidental research workers began to show their interest in Yogic research. Mention must be made of the two research workers, Dr. M. A. Wenger and Dr. B. K. Bagchi, who made a trip to India in 1956 to investigate the possibilities of psychological and electrophysiological research in Yoga. They studied autonomic functions in practitioners of Yoga in India (1961). As a result of the visit of these professors, an interest in Yogic research was also generated among Indian scientists. Let us now consider the progress in fundamental research in Yoga.
Vakil, H. V. Gundu Rao et al., Anand et. al., Karambelkar et al. and Ballantyne and Gibbons conducted experiments on pit burials. Although in general it was claimed that Yogis could voluntarily control their metabolic functions, it seems more probable what Karambelkar et al., have pointed out that rather than the control of the subjects on metabolic processes, the results are more related to the concentration of carbondioxide in the pit.
Heart and Pulse control by Yogis was studied by Laubray and T. Brosse, by Wenger et al., by Bhole and Karambelkar, by Kothari et al, and by Green et al. Similarly feats of strength were studied on a Yogi by H. V. Gundu Rao and by Ballantyne and Gibsons. But these researches were under-taken out of general curiosity. These feats are not real Yoga or Yogic techniques.
Physiological studies may be considered under the following heads:
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