Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Devendramuni, A D Batra, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Rajasthankesari Adhyatmayogi Upadhyay Shree Pushkar Muni Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 1139

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श्री पुष्करमुनि अभिनन्दन ग्रन्थ नवम खण्ड
impossible and also incorrect to develop the science further. Even the scientific research will have to build up its structure on the foundation of this research in yoga literature, which it being carried out by the Philosophico-Literary Research Department of the institution.
But the important work of co-ordination of the ancient yoga with the modern sciences is being carried out by the Scientific Research Department of Kaivalyadhäma. Here varying yoga practices like Asanas, Prānāyāmas, Satkriyas of Hatha Yoga School, Meditational practices of various yoga schools are being studied in controlled experiments, to find their effects-physiological as well as psychological-on the human organism. Modern instruments and techniques from the fields of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Physiology including Electrophysiology and Radiology, Psychology and Psychometry, Physical education and physical fitness measurements etc., are being utilised to evaluate objectively the changes produced by Yoga in man's mind and body.
As already mentioned, right in 1920 Swami Kuvalayanandji had made a start of such scientific research in Yogic field on modern lines. The first systematically planned and controlled experiments carried out by him in Baroda were investigations of the yogic practices of Uddiyana Bandha, Nauli Kriyā, Basti Kriya and Vastra Dhauti by manometric techniques and with X-ray radiography.
These researches clearly showed the working and movements of various organs in the chest and abdomen during the performance of these Yogic Kriyās and very rationally explained that in Uddiyana and Nauli the pressure inside the hollow cavities, e.g., stomach and intestines etc., is reduced well below the normal, which is near about that of the atmosphere. This partial vacuum produced inside the abdominal organs was the cause which made it possible for Yoga students to suck various kinds of liquids in these internal cavities e.g., water into the colon (large intestine) in Basti Kriya and water, milk or even a heavy liquid like mercury into the urinary bladder through the urethra during Vajroli Kriya. Thus these investigations proved that this strange feat of liquid suction inside the body was working on simple and natural laws. The mystery and awe were removed and the frequently made claim of miraculous yogic powers being behind the performance of such feats was exploded.
Since in those days of foreign domination and universal attitude of depreciating everything Indian, Swami Kuvalayanandaji found it impossible to get his researches published in the scientific journals or even popular standard magazines. He, therefore, was compelled to start his own journal, where he could place before the public these findings. Thus Yoga Mimāṁsā quarterly started at the same time as Kaivalyadhama in 1924 and these first scientific researches in the field of Yoga were published in this journal, being presented in such a manner that ordinary educated man conversant with English could also understand these. Though intermittingly, the journal is being published up-to-date and a lot of scientific research on Yoga, specially on its fundamental aspect i.e., for understanding and elucidating the principles and mechanics lying at the basis of various Yogic practices rationally, with the help of modern methods of natural sciences, has been published in this journal. This will be briefly summarised in the following pages, when taking a general survey of modern scientific researches in Yoga.
Today a number of scientists, both in India and abroad, are getting interested in and even are carrying out researches related to Yoga. The findings of these researches are making the people interested in Yoga generally, and even a large number of scientists, specially to comprehend and recognise that the ancient discipline of Yoga can stand well tests of modern Western sciences. It is becoming also clear through these researches that Yoga can offer a number of benefits, which can and will enrich the life of humanity, irrespective of religion, creed, race, nationality, age, sex and such other limitations and even for those who may not be interested in the so-called spiritual gains.
It is for these reasons that all over the world a large number of persons are practising